Inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation in vitro by two lipid emulsions with different fatty acid compositions

The effects of two lipid emulsions upon the proliferation of rat and human lymphocytes in vitro were investigated. The emulsions used were Intralipid, a soya bean oilbased emulsion in widespread clinical use, and Omegavenous, a newly-developed emulsion in which n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids comprise approximately 40% of the total fatty acids. Both emulsions inhibited lymphocyte proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Omegavenous was a much more potent inhibitor than Intralipid.