Determination of natural resistance of mice fed dietary lipids to experimental infection induced by Listeria monocytogenes.

Current understanding based on the effect of dietary lipid manipulation upon immune system function indicates that fatty acids are involved in the modulation of the immune response through different and complex pathways. Reduction of several immune parameters by fatty acid action may be applied in the treatment of diseases characterised by an overactivation of the immune system. As a consequence, a reduction of host resistance against infectious agents has been reported in animals fed dietary lipids. The present study confirms the action of dietary lipids on the survival of mice infected with the pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. A significant increase in peritoneal cells from mice fed a hydrogenated coconut oil diet was found, while a significant reduction of bacterial recovery from spleens of these mice was observed in this group. In addition, both eicosanoid and phospholipase inhibitors did not promote any modification of lymphocyte proliferation from mice fed olive oil or fish oil.