Immunomodulatory Activity of Cod Liver Oil

The immunomodulatory activity of Cod liver oil (CLO) was evaluated by mice lethality test, carbon clearance assay, neutrophil adhesion test, cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenia, indirect haemagglutination test and effect on serum immunoglobulin levels. CLO was administered orally at a dose of 0.5 g/kg or 1 g/kg body weight. In mice lethality test, low dose of CLO (0.5 g/kg, po) produced 40% decrease in the mortality ratio compared to the control suggesting an increase in specific immunity against an invading pathogen. The low dose of CLO (0.5 g/kg, po) also showed significant increase in phagocytic index in carbon clearance assay, increased serum immunoglobulin levels (ZST values) and also showed an increase in antibody titer value in indirect haemagglutination test. The high dose of CLO (1 g/kg, po) was effective only in preventing mortality by 33.3% in mice lethality test. However, both the doses of CLO did not show any significant effect on neutrophil adhesion and failed to prevent cyclophosphamide induced neutropenia. It was concluded that CLO in low dose increases humoral immunity.