The effect of increasing levels of dietary fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids on lymphocyte phospholipid fatty acid composition and cell-mediated immunity in the mouse.
The influence of increasing intakes of fish oil on spleen leucocyte phospholipid fatty acid composition and cell-mediated immunity was studied in the mouse using a popliteal lymph node assay technique. The immune response was suppressed by 160 g fish oil/kg diet, but not by lower doses. The proportion of 20:5n-3 in spleen leucocyte phospholipid increased from 0.14 in the controls to 3.8, 7.2, 8.5 and 9.4% in the animals fed on 25, 50, 100 and 160 g fish oil/kg diet; the proportion of 22:6n-3 increased from 5.1 in the controls to 12.1, 12.2, 12.8 and 12.9% respectively. It is concluded that moderate intakes of fish oil are not immunosuppressive.
Hinds
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Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, King's College London.
Sanders
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TA
D000818:Animals; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis*
D005395:Fish Oils; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid