Dietary conjugated linoleic acid protects against end stage disease of systemic lupus erythematosus in the NZB/W F1 mouse

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring fatty acid with ant i-carcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic and immune-enhancing activities. Dieta ry CLA accelerated the onset of proteinuria in autoimmune-prone NZS/W F1 mi ce but did not affect anti-DNA antibody production. Body weight of the CLA group was decreased compared to the control group at the time proteinuria f irst developed. CLA group also had slightly earlier mortality than control fed mice, however the mean days of survival did not differ between CLA and control fed mice. Body weight loss between proteinuria onset and death was approximately twice as much in the control group as in the CLA group. Moreo ver, duration between proteinuria and death was longer in the CLA than in t he control group. Our data suggested that dietary CLA may accelerate the au toimmune symptoms of NZB/W F1 mice, however, CLA protected against the dise ase related body weight loss and prolonged survival after proteinuria.