Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 1, 1996
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract:
Arachidonic acid (AA) is a precursor of eicosanoids which influence human health and the in vitro activity of immune cells. We, therefore, examined the effects of dietary AA on the immune response (IR) of 10 healthy men living at our metabolic suite for 130 d. All subjects were fed a basal diet containing 30 en% fat, 55 en% carbohydrate, 15 en% protein (AA, 340 mg/d) for the first and last 15 d of study. Additional AA (1.5 g/d) was incorporated into the diet of 6 men from d 16 to 65 while the remaining 4 subjects continued to eat the basal diet. The diets of the two groups were crossed-over from d 66 to 115. In vitro indices of IR were examined using the blood samples drawn on d 15, 58, 65, 108, 115 & 127. The subjects were immunized with the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine on d 45 and with the influenza (Flu) vaccine on d 92. Dietary AA did not influence many indices of IR (PBMNC proliferation in response to PHA, Con A, pokeweed, MMR, Flu vaccine prior to immunization, and natural killer cell activity). The post-immunization proliferation in response to Flu vaccine was about 4-fold higher in the group receiving high AA diet compared to the group receiving low AA diet (p=0.02). Also, the number of circulating granulocytes was increased in both groups by high AA diet (p=0.03). Dietary AA, at the levels fed in this study, had no adverse effect on the subjects. These results suggest that high AA diets may enhance the secondary IR to some vaccines.
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