Conjugated linoleic acid modulates immune responses in patients with mild to moderately active Crohn's disease

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Vol. 31; no. 5; pp. 721 - 727
• Main Authors: Bassaganya-Riera, Josep, Hontecillas, Raquel, Horne, William T, Sandridge, Mikki, Herfarth, Hans H, Bloomfeld, Richard, Isaacs, Kim L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD8-positive T-lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; colitis; Conjugated linoleic acid; Crohn disease; Crohn Disease - drug therapy; Crohn Disease - immunology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; immune response; Immunity - drug effects; immunomodulators; Immunoregulation; Inflammatory bowel disease; interferon-gamma; Interferon-gamma - blood; Interleukin-17 - blood; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Linoleic Acids, Conjugated - administration & dosage; Male; Medical sciences; mice; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Semiology; patients; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor; Pilot Projects; PPAR gamma - blood; Quality of Life; questionnaires; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Surveys and Questionnaires; swine; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Inflammatory bowel disease; Conjugated linoleic acid; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor; Immunoregulation; Human; Crohn disease; Immune response; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Metabolic diseases; Inflammatory disease
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2012.03.002

Summary Background & aims Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has demonstrated efficacy as an immune modulator and anti-inflammatory compound in mouse and pig models of colitis. We investigated the immunoregulatory efficacy of CLA in patients with mild to moderate Crohn's disease (CD). Methods Thirteen patients with mild to moderately active CD were enrolled in an open-label study of CLA (6 g/d orally) for 12 weeks. Peripheral blood was collected at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks after treatment initiation for isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells for functional analyses of lymphoproliferation and cytokine production. Disease activity was calculated using the CD activity index (CDAI) and quality of life was assessed using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ). Results CLA significantly suppressed the ability of peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets to produce IFN- γ , TNF-α and IL-17 and lymphoproliferation at week 12. There was a statistically significant drop in CDAI from 245 to 187 ( P  = 0.013) and increase in IBDQ from 141 to 165 ( P  = 0.017) on week 12. Conclusion Oral CLA administration was well tolerated and suppressed the ability of peripheral blood T cells to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, decreased disease activity and increased the quality of life of patients with CD.