Changes in lymphoma development in female SJL/J mice as a function of the ratio in low polyunsaturated/high polyunsaturated fat diet.

A diet of low polyunsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratio known to alter fatty acid composition of lymphocyte membranes and retard the progressive changes which result in loss of suppressor capacity in SJL/J female mice, was fed to these mice from conception to study its effect on the development of lymphoma. Between 12 and 14 months, at a time when 100% of mice on a diet of high polyunsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid ratio showed lymphoma, only 70% of the mice fed the low P/S diet had developed lymphoma. Dietary fatty acid levels would appear to have a significant effect on the rate of progression of lymphoma in SJL/J female mice.