Effects of diet containing flaxseed flour (Linum usitatissimum) on body adiposity and bone health in young male rats

Abstract

Flaxseed flour has been described as an excellent alpha-linolenic acid source. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of flaxseed flour on body adiposity and bone health in rats fed a flaxseed flour diet during lactation until 90 days. At birth, male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control (C) and experimental (FF) groups, whose dams were treated with a control or flaxseed flour diet, respectively, during lactation. At 21 days, pups were weaned and fed a control and experimental diet until 90 days. Food intake, body mass and length were evaluated during a 21-90 day period. At 90 days, composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, serum hormonal profile, intra-abdominal fat mass, and lumbar vertebra and femur analyses was determined. Differences were deemed significant at p < 0.05. The FF group displayed the following (P < 0.05): a higher total lean mass (+7%), a lower total (-16%) and intra-abdominal (-24%) fat mass, a smaller adipocyte area (-30%), a higher femoral mass (+5%), bone mineral density (+5%) and radiodensity (+20%), and a higher maximum force (+10%) and breaking strength (+11%). The flaxseed flour diet displayed functional properties related to body growth maintenance associated with a lower risk of developing metabolic alterations, obesity and bone fragility.

Incorporation of Flaxseed Flour as a Dietary Source for ALA Increases Bone Density and Strength in Post‐Partum Female Rats

“…One explanation for this finding could be seen in Wauquier et al [33], in which a 10-month experiment in mice showed a positive effect of rich ALA diet correlated with lower inflammatory markers expression in bone tissue. DaCosta et al [38] also observed improvement of all bone parameters after offering flaxseed in young male rats, corroborating our data. Previously, Ribeiro et al [28] offered flaxseed flour only during the post-weaning period to dam rats (30 days).…”

<i>Linum usitatissimum</i> (Flaxseed) Oil during Postpartum Period Contributes to Lean Mass and Healthy Serum Lipid Profile in Rats

“…Other experimental studies suggest an anabolic answer from long-chain PUFA due a greater activation of AKT, mTOR and /or p70s6K signaling pathways in skeletal muscle [31,32]. suggests that increase in lean mass in rats treated with ALA-rich diet occurred due to differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells in skeletal and smooth muscles [15]. In the present study, a similar physiological mechanism may have occurred in the FO group.…”

“…The separation of fatty acids was performed using a SP-2560 fused silica column (bis-cianopropilo polissiloxano, 100m x 0,25mm x 0,2mm, Supelco, Bellefonte, USA). The methodology was described in AOAC Official Methods 996.06 (2002) and with some considerations based on the study by [15,22]. Quantification of LNA, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), ALA, eicosadienoic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), ARA, EPA, docosapentaenoic acid, DHA and total PUFA were determined (μmol/mL).…”

“…An increased production of eicosanoids from ARA's metabolism can be associated with effects that could lead to CND such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity [10]. However, the addition of dietetic sources rich in n-3 fatty acids such as flaxseed in a diet, have provided positive results, such as in body mass, adiposity and lipid profile [11][12][13][14][15][16]. Flaxseed oil (FO) is an important source of n-3 fatty acids that can be consumed as a supplement or food ingredient.…”

Can the indicators of chronic ethanol consumption be minimized by a continuous flaxseed intake?

“…Although EFG shown increased ethanol consumption, it is important to highlight that it did not affect negatively the animals’ growth. Corroborating these results, Costa et al did not observe differences in body mass in rats who consumed a diet with 25% of flaxseed from during lactation until 90 days of life. Similar results were found by Cardozo et al at 170 days mass.…”