The effects of dietary flaxseed supplementation on lipid metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic hamsters

Vascular complications, such as atherosclerosis, represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary flaxseed supplementation, a rich source of lignans, a-linolenic acid and soluble fiber mucilage on serum and hepatic lipid concentrations in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in hamsters. METHODS: Twenty-four male Golden Syrian hamsters were used in this experiment; diabetes was induced in half of them by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight), and both diabetic and control groups were divided in 2 subgroups, one fed standard diet, and one fed standard diet supplemented with flaxseed (15%), for 20 weeks. Serum total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio and hepatic cholesterol and triglycerides were measured at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: Dietary flaxseed supplementation in diabetic hamsters was associated with significant reductions in serum TC (-24.9%), TC/HDL-C ratio (-60%) and increase in serum HDL-C (+91%) as compared to diabetic group without supplementation. There were no significant differences in serum TG levels between diabetes supplemented with flaxseed and diabetic groups. Also, flaxseed supplementation in diabetes induced significant reductions in hepatic cholesterol (-39.5%) and triglycerides levels (-28.8%). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that dietary flaxseed supplementation may reduce the incidence of diabetic macrovascular complications through improvement of lipid profile.