Effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil on in vivo production of inflammatory mediators in clinically normal dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of diets enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on in vivo production of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and platelet-activating factor (PAF) in dogs.


METHODS
15 young healthy dogs.


METHODS
Dogs were randomly allocated to receive an isocaloric ration supplemented with sunflower oil (n=5), fish oil (5), or fish oil plus vitamin E (5) for 12 weeks. At week 12, in vivo production of inflammatory mediators was evaluated in serum at multiple time points for 6 hours following stimulation with IV administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).


RESULTS
Serum activity or concentration (area under the curve) of IL-1, IL-6, and PGE2 significantly increased after LPS injection in all groups but to a lesser extent in dogs receiving the fish oil diet, compared with results for dogs receiving the sunflower oil diet. Serum activity of TNF-alpha and PAF concentration also increased significantly after LPS injection in all groups but did not differ significantly among groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A fish oil-enriched diet consisting of 1.75 g of EPA/kg of diet and 2.2 g of DHA/kg of diet (dry-matter basis) with an n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio of 3.4:1 was associated with significant reductions in serum PGE2 concentrations and IL-1 and IL-6 activities. Results supported the use of EPA- and DHA-enriched diets as part of antiinflammatory treatments for dogs with chronic inflammatory diseases. Additional studies in affected dogs are warranted to further evaluate beneficial anti-inflammatory effects of EPA- and DHA-enriched diets.
LeBlanc
Casey J
CJ
Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Horohov
David W
DW
Bauer
John E
JE
Hosgood
Giselle
G
Mauldin
Glenna E
GE
D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011897:Random Allocation; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage
D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014810:Vitamin E; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D015232:Dinoprostone