Lyprinol(TM): a potential preventive treatment for experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Abstract

Background- Fish oil and the stabilised lipid extract of New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel (Lyprinol trade mark; LYP) are considered beneficial in treating arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Unlike fish oil, it is uncertain whether any benefit seen with LYP is due to its omega-3 fatty acid content. We compared the effect of LYP and fish oil pre-treatments on experimental induction of IBD in mice. Methods- Male C57BL/6 mice aged 6 weeks were gavaged daily for 13 days with 150microl of olive oil (OO, n=7), LYP (5mg in OO; n=8) or fish oil (FO, 55mg EPA/DHA; n=8). Mice consumed 2% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) for 6 days from day 7 to induce colitis. Body weight and disease activity index (DAI) scores were recorded daily; colonic inflammation was assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histopathologic damage to the ileum and colon. Results- FO treatment had no significant benefit compared with OO. By day 12 of the trial, OO treated mice had gained 15+/-2% body weight, FO treated mice had gained 6+/-5% and LYP treated mice had gained 21+/-3%: LYP treated mice had a lower DAI score (0 vs. 1 for OO, 4 for FO). Compared with FO, LYP treated mice had smaller crypt area losses (distal colon), lower caecum and colon weights and a trend for lower overall colitis severity in the distal colon. MPO activity was not significantly affected by either LYP or FO vs. OO (see table). Conclusions- These findings indicate that LYP may be potentially useful in ameliorating symptoms of IBD. The lack of effect of FO indicates that the benefit of LYP is attributable to components of the stabilised lipid extract other than its omega 3 content. A dose-response evaluation of LYP in experimental IBD is warranted.