Effects of Flaxseed Supplementation on Intestinal Tight Junction Protein and TNF‐alpha Gene Expression in Obese Mice

Abstract

Increased gut permeability may lead to lipopolysaccharides translocation to the blood and causes endotoxemia and inflammation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the health promoting compounds of flaxseed on intestinal tight junction permeability by measuring intestinal tight junction protein (ZO‐1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α expression. Sixty C57BL/6J male mice were randomly assigned into one of the following diet groups and fed for eight weeks: 1) 45% Kcal fat; 2) 45% Kcal fat, 10% whole flaxseed; 3) 45% Kcal fat, 6% defatted flaxseed; 4) 45% Kcal fat, 4% flaxseed oil; and 5) 16% Kcal fat. ZO‐1 and TNF‐α gene expression in mouse intestine samples were determined by real‐time quantitative PCR. The fold change in ZO‐1 and TNF‐α expression was calculated using 2−ΔΔCT method. TNF‐α expression was significantly decreased in whole flaxseed, defatted flaxseed, or flaxseed oil diet group compared to the high fat diet group (p<0.05). ZO‐1 expression was significantly decreased in defatted flaxseed, flaxseed oil, or low fat diet group compared to the high fat diet group (p=0.0034). The results indicated that health promoting compounds of flaxseed down‐regulate ZO‐1 and TNF‐α expression. The specific mechanisms of down regulation of ZO‐1 and TNF‐α expression or gut permeability regulation by flaxseed and its health promoting compounds are unknown and need further study.Support or Funding InformationNDSU HDE College and HNES Department