<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-10</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-06-13</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001037649</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTERLEUKIN GENETICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ILI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001221575</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PYXIS INNOVATIONS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7575 FULTON STREET EAST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ADA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49355-0001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001303680</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Alticor Global Holdings Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7575 FULTON STREET EAST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ADA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49355-0001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257877</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SOLSTICE HOLDINGS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7575 FULTON STREET EAST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ADA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49355-0001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000941980</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALTICOR INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7575 FULTON STREET EAST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ADA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49355-0001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Promissory Note</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.6783</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>4000000.00</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>704437</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28864637</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Promissory Note</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.6783</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>1000000.00</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>176110</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29040747</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Promissory Note</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.6783</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>2000000.00</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>352219</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29392966</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Promissory Note</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.6783</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>2000000.00</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>352219</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29745185</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Promissory Note</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.6783</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>2000000.00</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>352219</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30097404</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On June 10, 2008, Pyxis was issued a convertible promissory note by the Issuer with an original principal amount of $4,000,000.  On September 30, 2010, this convertible promissory note was amended and restated to extend the maturity date on which the principal amount of the convertible promissory note will be payable to June 30, 2012.  The original principal amount of the convertible promissory note, plus accrued interest thereon, is convertible into the Issuer's common stock at any time at the option of Pyxis.  The maximum number of shares of common stock into which the balance of this convertible promissory note may be converted is determined by dividing the aggregate principal amount to be converted, together with all accrued interest to the date of conversion, by $5.6783.  As of June 10, 2008, the convertible promissory note would have been convertible into 704,437 shares of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On May 29, 2009, Pyxis was issued a convertible promissory note by the Issuer with an original principal amount of $1,000,000.  On September 30, 2010, this convertible promissory note was amended and restated to extend the maturity date on which the principal amount of the convertible promissory note will be payable to June 30, 2012.  The original principal amount of the convertible promissory note, plus accrued interest thereon, is convertible into the Issuer's common stock at any time at the option of Pyxis.  The maximum number of shares of common stock into which the balance of this convertible promissory note may be converted is determined by dividing the aggregate principal amount to be converted, together with all accrued interest to the date of conversion, by $5.6783.  As of May 29, 2009, the convertible promissory note would have been convertible into 176,110 shares of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On November 9, 2009, Pyxis was issued a convertible promissory note by the Issuer with an original principal amount of $2,000,000.  On September 30, 2010, this convertible promissory note was amended and restated to extend the maturity date on which the principal amount of the convertible promissory note will be payable to June 30, 2012.  The original principal amount of the convertible promissory note, plus accrued interest thereon, is convertible into the Issuer's common stock at any time at the option of Pyxis.  The maximum number of shares of common stock into which the balance of this convertible promissory note may be converted is determined by dividing the aggregate principal amount to be converted, together with all accrued interest to the date of conversion, by $5.6783.  As of November 9, 2009, the convertible promissory note would have been convertible into 352,219 shares of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On February 1, 2010, Pyxis was issued a convertible promissory note by the Issuer with an original principal amount of $2,000,000.  On September 30, 2010, this convertible promissory note was amended and restated to extend the maturity date on which the principal amount of the convertible promissory note will be payable to June 30, 2012.  The original principal amount of the convertible promissory note, plus accrued interest thereon, is convertible into the Issuer's common stock at any time at the option of Pyxis.  The maximum number of shares of common stock into which the balance of this convertible promissory note may be converted is determined by dividing the aggregate principal amount to be converted, together with all accrued interest to the date of conversion, by $5.6783.  As of February 1, 2010, the convertible promissory note would have been convertible into 352,219 shares of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">On September 30, 2010, Pyxis was issued a convertible promissory note by the Issuer with an original principal amount of $2,000,000.  The maturity date of this convertible promissory note is June 30, 2012.  The original principal amount of the convertible promissory note, plus accrued interest thereon, is convertible into the Issuer's common stock at any time at the option of Pyxis.  The maximum number of shares of common stock into which the balance of this convertible promissory note may be converted is determined by dividing the aggregate principal amount to be converted, together with all accrued interest to the date of conversion, by $5.6783.  As of September 30, 2010, the convertible promissory note would have been convertible into 352,219 shares of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">This amount includes 5,000,000 shares of the Issuer's Series A preferred stock held by Pyxis, which are convertible into 28,160,200 shares of common stock.  As of September 30, 2010, Pyxis holds five convertible promissory notes issued by the Issuer in the aggregate principal amount of $11,000,000.  Taking into account accrued interest as of September 30, 2010, these notes are currently convertible into a maximum of 1,946,044 shares of common stock of Pyxis. As of September 30, 2010, Pyxis is the holder of preferred stock and notes (including accrued interest) convertible into an aggregate of 30,106,244 shares of common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kim S. Mitchell, Assistant Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ALTICOR GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC., /s/ Kim S. Mitchell, Assistant Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>SOLSTICE HOLDINGS INC., /s/ Kim S. Mitchell, Assistant Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ALTICOR INC., /s/ Kim S. Mitchell, Assistant Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
