Hematologic and immunological indicators are altered by chronic intake of flaxseed in Wistar rats
Hematologic and immunological indicators are altered by chronic intake of flaxseed in Wistar rats
Year: 2011
Authors: Ferreira Medeiros de Franca Cardoza, L. Leal Soares, L. Cardozo Brant, L.H. Alves Chagas, M. Alves Pereira, V. Coca Velarde, L.G. Teles Boaventura, G.
Publication Name: Nutr. Hosp.
Publication Details: Volume 26; Number 5; Pages 1091 – 1096.
Abstract:
This work sought to evaluate the effects of chronic intake of flaxseed upon hematologic parameters and immunological findings on body development of Wistar rats. Female Wistar rats were used after gestation. They were randomly assigned into two groups during lactation period: Control Group (CG), fed with casein based diet, made up of 17% protein and flaxseed group (FG), fed with casein based diet with the addition of 25% flaxseed. At weaning, 12 male pups of each group continued to receive the experimental diets of their mothers (with only 10% of protein) until adult age, when they were killed at 250 days of life aiming at blood collection. At 250 days old FG presented significant reduction in body mass (p < 0.000) and higher levels of hemoglobin (p = 0.019) and albumin (p = 0.030) than CG. It was observed smaller percentage of segmented lymphocytes (p = 0.016) in rats from FG and bigger percentage of segmented leucocytes (p = 0.023) when compared to CG. The chronic consumption of flaxseed altered hematologic and immunological indicators in adult Wistar rats. Supplementation with flaxseed seems to be beneficial to maintenance or reduction of body mass. (Authors abstract)
It is important to determine protein concentrations into blood so as to evaluate if flaxseed intake can provoke hematologic disorders. In humans, the short term effects of flaxseed intake upon hematopoietic system, albumin and serum proteins, demonstrate no deleterious effects when consumed during four weeks. Supplementation with a lignin complex from flaxseed in humans for 2 months showed no adverse effects upon hematopoietic system. The present work aimed to evaluate whether chronic flaxseed intake yields alterations upon Wistar rats hematologic and immunological indicators and effects upon body development. Taking PER and FEC results into account, the flaxseed based diet resulted in reduced growth during 28 days after weaning. At the end of experimental period, FG showed a reduction in body mass. In comparison with control group, female Wistar rats showed smaller weight gain when supplemented with SDG (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside) and SECO (secoisolariciresinol) for 4 weeks. Less weight gain was also detected in rats fed with high fat diet made up with flaxseed oil. Chronic intake of flaxseed yielded a reduction in the percentage of lymphocytes together with less segmented leukocytes when flaxseed was present at very high concentrations (40%). This result was attributed to the presence of ALA, as the group that consumed the defatted seed did not show these differences. The results suggest that chronic intake of 25% flaxseed alters hematologic and immunological indicators in adult Wistar rats. Supplementation with flaxseed seems to be beneficial to maintenance or reduction of body mass. Further studies are required to elucidate effects on hematologic and immunological findings. (Editors comments).
It is important to determine protein concentrations into blood so as to evaluate if flaxseed intake can provoke hematologic disorders. In humans, the short term effects of flaxseed intake upon hematopoietic system, albumin and serum proteins, demonstrate no deleterious effects when consumed during four weeks. Supplementation with a lignin complex from flaxseed in humans for 2 months showed no adverse effects upon hematopoietic system. The present work aimed to evaluate whether chronic flaxseed intake yields alterations upon Wistar rats hematologic and immunological indicators and effects upon body development. Taking PER and FEC results into account, the flaxseed based diet resulted in reduced growth during 28 days after weaning. At the end of experimental period, FG showed a reduction in body mass. In comparison with control group, female Wistar rats showed smaller weight gain when supplemented with SDG (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside) and SECO (secoisolariciresinol) for 4 weeks. Less weight gain was also detected in rats fed with high fat diet made up with flaxseed oil. Chronic intake of flaxseed yielded a reduction in the percentage of lymphocytes together with less segmented leukocytes when flaxseed was present at very high concentrations (40%). This result was attributed to the presence of ALA, as the group that consumed the defatted seed did not show these differences. The results suggest that chronic intake of 25% flaxseed alters hematologic and immunological indicators in adult Wistar rats. Supplementation with flaxseed seems to be beneficial to maintenance or reduction of body mass. Further studies are required to elucidate effects on hematologic and immunological findings. (Editors comments).
