Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Dog Cancer

I received a question about the use of safflower oil for a type of lyphosarcoma (lymphoma) in dogs.  The group of active ingredients in safflower oil is called the Conjugated Linoleic Acids (CLA). There are other things in safflower oil too that have effects, but this is a biggy.

So should we be giving this stuff to dogs with cancer?

Well, let’s first take a look at what the deal with CLA is. There are really several forms of it with different chemical structures and scientific names.  They have different effects, but in supplements and in the diet they are present together typically.  

You find CLA in butter and milk fat, and also in meat and eggs.  There is way more CLA in grass fed animals than grain fed.

Why do we care?

Well, safflower oil, which has a lot of linoleic acid in it, did produce a non-toxic remission in 6 out of eight dogs with a form of lymphosarcoma of the skin (here’s the abstract).  Small study but whatever, seemed to work. So that’s interesting.

Both the common forms of CLA decreased rat mammary cancer in the lab.  One form of CLA also decreased stomach tumors caused by a carcinogen in rodents.

One of the two main forms of  CLA killed mammary, colon, colorectal, stomach, prostate, and hepatoma (liver) cancer cell lines.  This was in the lab (in vitro). 

However, the other form actually increased mammary and intestine cancer caused by genetics in rodents.

Check it out here.

So we have a lot to think about here.  First, do we even want to use safflower oil or CLA  as supplements at all?  Is safflower oil good, or maybe pure CLA…or is there some other form that is better?

Second, are there things we need to worry about with these active compounds?

Lastly, should we do something to block unwanted effects?

Stay tuned to find out!!

Best to all,

Dr Dressler

About the Author

Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM is known as the "dog cancer vet" and is author of Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Beyond Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiation. Visit his blog and sign up free to get the latest information about canine cancer. Go to http://DogCancerBlog.com.

 

Tagged as: Active Ingredients, Biggy, Cancer Cell, Cancer Genetics, Carcinogen, Chemical Structures, Cla, Colorectal, Conjugated Linoleic Acid, Conjugated Linoleic Acids, Dog Cancer, Dogs, Dressler, Grain Fed, Grass Fed, Intestine Cancer, Liver Cancer, lymphoma, Lymphoma In Dogs, Lymphosarcoma, Prostate Cancer, Remission, Rodents, Scientific Names, Stomach Tumors, Unwanted Effects, Vitro