Compositions and Methods For Preventing or Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Compositions comprising docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and optionally one or more fatty acids selected from the group consisting of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), arachidonic acid (ARA), linoleic acid (LA), and α-linoleic acid (ALA) are administered to felines for preventing or treating feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A method for determining if a feline is suffering from inflammatory bowel disease comprising:
 dividing lymphocytes collected from blood obtained from the feline into a first, second, and third sample with all samples comprising equal amounts of lymphocytes;   exposing the second sample to an amount of a mitogen for a period of time;   exposing the third sample to the same amount of the same mitogen as the second sample for the same period of time as the second sample in the presence of an amount of docosahexaenoic acid; and   comparing levels of lymphocyte proliferation in all samples, wherein if the level of lymphocyte proliferation in the second sample is higher than the level of lymphocyte proliferation in the first sample, and the level of lymphocyte proliferation in the third sample is lower than the level of lymphocyte proliferation in the second sample, then the feline is suffering from inflammatory bowel disease.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the mitogen is selected from the group consisting of phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin, pokeweed mitogen, lipopolysaccharide, and anti-CD3 antibody. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the level of lymphocyte proliferation is determined by measuring deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis is measured by measuring incorporation of 3H-thymidine or 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine in deoxyribonucleic acid. 
   
   
       20 - 28 . (canceled)