EN
The present review focuses on conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and its properties as a functional component of foods of animal origin. CLA is a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of 18 : 2 fatty acids having conjugated double bonds. The CLA isomers occur naturally, mainly in fats of ruminant animals. CLA exhibits unique beneficial physiological properties, acting as a fat to lean repartitioning agent, showing antiarterosclerotic and anticancerogenic properties, and stimulating the immunological system in animals. The feeding techniques that are currently exploited in order to enhance the CLA concentration in foods of animal origin (milk, meat, eggs) and their effectiveness are described. Although direct extrapolation of the results from animal studies to humans is premature, it seems desirable to obtain the CLA-enriched milk, meat, and eggs as functional foods for human consumption.