Abstract

A diet low in fat was found to retard the development of autoimmune disease in (NZB x NZW)F1 mice, whereas diets high in fat content were associated with more severe disease. The ability of a reduced lipid intake to ameliorate the progression of autoimmune disease was indicated by preserved lacrimal gland secretion (measured by a modified Schirmer test), decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells into the exocrine tissue, and decreased severity of immunohaemolytic anaemia as indicated by near-normal packed cell volume and reticulocyte values. These results suggest that nutritional intervention may be of some help in reducing the severity of pathological abnormalities associated with human systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome.