What is conjugated linoleic acid derived from?

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is primarily derived from ruminants, such as cows and sheep. It is a group of isomers of linoleic acid, which occurs naturally in the fat of these animals due to the unique digestive processes they have. The fermentation in the rumen of ruminants converts linoleic acid into its conjugated forms, resulting in CLA. This means that the meat and milk products obtained from ruminants are significant dietary sources of CLA for humans.

While some plant sources may contain linoleic acid, they do not produce significant amounts of the conjugated forms found in ruminant products. Fish sources contribute to omega-3 fatty acids rather than CLA, and processed foods can be a source of various fatty acids but are not a direct source of CLA in its natural and beneficial form as found in dairy and beef products. Therefore, the origin of CLA is distinctly linked to ruminant animals, making it the correct answer.