title: The effects of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on immune function in healthy volunteers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of dietary supplementation using two isomeric blends of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on immune function in healthy human volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled intervention trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 55 healthy volunteers (n=20 males, n=35 females) were randomised into one of three study groups who received 3 g/day of a fatty acid blend containing a 50:50 cis-9, trans-11: trans-10, cis-12 CLA isomer blend (2 g CLA), and 80:20 cis-9, trans-11: trans-10, cis-12 (80:20) CLA isomer blend (1.76 g CLA) or linoleic acid (control, 2 g linoleic acid) for 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Supplementation with the 80:20 CLA isomer blend significantly (P< or =0.05) enhanced PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation. CLA decreased basal interleukin (IL)-2 secretion (P< or =0.01) and increased PHA-induced IL-2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF(alpha)) production (P< or =0.01). However, these effects were not solely attributable to CLA as similar results were observed with linoleic acid. CLA supplementation had no significant effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cells IL-4 production, or on serum-soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) or plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) or leukotreine B4 (LTB4) concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that CLA supplementation had a minimal effect on the markers of human immune function. Furthermore, supplementation with CLA had no immunological benefit compared with linoleic acid.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Nutrition, Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Nugent
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Noone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gibney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007536:Isomerism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D044243:Linoleic Acids, Conjugated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D044243:Linoleic Acids, Conjugated; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019787:Linoleic Acid