Effect of cold pressed chia seed oil intake on hematological and biochemical biomarkers in both normal and hypercholesterolemic rabbits

Abstract

Most of the studies into the beneficial effects of chia were conducted with seeds. However, less evidence about the effects of cold pressed chia seeds oil on hypercholesterolemia-induced alterations has been found. Thus, this study investigated the effects of cold pressed chia seed oil supplementation on some clinical, hematological and biochemical biomarkers in both normal and hypercholesterolemic rabbits. All experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (Approval number: 021/2019; Date: March 23th, 2021). 32 male rabbits were assigned to four different groups fed on: regular diet (CD), CD supplemented with 10% chia oil, CD supplemented with 1% cholesterol, CD supplemented with 1% cholesterol and 10% chia oil. After 6 weeks of dietary interventions, mean arterial blood pressure and visceral fat were measured and blood samples were analyzed for lipid profiles and hematological parameters while erythrocyte membranes and retroperitoneal fat were analyzed for fatty acids composition and biochemical biomarkers. Dietary intervention with chia oil reached to control hypercholesterolemia-induced increase of mean arterial blood pressure, neutrophil to lymphocytes ratio, erythrocyte membrane fluidity, and improved erythrocyte morphological alterations. With regard to inflammatory biomarkers, chia oil supplementation reduced omega-6/omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio and arachidonic/linolenic fatty acids ratio both in erythrocytes and fat from normal and hypercholesterolemic rabbits. The increase of linolenic fatty acid into the retroperitoneal fat was about 9 times higher than its respective controls. These results provide support for the potential health benefits of the chia oil intake against hypercholesterolemia-associated clinical, hematological and biochemical alterations.