title: Dietary fish oil and flaxseed oil suppress inflammation and immunity in cats.
abstract: The modulatory activity of dietary n-3 fatty acids on inflammation and immune response in domestic cats is unknown. Mature female cats (n=14/treatment) were fed control, fish oil or flaxseed oil diets with n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratios of 20:1, 5:1 and 5:1, respectively, for 12 wk. Immune response was assessed on wk 0, 6 and 12, and skin hypersensitivity response on wk 6 and 12. Fish oil increased (P<0.01) eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in plasma and skin, whereas flaxseed oil increased α-linolenic acid. Fish and flaxseed oils decreased (P<0.01) skin inflammatory response to histamine. Cats fed fish but not flaxseed oil had higher (P<0.05) skin leukotriene LTB(5), but not LTB(4). Fish and flaxseed oils lowered B, total T and T(h) subset populations, and leukocyte proliferative response to PWM (P<0.05). In contrast, there was no change in ConA- or PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation, Tc and MHC II cell populations, DTH response, NK cytotoxicity, IL-2 production, or plasma IgG concentrations. Therefore, fish and flaxseed oil can reduce skin inflammatory responses in cats, however, flaxseed oil appears less immunosuppressive than fish oil.
authors: School of Food Science, FSHN 110, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6376, USA.
authors: Hyun Joo
authors: HJ
authors: Park
authors: Jean Soon
authors: JS
authors: Park
authors: Michael G
authors: MG
authors: Hayek
authors: Gregory A
authors: GA
authors: Reinhart
authors: Boon P
authors: BP
authors: Chew
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002415:Cats; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000633:toxicity; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D008043:Linseed Oil; C040212:leukotriene B5; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid