Effects of chronic dietary supplementation with omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acid rich oils on lipopolysaccharide-induced behavioural responses and interleukin-1 beta secretion in the rat

An abnormal fatty acid composition may be related to the immune-inflammator y pathophysiology of major depression. We have examined the effects of diet ary supplementation (200 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks with the omega 3 fatty acid rich oils eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) 70 monoester and EPA 95 diester o r a omega 6 fatty acid rich oil, nicotinic gamma linoleic acid (Nico GLA) o n lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive-like behavioural symptoms and interleukin (IL)-1 beta production in the rat. LPS challenge (100 mu g/kg; i.p.) produced significant decreases in body weight gain, food intake, con sumption of a palatable saccharin solution and nocturnal activity in the ho me cage in all groups irrespective of the nature of pre-treatment. The LPS challenge also provoked a robust increase in plasma interleukin-1 beta conc entrations which was not altered by dietary fatty acid supplementation. The se results suggest that dietary supplementation with either omega 3 or omeg a 6 fatty acids does not alter IL-1 beta secretion or the depressive-like b ehavioural symptoms provoked by LPS administration in the rat. Med Sci Res 27:291-294 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.