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: Hyun Joo Park, Jean Soon Park, Michael G Hayek, Gregory A Reinhart, Boon P Chew
• Journal: Veterinary immunology and immunopathology (Vet Immunol Immunopathol) Vol. 141 Issue 3-4 Pg. 301-6 (Jun 15 2011) ISSN: 1873-2534 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21440312 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Dietary Fats, Unsaturated
• Fish Oils
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Pokeweed Mitogens
• Leukotriene B4
• Linseed Oil
• leukotriene B5
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid

Topics

• Animal Feed
• Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
• Animals
• Cat Diseases (immunology, prevention & control)
• Cats
• Diet (veterinary)
• Dietary Fats, Unsaturated (pharmacology)
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (analogs & derivatives, metabolism)
• Female
• Fish Oils (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Immunosuppressive Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Inflammation (chemically induced, prevention & control, veterinary)
• Leukotriene B4 (analogs & derivatives, metabolism)
• Linseed Oil (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Lymphocyte Subsets
• Pokeweed Mitogens (toxicity)
• Skin (metabolism)