Flaxseed oil and α-lipoic acid combination reduces atherosclerosis risk factors in rats fed a high-fat diet

Jiqu Xu,Jin’E Yang,Qingde Huang,Fenghong Huang,Qianchun Deng,Wei Yang

doi:10.1186/1476-511x-11-148

Abstract

BackgroundAtherosclerosis is a major manifestation of the pathophysiology underlying cardiovascular disease. Flaxseed oil (FO) and α-lipoic acid (LA) have been reported to exert potential benefit to cardiovascular system. This study tried to assess the effect of supplement of FO and LA combination on the atherosclerosis risk factors in rats fed a high-fat diet.MethodsLA was dissolved in flaxseed oil to a final concentration of 8 g/kg (FO+LA) when used. The rodent diet contained 20% fat. One-fifth of the fat was soybean oil and the others were lard (HFD group), or 75% lard and 25% FO+LA (L-FO+LA group), or 50% lard and 50% FO+LA (M-FO+LA group), or FO+LA (H-FO+LA group). Animals were fed for 10 weeks and then killed for blood collection.ResultsSupplement of FO and LA combination significantly enhanced plasma antioxidant defense capacities, as evaluated by the marked increase in the activities of SOD, CAT and GPx as well as the level of GSH, and the significant reduction in lipid peroxidation. Simultaneous intake of FO and LA also reduced plasma TG, TC and LDL-C contents and elevated the ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C. Besides, in parallel with the increase of FO and LA combination, plasma IL-6 and CRP levels were remarkably reduced.ConclusionSupplement of FO and LA combination may contribute to prevent atherogenesis by improving plasma oxidative stress, lipid profile and inflammation.

Highlights

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is widely recognized as the leading cause of premature death and a major cause of disability in most developed and developing countries
On the other hand, since LNA is highly susceptible to oxidation, Flaxseed oil (FO) addition leads to a significantly higher tendency toward plasma lipid peroxidation [10,11], which may have an adverse effect on the protection of cardiovascular system
Administration of L, M- and H- FO+lipoic acid (LA) for 10 weeks significantly augmented the GSH levels in plasma when compared to rats treated with high-fat diet (HFD)

Summary

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is widely recognized as the leading cause of premature death and a major cause of disability in most developed and developing countries. Atherosclerosis, a manifestation of the pathophysiology underlying CVD, constitutes the single most important contributor to this growing burden of this disease. LNA is reported to have beneficial effects on blood lipid profiles [4,5,6,7] and inflammation [4,8,9], which may responsible for the protection against CVD bestowed by FO. On the other hand, since LNA is highly susceptible to oxidation, FO addition leads to a significantly higher tendency toward plasma lipid peroxidation [10,11], which may have an adverse effect on the protection of cardiovascular system. Atherosclerosis is a major manifestation of the pathophysiology underlying cardiovascular disease. This study tried to assess the effect of supplement of FO and LA combination on the atherosclerosis risk factors in rats fed a high-fat diet

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion