Synthetic amino-acid diet prolongs survival in autoimmune murine disease

The effect of substituting a fully synthetic diet for standard laboratory pellet feed on the course of spontaneous autoimmune disease in New Zealand Black/White hybrid mice was examined. Delays in the development of anti-nuclear antibody, proteinuria and circulating immune complexes were seen; the survival was markedly prolonged. This type of dietary manipulation has a beneficial effect on the course of murine autoimmune disease.