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Effects of Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency, and Various Levels of Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, on Humoral Immunity in Mice¹

Departments of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and Biochemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824

Six experiments were conducted to determine the influence of an essential fatty acid deficient diet (EFAD), and various levels of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, on humoral immunity in mice. The results indicated that: 1) Consumption of diets deficient in essential fatty acids (0% corn oil) significantly reduced the humoral response. This reduction was demonstrated after feeding the essential fatty acid deficient diet for only 28 days; and preceded the effects of essential fatty acid deficiency on growth or appearance. 2) Reduced antibody response was demonstrated against T-cell dependent and T-cell independent antigens, and in both primary and secondary responses of mice fed the essential fatty acid deficient diet. 3) After 56 days of feeding the EFAD diet (0% corn oil), mice switched to the control diet (13% corn oil) for 7 days demonstrated full recovery of the humoral response. 4) Diets containing various levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (from 2 to 70% of energy from corn oil) did not adversely affect the humoral response. The results support the hypothesis that essential fatty acids play a crucial role in maintaining the functional integrity of humoral immunity.

KEY WORDS: • dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids • essential fatty acid deficiency • humoral immunity • mice

¹ JWD and DRR are from the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. PJF is from the Department of Biochemistry. DRR is the recipient of Career Development Award NIH K04 AM 00112. Supported in part by a Biomedical Research Support Grant. Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article No. 8701.

Manuscript received 10 October 1978.

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