What is Nature’s Bounty CLA?
Nature’s Bounty Tonalin CLA are softgel capsules, containing a substance known to the fitness community as CLA, which stands for conjugated linoleic acid. When used as a supplement, this chemical has been shown in some studies to aid in weight loss, and in toning parts of the body which can often stubbornly hold on to excess weight, like the abdomen area.
Ingredients
Safflower oil is the main ingredient in these softgels. CLA is an omega-6 fatty acid which is a naturally occurring substance in safflower oil. Safflower oil is very similar to sunflower oil, which you’re probably familiar with in your kitchen. The only other ingredients are those used in the softgel casing, such as gelatin, natural caramel color and glycerin. The presence of gelatin means that the product is unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Dosage
The directions state that adults should take two softgels in the morning, and one more in the afternoon, for a total of three per day. The suggestion is that these are best consumed with meals.
What is the Cost?
You can’t buy this product directly from the manufacturer. We found that the price for a bottle containing 50 softgels ranges from $12 to $18 online. Assuming the consumer follows the dosage guidelines of three softgels per day, you would need two bottles (not just one as is typical with supplements) for a one-month supply.
Manufacturer’s Guarantee
Our team was unable to find any reference to a guarantee policy, or under which conditions a product could be returned or refunded. Contact details were available, but we feel that we should not have to go to the trouble of calling or writing to a supplement manufacturer to find out if they offer a money back guarantee, or indeed any sort of protection for the consumer. As the firm is based in the US, we expect that your standard consumer rights would provide some form of a redress in the event of a problem.
Our Final Review of Nature’s Bounty Tonalin CLA
We were happy with the clear recommendations about dosage. They are simple to follow, and we’d like to see this sort of clarity on all supplement products. The product is made from natural ingredients, with nothing synthetic added. The manufacturer also states that everything comes from non-GMO sources, and is free of common allergens. However, at the recommended dosage, one bottle is only equal to 16.67 days worth of use. Taking this into consideration, the price begins to rise without the consumer necessarily realizing it. Not having a full day’s worth of softgels for the final day of the bottle is also inconvenient. Nature’s Bounty does not, as far as we can find, offer any sort of satisfaction guarantee, which is problematic when it comes to us giving a recommendation. The concentration of CLA in each capsule is not regular. The content varies between 78-84%, which we feel could affect the efficacy of the supplement on a day to day basis. We would prefer to see a more standardized amount of the active ingredient.