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Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Immune Function

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Diets which are low in fat or high in omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils increase the survival and reduce disease severity in spontaneous autoantibody mediated disease, and linoleic acid rich diets appear to increase disease severity.

Inflammation as a consequence of immune activation in autoimmune disease might be a vital mechanism of action whereby dietary fatty acids modulate disease activity. In conclusion, regulation of gene expression, signal transduction pathways, production of eicosanoids and cytokines, and the action of antioxidant enzymes are all mechanisms by which omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids may exert effects on the immune system and autoimmune disease. DHA and EPA are omega-3's, which is found perhaps most abundantly in fish oil

An important mechanisms in respect to our understanding of immunoregulation and inflammation may be from fatty acid effects on cytokines. The amount as well as balance of dietary fatty acids appear to impact on the immune system to produce immune deviation or immunosuppressive effects, and to reduce immune-mediated inflammation which will in turn affect the susceptibility to autoimmune disease in general.

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