Effect of conjugated linoleic acid,vitamin E,alone or combined on immunity and inflammatory parameters in adults with active rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized controlled trial

Background: little information about the effects of conjugated linoleic acids (clas) on inflammation and immune function in humans is available. this study investigated the effects of clas,with and without vitamin e on immunity and inflammatory parameters in adults with active rheumatoid arthritis (ra).methods: in a double-blind clinical trial,78 patients were randomly divided into four groups,each group receiving one of the following daily supplement for 3 months; group c: 2.5 g clas,group e: 400 mg vitamin e,group ce: clas plus vitamin e,group p: placebo. cytokines,matrix metalloproteinase 3 (mmp-3) and citrullinated antibody (ccp-a) were measured by elisa method and vitamin e by high-performance liquid chromatography.results: consider statistical methods there were no significant differences between groups in cytokines interleukin-2 (il-2),il-4,tumor necrosis factor-α (tnf-α),il-1β,il-2/il-4,ccp-a white blood cells and neutrophils,lymphocyte,monocytes,and eosinophils numbers. tnf-α decreased in all groups,but its reduction was significant in group ce. il-1β increased in groups p (p = 0.004) and e (p = 0.041) but the difference between group p and ce was significant. il-4 decreased in groups c,ce and e (p = 0.03,p = 0.03,p = 0.07 respectively). il2 did not change significantly within groups. ccp-a increased in groups p (p = 0.035) and e (p = 0.05),while it decreased in groups ce (p = 0.034). ccp-a and mmp-3 decrease were significant between groups p and ce. mmp-3 reduction was significant in group ce.conclusions: co-supplementation clas and vitamin e may be effective in the level of inflammatory markers in ra patients. © 2014,isfahan university of medical sciences(iums). all rights reserved.