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Dietary supplement

CLA Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by OL Olympian Labs, Inc.

Softgel Capsule Category: Botanical With Nutrients
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

CLA is a dietary supplement by OL Olympian Labs, Inc. with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for heart and cholesterol support, skin moisturizing, menstrual cramps.Based on those ingredients, 208 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Safflower concentrate. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of CLA by OL Olympian Labs, Inc.

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 5 active ingredients.
  • “Safflower concentrate” is listed as a grouped ingredient — the label gives one combined amount (3 Gram(s)) without saying how much of each component you get.

CLA contains five active fatty acids and oil-based ingredients. The one we have the most information on is oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat found in olive oil.

The product also includes conjugated linoleic acid (a fatty acid from dairy and beef), stearic acid and palmitic acid (two saturated fats), and alpha-linolenic acid (a plant-based omega-3). A safflower concentrate rounds out the blend.

The capsules themselves are filled with gelatin, glycerin, water, caramel, and carob — the inactive ingredients that form the softgel shell and base.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded Oleic Acid's overall clinical evidence instead.

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports Oleic Acid for:

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredient's overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Coronary heart disease (CHD) — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Hypercholesterolemia — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).

Oleic acid has been rated possibly effective for high cholesterol and coronary heart disease — the evidence suggests it may help, but it's not definitive. We don't hold effectiveness data for the other four active ingredients in this product.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Safflower Oleic Acid

How safe is it?

Some data gaps
Safety Information · database check
Some gaps

Safety data exists for these ingredients, but with some important gaps.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 0 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Oleic acid in normal food amounts — like what you'd get from olive oil — is generally recognized as safe. The safety data we hold doesn't establish whether the concentrated supplement-level doses in this product are equally safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

If you're pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant, talk with your pharmacist or doctor about whether this product is right for you.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Safflower Oleic Acid

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Oleic Acid.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 86 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

If you take antidiabetes drugs (medications that lower blood sugar), talk to your pharmacist before adding this supplement — oleic acid may strengthen their effect. We couldn't screen the other four active ingredients in this product, so check all your medications with the tool below.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and some safety-information gaps remain.

CLA is a fatty-acid blend with a little research backing oleic acid for cholesterol and heart health. If you take blood-sugar medications, you'll want to check those with your pharmacist before starting.

For anyone else, run your full medication list through the tool on this page — we could only screen one of the five active ingredients.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 5 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Dec 23, 2016.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about CLA, straight from the product label.

Brand OL Olympian Labs, Inc.
Barcode (UPC) 710013003713
Net contents 90 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Dec 23, 2016
DSLD ID 67063
Product type Botanical With Nutrients
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), No Allergies, Dairy Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for CLA by OL Olympian Labs, Inc., sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
3 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
3 Softgel(s)
Servings per container
30
UPC/BARCODE
710013003713
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories30 Calorie(s)--
Stearic Acid0 NP--
Calories from Fat27 Calorie(s)--
Conjugated Linoleic Acid0 NP--
Oleic Acid0 NP--
Alpha-Linolenic Acid0 NP--
Palmitic Acid0 NP--
Total Fat3 Gram(s)5%
Safflower concentrate3 Gram(s)--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Glycerin, Water, Caramel, Carob

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

Made in USA

May help reduce body fat Supports lean muscle mass May increase metabolic rate

30 servings

These ratios will slightly vary batch to batch depending on the natural variation of the fatty acid content of the oil use to derive the CLA.

Olympian Labs, Inc. products are made with the highest quality ingredients and manufactured according to Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).

Formula

CLA 3000 mg per serving

Allergen free

Precautions

Caution: If you are pregnant or nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking medication, consult your healthcare professional before using this or any other nutritional supplement.

Discontinue use if allergic reaction occurs.

Keep out of reach of children.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

General

REV 06-28-16

Formulation

Allergen free

No: Milk, Eggs, Fish, Crustaceans Shellfish, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Wheat, or Soybeans.

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take three (3) softgels daily before a meal, or as directed by a healthcare professional.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

See for yourself

CLA by OL Olympian Labs, Inc. label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in CLA by OL Olympian Labs, Inc.

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size3 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container30 Amounts shown are per serving.

Safflower concentrate

Interacts with
208 drugs
3 Gram(s) per serving

Safflower is a thistle-like plant used mainly for its seed oil (a common cooking oil) and its colorful flowers. Safflower oil is a reasonable source o...

Safflower concentrate monograph & interactions
  • › Stearic Acid
  • › Conjugated Linoleic Acid
  • Oleic Acid
  • › Alpha-Linolenic Acid
  • › Palmitic Acid

Other (inactive) ingredients: Gelatin, Glycerin, Water, Caramel, Carob. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

CLA by OL Olympian Labs, Inc. Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against CLA?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
208Drugs
208 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in CLA with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Safflower concentrate3 drug types · 208 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

High doses of safflower oil might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Small clinical studies show that taking safflower oil, approximately 55 grams daily for 2-3 weeks, decreases platelet aggregation. However, taking lower doses of safflower oil, such as 5 grams daily for 4 weeks, does not seem to affect platelet function. In one case report, a 74-year-old male stabilized on warfarin developed urinary tract bleeding and an elevated INR after taking a safflower extract 20 grams daily for 14 days.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, safflower oil might alter the effects of antidiabetes drugs.
Some clinical research shows that taking safflower oil 10 grams daily for 3 weeks can increase fasting blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, clinical research in patients with metabolic syndrome with or without impaired glucose tolerance shows that taking safflower oil 8 grams daily for 12 weeks reduces fasting glucose levels by around 8 mg/dL. Some clinical research also shows that taking safflower oil 8 grams daily for 16 weeks does not affect fasting glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Warfarin

Theoretically, safflower oil might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with warfarin.
In one case report, a 74-year-old male stabilized on warfarin developed urinary tract bleeding and an elevated INR after taking a safflower extract 20 grams daily for 14 days.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for CLA, from the product label.

OL Olympian Labs, Inc.

Name
Olympian Labs, Inc.
City
Phoenix
State
AZ
ZipCode
85027
Phone Number
1.800.473.5883
Web Address
www.olympianlabs.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

CLA by OL Olympian Labs, Inc.: Common Questions

Does CLA by OL Olympian Labs, Inc. interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, CLA has a known interaction with 208 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
CLA contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Will CLA help my cholesterol or heart health?
The oleic acid in CLA is rated possibly effective for high cholesterol and coronary heart disease based on preliminary evidence. That means research suggests it may help, but we don't have rock-solid proof yet. Talk with your doctor about whether it makes sense for your situation.
Is it safe to take CLA while pregnant or breastfeeding?
We don't have enough safety data on the supplement-level doses in this product to say yes or no for pregnancy or lactation. The oleic acid itself is safe in food amounts, but concentrated supplements haven't been well studied. Please ask your pharmacist or doctor for personalized advice.
What is oleic acid and where does it come from?
Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fat found naturally in olive oil, avocados, and other foods. It's one of the five active ingredients in this CLA product.
Are there any fillers or inactive ingredients I should know about?
The softgel capsules contain gelatin, glycerin, water, caramel, and carob as inactive ingredients. These are the shell and base of the capsule, not active ingredients.
I take diabetes medication — is CLA safe for me?
Oleic acid in this product may increase the blood-sugar-lowering effects of your diabetes medication, which is a Moderate-severity concern. Check with your pharmacist before starting CLA to make sure it won't cause your blood sugar to drop too low.

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

Not sure if CLA is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

CLA label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

CLA's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

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

The 33 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Oleic Acid 19 references
  1. Madigan C, Ryan M, Owens D, et al. Dietary unsaturated fatty acids in type 2 diabetes: higher levels of postprandial lipoprotein on a linoleic acid-rich sunflower oil diet compared with an oleic acid-rich olive oil diet. Diabetes Care 2000;23:1472-7. PubMed
  2. Gillingham, L. G., Gustafson, J. A., Han, S. Y., Jassal, D. S., and Jones, P. J. High-oleic rapeseed (canola) and flaxseed oils modulate serum lipids and inflammatory biomarkers in hypercholesterolaemic subjects. Br J Nutr 2011;105(3):417-427. PubMed
  3. Jones PJ, Senanayake VK, Pu S, Jenkins DJ, Connelly PW, Lamarche B, Couture P, Charest A, Baril-Gravel L, West SG, Liu X, Fleming JA, McCrea CE, Kris-Etherton PM. DHA-enriched high-oleic acid canola oil improves lipid profile and lowers predicted cardiova
  4. Cater, N. B., Heller, H. J., and Denke, M. A. Comparison of the effects of medium-chain triacylglycerols, palm oil, and high oleic acid sunflower oil on plasma triacylglycerol fatty acids and lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in humans. Am.J Clin.Nutr PubMed
  5. Mozaffarian D, Clarke R. Quantitative effects on cardiovascular risk factors and coronary heart disease risk of replacing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils with other fats and oils. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009;63(Suppl 2):S22-33. PubMed
  6. Cao Y, Hou L, Wang W. Dietary total fat and fatty acids intake, serum fatty acids and risk of breast cancer: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Int J Cancer. 2016;138(8):1894-904. doi: 10.1002/ijc.29938. PubMed
  7. FDA completes review of qualified health claim petition for oleic acid and the risk of coronary heart disease. November 2018. Available at: www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm624758.htm. Accessed January 25, 2019.
  8. Liu X, Kris-Etherton PM, West SG, et al. Effects of canola and high-oleic-acid canola oils on abdominal fat mass in individuals with central obesity. Obesity. 2016;24(11):2261-2268. PubMed
  9. Bowen KJ, Kris-Etherton PM, West SG, et al. Diets enriched with conventional or high-oleic acid canola oils lower atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins compared to a diet with a western fatty acid profile in adults with central adiposity. J Nutr. 2019;149(3 PubMed
  10. Steffen BT, Duprez D, Szklo M, Guan W, Tsai MY. Circulating oleic acid levels are related to greater risks of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. J Clin Lipidol. 2018;12(6):1404-1412. PubMed
  11. Banim PJ, Luben R, Khaw KT, Hart AR. Dietary oleic acid is inversely associated with pancreatic cancer - Data from food diaries in a cohort study. Pancreatology. 2018;18(6):655-660. PubMed
  12. Morin SJ, Gaziano JM, Djoussé L. Relation between plasma phospholipid oleic acid and risk of heart failure. Eur J Nutr. 2018;57(8):2937-2942. PubMed
  13. Samieri C, Féart C, Proust-Lima C, et al. Olive oil consumption, plasma oleic acid, and stroke incidence: the Three-City Study. Neurology. 2011;77(5):418-25. PubMed
  14. Compher CW, Kinosian BP, Rubesin SE, Ratcliffe SJ, Metz DC. Energy absorption is reduced with oleic acid supplements in human short bowel syndrome. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2009;33(1):102-8. PubMed
  15. Ben Fradj MK, Ouanes Y, Hadj-Taieb S, et al. Decreased oleic acid and marine n?-?3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in Tunisian patients with urothelial bladder cancer. Nutr Cancer. 2018;70(7):1043-1050.
  16. de Silva PS, Luben R, Shrestha SS, Khaw KT, Hart AR. Dietary arachidonic and oleic acid intake in ulcerative colitis etiology: a prospective cohort study using 7-day food diaries. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;26(1):11-8. PubMed
  17. Higashi K, Shige H, Ito T, et al. Effect of a low-fat diet enriched with oleic acid on postprandial lipemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lipids. 2001;36(1):1-6. PubMed
  18. Lin HC, van Citters GW, Heimer F, Bonorris G. Slowing of gastrointestinal transit by oleic acid: a preliminary report of a novel, nutrient-based treatment in humans. Dig Dis Sci. 2001;46(2):223-9. PubMed
  19. Li D, Tong Y, Li Y. Associations between dietary oleic acid and linoleic acid and depressive symptoms in perimenopausal women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Nutrition. 2020 Mar;71:110602. PubMed

See these in context on the Oleic Acid monograph →

Safflower 14 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  3. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  4. Borkman M, Chisholm DJ, Furler SM, et al. Effects of fish oil supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in NIDDM. Diabetes 1989;38:1314-9.. PubMed
  5. Amato, P. and Quercia, R. A. A historical perspective and review of the safety of lipid emulsion in pregnancy. Nutr Clin Pract. 1991;6(5):189-192. PubMed
  6. Demke, D. M., Peters, G. R., Linet, O. I., Metzler, C. M., and Klott, K. A. Effects of a fish oil concentrate in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Atherosclerosis 1988;70(1-2):73-80. PubMed
  7. Kaji, K., Yoshida, S., Nagata, N., Yamashita, T., Mizukoshi, E., Honda, M., Kojima, Y., and Kaneko, S. An open-label study of administration of EH0202, a health-food additive, to patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol. 2004;39(9):873-878. PubMed
  8. Kwon, J. S., Snook, J. T., Wardlaw, G. M., and Hwang, D. H. Effects of diets high in saturated fatty acids, canola oil, or safflower oil on platelet function, thromboxane B2 formation, and fatty acid composition of platelet phospholipids. Am.J.Clin.Nutr. PubMed
  9. Lloyd-Still, J. D., Simon, S. H., Wessel, H. U., and Gibson, L. E. Negative effects of oral fatty acid supplementation on sweat chloride in cystic fibrosis. Pediatrics 1979;64(1):50-52. DOI
  10. Challen, A. D., Branch, W. J., and Cummings, J. H. The effect of aspirin and linoleic acid on platelet aggregation, platelet fatty acid composition and haemostasis in man. Hum Nutr Clin Nutr 1983;37(3):197-208.
  11. Asp ML, Collene AL, Norris LE, Cole RM, Stout MB, Tang SY, Hsu JC, Belury MA. Time-dependent effects of safflower oil to improve glycemia, inflammation and blood lipids in obese, post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-masked, cro
  12. Liu Y, Liu S, Shi Y, et al. Effects of safflower injection on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of warfarin in rats. Xenobiotica. 2017 Oct 25:1-6. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed
  13. de Ataide EC, Reges Perales S, de Oliveira Peres MA, et al. Acute liver failure induced by Carthamus tinctorius oil: Case reports and literature review. Transplant Proc. 2018;50(2):476-477. PubMed
  14. Ruyvaran M, Zamani A, Mohamadian A, et al. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) oil could improve abdominal obesity, blood pressure, and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. PubMed

See these in context on the Safflower monograph →

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

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