Effect of flaxseed on serum lipids and atherosclerosis in rabbits

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the beneficial effect of flaxseed-rich diet on atherosclerotic rabbits. Rabbits were divided to 4 groups: group I, control diet, group II,1%cholesterol diet, group III, 10% flaxseed diet, and group IV, 1% cholesterol+ 10% flaxseed diet. Blood and tissue samples were collected after 2 months for measurement of serum lipid profile :total lipids, total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL- cholesterol(LDL-C); blood and tissue antioxidants :reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase ;oxidative stress parameters :nitric oxide(NO); serum lipid peroxidation product : malondialdehyde (MDA) and histopatholgical examination of aorta. The results of the current work indicated that dietary cholesterol supplementation significally increased lipid profile parameters; total lipids, total cholesterol(TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), HDLcholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C),MDA and tissue SOD. On the other hand, cholesterol supplementation reduce NO, catalase, blood SOD and blood GSH but there was no change in tissue GSH .Also the result indicated that cholesterol and flaxseed supplementation on the same time lead to increase lipid profile parameters (total lipids, total cholesterol (TC), HDLcholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) but not affect triacylglycerol (TAG), also, increase MDA, NO, catalase and tissue SOD but not affect blood SOD and decrease blood GSH , but not changed in tissue. On the other hand flaxseed supplementation alone was resulted in increased total lipids, slight increase in total cholesterol (TC) ,there was no change in triacylglycerol (TAG), decrease HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), increase LDL- cholesterol(LDL-C), no change in MDA and NO, increase blood catalase, liver GSH, but decrease tissue catalase, blood GSH. From these results it can be concluded that flaxseed assured no protection against atherosclerosis in cholesterol fed rabbits.