Drug & supplement interaction

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) + Heparin

Heparin brand name: Heparin.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has a moderate interaction with Heparin. Theoretically, CLA may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Heparin

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Heparin

Heparin falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) interacts with.

Theoretically, CLA may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Some clinical evidence suggests that intake of CLA reduces platelet aggregation by approximately 10%. The clinical significance of this effect is unclear.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: heparin is already a powerful blood thinner that you'd typically get in a hospital or clinic setting. The thinking with CLA is that it might make your platelets (the cells that help blood clump and clot) just a little bit stickier or, in this case, slightly less able to stick together. Some early research suggests CLA may lower platelet clumping by about 10%, so layering it on top of heparin could, in theory, nudge your bleeding risk up a notch.

I want to be straight with you though: this is a theoretical concern based on how things work in the lab, not strong human evidence. Still, with a blood thinner like heparin, I'd play it safe. Watch for easy bruising, nosebleeds, or bleeding that's slow to stop, and let your doctor or pharmacist know you're taking CLA before any procedure.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. 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

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) has 288 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Heparin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 288 No known interaction 2,542 (incl. Heparin)
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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Heparin

This page covers Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Heparin page lists 202 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Danshen (major), Piracetam (major), Aconite (moderate), Allspice (moderate) and Aloe (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 183 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Heparin page

“Heparin exists to keep clots from forming, and all 202 supplements on this list touch that same clotting machinery, so treat these pairings with real care. Nearly all lean the same way, adding antiplatelet or anticoagulant activity that can push a therapeutic dose toward bruising and bleeding.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Heparin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Heparin 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 Heparin
Top half

#791 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.

Supplement

About Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)

What is Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)?

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.

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

About Heparin Injection

What Is Heparin Injection Used For?

Brand name: Heparin

Heparin Sodium Injection is used to prevent and treat venous thrombosis (blood clots in veins) and pulmonary embolism (clots in the lungs). It is also used to prevent blood clots after major abdominothoracic surgery, to manage atrial fibrillation with embolization (a heart rhythm problem that can cause clots), and to treat disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a serious condition where the blood clots too much throughout the body.

Additional uses include preventing clotting during arterial and cardiac surgery, treating peripheral arterial embolism (clots in the arteries of the limbs), and serving as an anticoagulant during blood transfusions, dialysis, and procedures using extracorporeal circulation (machines that temporarily take over heart or lung function).

See full Heparin Injection 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
288Moderate
0Minor
2,541No known interaction
288 Moderate 2,541 No interaction
Moderate

288 interactions

Showing 60 of 288 moderate interactions — see all 288 on the Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) page.

No interaction 2,541 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 2,541 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 Heparin, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Heparin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Heparin, ranked by severity Heparin Injection drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

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

Can you take Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) with Heparin?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla) and Heparin interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Heparin and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (cla)?

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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.