Effects of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers on immune function in healthy men.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of two different mixtures of the main conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers cis-9, trans-11 CLA and trans-10, cis-12 CLA on human immune function.


METHODS
Double-blind, randomized, parallel, reference-controlled intervention study.


METHODS
Seventy-one healthy males aged 31-69 y received one of the following treatments: (1). mixture of 50% c9,t11 CLA and 50% t10,c12 CLA isomers (CLA 50:50); (2). mixture of 80% c9,t11 CLA and 20% t10,c12 CLA isomers (CLA 80:20); and (3). sunflower oil fatty acids (reference). The treatments were given as supplements in softgel capsules providing a total of 1.7 g (c9,t11+t10,c12) CLA fatty acids (50:50) or 1.6 g (c9,t11+t10,c12) CLA glycerides (80:20) per day in treatment groups for 12 weeks.


RESULTS
Almost twice as many subjects reached protective antibody levels to hepatitis B when consuming CLA 50:50 fatty acids (15/24, 62%) compared with subjects consuming the reference substance (7/21, 33%, P=0.075). In subjects consuming CLA 80:20 glycerides this was 8/22 (36%). Other aspects of immune function, ie DTH responses, NK cell activity, lymphocyte proliferation and production of TNF-alpha, IL1-beta, IL6, IFN-gamma, IL2, IL4, and PGE(2), were not affected.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study that suggests that CLA may beneficially affect the initiation of a specific response to a hepatitis B vaccination. This was seen in the CLA 50:50, but not in the CLA 80:20 group.
Albers
R
R
Unilever Health Institute, Unilever Research Vlaardingen, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. ruud.albers@unilever.com
van der Wielen
R P J
RP
Brink
E J
EJ
Hendriks
H F J
HF
Dorovska-Taran
V N
VN
Mohede
I C M
IC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007109:Immunity; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007536:Isomerism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014611:Vaccination
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D015232:Dinoprostone