Hypolipidemic and heptoprotective seeds mixture diet rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids

In vitro physicochemical and antioxidant properties of mixture of Flax/Sesame (LS) and Flax/Peanut (LA) and in vivo hypolipidemic, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities were carried out to ascertain the claim of its utilisation against diseases. The seeds mixture rich in unsaturated fatty acids were prepared with 5/1 ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acids and were orally administered ad libitum to rats by standard diet for 30 days. High cholesterol fed diet rats (CD-chol) exhibited a significant increase in total plasma and liver lipid parameters and atherogenicity and a significant decrease in high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and HDL/TC ratio (HTR). Administration of (LS) or (LA) seeds mixture to hypercholesterolemic rats (MS-LSchol and MS-LAchol groups respectively) significantly ameliorated lipid parameters and showed an increase of PUFAs (ALA and LA) and MUFAs and a decrease of SFAs in plasma and liver of MS-LSchol and MS-LAchol groups. Furthermore, malondialdehyde levels decreased and the efficiency of antioxidant defense system was improved compared to CD-chol group. Liver histological sections showed lipid storage in hepatocytes of CD-chol group and an improvement was noted in both supplemented groups. Our results suggested that seeds mixtures of Flax/Sesame and Flax/Peanut have anti-atherogenic and hepatoprotective effects. (Author's abstract)
In previous research by the investigators, flax and pumpkin seeds were shown to significantly increase the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) level in plasma and liver of hypercholesterolemic rats. This study provides a brief overview of the various components of mixture seeds of Flax/Sesame and Flax/Peanut and their role in prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia and generation of oxidants. The authors note that fibers present in seeds play major roles in health. In thier research, after four weeks of feeding the various seed mixtures affect lipid metabolism in hypercholesterolemic rats: the TC, LDL-C and TG concentrations in the MS-LSchol groups were significantly lower than in CD-chol group. Oxidative injury, due to free radicals, is associated with several diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. LS and LA diets exert marked antioxidant effect in both MS-LSchol and MS-LAchol groups of rats as compared to hypercholesterolemic rats. These data support suggestions that seeds with high antioxidant capacity are biologically more active than other seeds with low antioxidant capacity.  The authors note that their research suggests that changes in the plasma and liver fatty acid composition, mainly as n-3 PUFAs, may increase the activity of some antioxidant enzymes and improve lipid metabolism and reduce the risk of free radical damage in hypercholesterolemia. (Editor's comments)