Dietary fish oil and flaxseed oil suppress inflammation and immunity in cats

Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2011 Jun 15;141(3-4):301-6. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.02.024. Epub 2011 Mar 6.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

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

Substances

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