Drug & supplement interaction

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) + Colesevelam

Colesevelam brand names: WelChol, Lodalis.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Colesevelam in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Colesevelam states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Colesevelam

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Colesevelam and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) safety at a glance

Conjugated Linolei... overall Use caution Generally well tolerated short-term, but long-term safety is not fully established.

Pregnancy Likely Safe When used orally in amounts found in foods. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of CLA when used in medicinal amounts during p... Read the full pregnancy detail

Breastfeeding Likely Safe When used orally in amounts found in foods. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of CLA when used in medicinal amounts during p... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Colesevelam and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Colesevelam

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Colesevelam is filed under a single classification — oral drugs. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate), antihypertensive drugs (moderate) and ramipril (altace) (moderate) — and none of Colesevelam’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) Does Interact With Other Medications

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has 289 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Colesevelam isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 289 No known interaction 2,541 (incl. Colesevelam)

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla). Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Colesevelam May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

Bloating or gas / Stomach upset Additional detail
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)
“Orally, the most common adverse effect reported with CLA is gastrointestinal upset including diarrhea, constipation, nausea, loose stools, dyspepsia, bloating, and flatulence. Esophageal irritation was reported in one patient who bit open and swallowed a capsule containing CLA.”

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in constipation.
6 sources cited

3153. Blankson H, Stakkestad JA, Fagertun H, et al. Conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat mass in overweight and obese humans. J Nutr 2000;130:2943-8. PubMed

4947. Gaullier JM, Halse J, Hoye K, et al. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation for 1 y reduces body fat mass in healthy overweight humans. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:1118-25. PubMed

45280. Lambert, E. V., Goedecke, J. H., Bluett, K., Heggie, K., Claassen, A., Rae, D. E., West, S., Dugas, J., Dugas, L., Meltzeri, S., Charlton, K., and Mohede, I. Conjugated linoleic acid versus high-oleic acid sunflower oil: effects on energy metabolism, glu

45705. Wanders, A. J., Brouwer, I. A., Siebelink, E., and Katan, M. B. Effect of a high intake of conjugated linoleic acid on lipoprotein levels in healthy human subjects. PLoS.One. 2010;5(2):e9000. PubMed

45730. Aryaeian, N., Shahram, F., Djalali, M., Eshragian, M. R., Djazayeri, A., Sarrafnejad, A., Salimzadeh, A., Naderi, N., and Maryam, C. Effect of conjugated linoleic acids, vitamin E and their combination on the clinical outcome of Iranian adults with activ

111056. Liang CW, Cheng HY, Lee YH, Liou TH, Liao CD, Huang SW. Effects of conjugated linoleic acid and exercise on body composition and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Rev 2023;81(4):397-415. PubMed
Colesevelam

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Colesevelam. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Constipation Additional detail

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)

Recorded for Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Bloating or gas / Stomach upset above.

Colesevelam

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Colesevelam. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Tiredness Additional detail
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)
“Orally, clinical research shows that CLA 3 grams daily for 12 weeks does not affect liver outcome measures. However, there are at least two case reports of hepatotoxicity. Asthenia, jaundice, and pruritus were reported in a 46-year-old female who consumed CLA for two weeks. Abnormal liver enzyme levels returned to normal following discontinuation of CLA supplementation.”

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anorexia.
3 sources cited

105809. Madry E, Malesza IJ, Subramaniapillai M, et al. Body fat changes and liver safety in obese and overweight women supplemented with conjugated linoleic acid: A 12-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1811. PubMed

45483. Ramos, R., Mascarenhas, J., Duarte, P., Vicente, C., and Casteleiro, C. Conjugated linoleic acid-induced toxic hepatitis: first case report. Dig.Dis.Sci 2009;54(5):1141-1143. PubMed

91589. Nortadas R, Barata J. Fulminant hepatitis during self-medication with conjugated linoleic acid. Ann Hepatol. 2012;11(2):265-7. DOI
“Orally, CLA may cause headache or fatigue. In one case report, a 50-year-old female presented with headache and subarachnoid hemorrhage due to reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) after taking a combination product containing green tea, L-carnitine, and CLA for one week.”

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.
3 sources cited

3153. Blankson H, Stakkestad JA, Fagertun H, et al. Conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat mass in overweight and obese humans. J Nutr 2000;130:2943-8. PubMed

45787. MacRedmond, R., Singhera, G., Attridge, S., Bahzad, M., Fava, C., Lai, Y., Hallstrand, T. S., and Dorscheid, D. R. Conjugated linoleic acid improves airway hyper-reactivity in overweight mild asthmatics. Clin.Exp.Allergy 2010;40(7):1071-1078. PubMed

97007. Costa I, Mendonca MD, Cruz E Silva V, Calado S, Viana-Baptista M. Herbal supplements association with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: a case report. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2017;26(3):673-76. PubMed
Colesevelam

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Colesevelam. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Headache Additional detail

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)

Recorded for Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Tiredness above.

Colesevelam

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Colesevelam. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Nausea Additional detail

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)

Recorded for Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Bloating or gas / Stomach upset above.

Colesevelam

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Colesevelam. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) but not commonly for Colesevelam: liver problems, diarrhea, weight loss and bleeding or bruising.

Effects for Colesevelam come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 2,014 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Colesevelam that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Safe

When used orally in amounts found in foods. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of CLA when used in medicinal amounts during pregnancy or lactation; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Colesevelam Products Have a Food Rule — Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Colesevelam says to take it with food. If you take Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Colesevelam with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Colesevelam products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

Colesevelam hydrochloride should be taken as follows ( 2.2 , 2.4 ): Tablets Take 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Colesevelam — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Overlapping uses

What Colesevelam Is Prescribed For, and What Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Colesevelam is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Colesevelam is prescribed for: Colesevelam is used alongside diet and exercise to reduce high LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) in adults with primary hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). It is also approved to lower LDL cholesterol in boys and girls aged 10–17 who have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) — an inherited condition that causes very high cholesterol — when diet and lifestyle changes alone haven't worked. Colesevelam tablets and oral suspension (Welchol and colesevelam hydrochloride products) are also used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, as an add-on to diet and exercise. Colesevelam is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has been studied for:

Hyperlipidemia studied, not established Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Possibly Ineffective Read what the research shows

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) for hyperlipidemia

Oral CLA does not seem to be beneficial for hyperlipidemia.
Diabetes studied, not established Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Possibly Ineffective Read what the research shows

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) for diabetes

Oral CLA does not seem to be beneficial for diabetes.
Atherosclerosis studied, not established Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) for atherosclerosis

Although there is interest in using oral CLA for preventing atherosclerosis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of CLA for this purpose.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Colesevelam on your own; if you are taking Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) or Colesevelam

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) or Colesevelam, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Colesevelam

This page covers Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Colesevelam page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Colesevelam page

“Colesevelam (WelChol, Lodalis) lowers cholesterol by binding bile acids in your gut, and every one of the 17 supplements on this list can interfere with how oral medicines are absorbed in that same territory. I would treat this list with genuine care, and the place to start is activated charcoal, the only major-rated entry.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Colesevelam interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Colesevelam Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)

Top half

#637 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Medication Colesevelam

Steady interest

#1,596 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?

Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Colesevelam records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.

Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)

What is Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)?

Weight loss
Improving body composition
Sports and muscle support
Reducing inflammation
General wellness

CLA is a fatty acid found naturally in meat and dairy, and supplements are usually made from safflower oil. While it is popular for fat loss and body composition, research results are mixed and any real-world effect appears small at best. It is likely safe for short-term use in most healthy adults, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting it.

Fatty acid (often sourced from safflower or sunflower oil) · Softgels, capsules, oil

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) record says about it on its own.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla): dosing

There is no official or standardized dose of CLA. Doses used in studies have varied widely, and it is not clear which amount, if any, is most effective.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the recommended amount.

From our Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Colesevelam

What Is Colesevelam Used For?

Brand names: WelChol, Lodalis

Colesevelam is used alongside diet and exercise to reduce high LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) in adults with primary hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). It is also approved to lower LDL cholesterol in boys and girls aged 10–17 who have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) — an inherited condition that causes very high cholesterol — when diet and lifestyle changes alone haven't worked.

Colesevelam tablets and oral suspension (Welchol and colesevelam hydrochloride products) are also used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, as an add-on to diet and exercise. Colesevelam is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Colesevelam

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (2,014 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Diarrhea 241 reports

Dyspnea 172 reports

Cough 169 reports

Muscle spasms 163 reports

Nasopharyngitis 150 reports

See full Colesevelam drug information

Keep checking

Other Drugs & Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major

289Moderate

0Minor

2,540No known interaction

289 Moderate 2,540 No interaction

Moderate

289 interactions

Showing 60 of 289 moderate interactions — see all 289 on the Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) page.

No interaction 2,540 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,540 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) list.

See the full Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) interactions page

See every supplement checked against Colesevelam, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) References

The 27 references that drive our Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Riserus U, Arner P, Brismar K, Vessby B. Treatment with dietary trans10cis12 conjugated linoleic acid causes isomer-specific insulin resistance in obese men with the metabolic syndrome. Diabetes Care 2002;25:1516-21.
Blankson H, Stakkestad JA, Fagertun H, et al. Conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat mass in overweight and obese humans. J Nutr 2000;130:2943-8. PubMed
Gaullier JM, Halse J, Hoye K, et al. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation for 1 y reduces body fat mass in healthy overweight humans. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:1118-25. PubMed
Pariza M, Park Y, Cook ME. Conjugated linoleic acid and the control of cancer and obesity. Toxicol Sci 1999;52:107-10. DOI
Kelly ML, Berry JR, Dwyer DA, et al. Dietary fatty acid sources affect conjugated linoleic acid concentrations in milk from lactating dairy cows. J Nutr 1998;128:881-5. PubMed
Herbel BK, McGuire MK, McGuire MA, Shultz TD. Safflower oil consumption does not increase plasma conjugated linoleic acid concentrations in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 1998;67:332-7. PubMed
Riserus U, Vessby B, Arner P, Zethelius B. Supplementation with trans10cis12-conjugated linoleic acid induces hyperproinsulinaemia in obese men: close association with impaired insulin sensitivity. Diabetologia 2004;47:1016-9. PubMed
Nagao, K., Inoue, N., Wang, Y. M., Hirata, J., Shimada, Y., Nagao, T., Matsui, T., and Yanagita, T. The 10trans,12cis isomer of conjugated linoleic acid suppresses the development of hypertension in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rats. Biochem.Biophys PubMed
Riserus, U., Vessby, B., Arnlov, J., and Basu, S. Effects of cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on insulin sensitivity, lipid peroxidation, and proinflammatory markers in obese men. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80(2):279-283. PubMed
Tricon, S., Burdge, G. C., Kew, S., Banerjee, T., Russell, J. J., Jones, E. L., Grimble, R. F., Williams, C. M., Yaqoob, P., and Calder, P. C. Opposing effects of cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid on blood lipids in healthy huma
Moloney, F., Yeow, T. P., Mullen, A., Nolan, J. J., and Roche, H. M. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation, insulin sensitivity, and lipoprotein metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80(4):887-895. PubMed
Lambert, E. V., Goedecke, J. H., Bluett, K., Heggie, K., Claassen, A., Rae, D. E., West, S., Dugas, J., Dugas, L., Meltzeri, S., Charlton, K., and Mohede, I. Conjugated linoleic acid versus high-oleic acid sunflower oil: effects on energy metabolism, glu
Tholstrup, T., Raff, M., Straarup, E. M., Lund, P., Basu, S., and Bruun, J. M. An oil mixture with trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid increases markers of inflammation and in vivo lipid peroxidation compared with cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linolei
Ramos, R., Mascarenhas, J., Duarte, P., Vicente, C., and Casteleiro, C. Conjugated linoleic acid-induced toxic hepatitis: first case report. Dig.Dis.Sci 2009;54(5):1141-1143. PubMed
Ingelsson, E. and Riserus, U. Effects of trans10cis12CLA-induced insulin resistance on retinol-binding protein 4 concentrations in abdominally obese men. Diabetes Res Clin.Pract. 2008;82(3):e23-e24. PubMed
Zhao, W. S., Zhai, J. J., Wang, Y. H., Xie, P. S., Yin, X. J., Li, L. X., and Cheng, K. L. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation enhances antihypertensive effect of ramipril in Chinese patients with obesity-related hypertension. Am.J Hypertens. 2009;2 PubMed
Peterson, K. M., O'Shea, M., Stam, W., Mohede, I. C., Patrie, J. T., and Hayden, F. G. Effects of dietary supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid on experimental human rhinovirus infection and illness. Antivir.Ther 2009;14(1):33-43. DOI
Sofi, F., Buccioni, A., Cesari, F., Gori, A. M., Minieri, S., Mannini, L., Casini, A., Gensini, G. F., Abbate, R., and Antongiovanni, M. Effects of a dairy product (pecorino cheese) naturally rich in cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid on lipid, inf
Wanders, A. J., Brouwer, I. A., Siebelink, E., and Katan, M. B. Effect of a high intake of conjugated linoleic acid on lipoprotein levels in healthy human subjects. PLoS.One. 2010;5(2):e9000. PubMed
Aryaeian, N., Shahram, F., Djalali, M., Eshragian, M. R., Djazayeri, A., Sarrafnejad, A., Salimzadeh, A., Naderi, N., and Maryam, C. Effect of conjugated linoleic acids, vitamin E and their combination on the clinical outcome of Iranian adults with activ
MacRedmond, R., Singhera, G., Attridge, S., Bahzad, M., Fava, C., Lai, Y., Hallstrand, T. S., and Dorscheid, D. R. Conjugated linoleic acid improves airway hyper-reactivity in overweight mild asthmatics. Clin.Exp.Allergy 2010;40(7):1071-1078. PubMed
Berven, G., Bye, A., and Hals, O. Safety of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in overweight or obese human volunteers. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol 2000;102:455-462. DOI
Nortadas R, Barata J. Fulminant hepatitis during self-medication with conjugated linoleic acid. Ann Hepatol. 2012;11(2):265-7. DOI
Costa I, Mendonca MD, Cruz E Silva V, Calado S, Viana-Baptista M. Herbal supplements association with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: a case report. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2017;26(3):673-76. PubMed
Madry E, Malesza IJ, Subramaniapillai M, et al. Body fat changes and liver safety in obese and overweight women supplemented with conjugated linoleic acid: A 12-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1811. PubMed
Leilami K, Kohansal A, Mohammadi Sartang M, Babajafari S, Sohrabi Z. Adverse effects of conjugated linoleic acids supplementation on circulating lipoprotein (a) levels in overweight and obese individuals: results of a systematic review and meta-analysis o
Liang CW, Cheng HY, Lee YH, Liou TH, Liao CD, Huang SW. Effects of conjugated linoleic acid and exercise on body composition and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Rev 2023;81(4):397-415. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Colesevelam Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) with Colesevelam?

We do not list a known interaction between Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Colesevelam. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.

Do Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Colesevelam have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 6 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.

Should I take Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Colesevelam at the same time of day?

At least one FDA label for a product containing Colesevelam says to take it with food. If you take Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Colesevelam with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Colesevelam products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.

Are Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Colesevelam used for the same thing?

They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Colesevelam is being adjusted to a target.

How was the Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Colesevelam combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Colesevelam is filed under 1 classification, and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — none of Colesevelam's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.

Does Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) interact with any other medications?

Yes. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has 289 documented drug interactions in our database — Colesevelam is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.

Does Colesevelam interact with any supplements?

Yes. Colesevelam has documented interactions with 17 supplements in our database — Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) is not one of them. The Colesevelam interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Colesevelam drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Colesevelam supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Colesevelam, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 27 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.