Abstract
Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) provide an unusually high content of α-linolenic acid with several potential health benefits, but few studies have examined the long-term intake of n-3 fatty acid-rich plant foods such as chia. In this work, we investigated some of the effects of a diet containing 10% chia seeds versus a conventional isocaloric diet for 10 and 13 months on body measurements, musculoskeletal system, the liver, and the intestines of 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats assigned into two groups. The n-6/n-3 ratios for the control and chia diets were 7.46 and 1.07, respectively. For the first 10 months of the diet, the body parameters and weights were similar, but at 13 months, the bone mineral content (BMC) of the chia-fed rats was significantly higher than that of the controls whether in total or proximal areas of the left tibia. Also, significant positive correlations were found between the age of the chia group and the bone mineral density, BMC, weight of the musculoskeletal system, final body weight, and skin weight. Liver and intestinal examinations showed improved morphology associated with lower lipid deposit in hepatocytes and increased intestinal muscle layers and crypt size in the chia group. This study provides new data suggesting the potential benefits associated with the long-term intake of chia seeds.
Highlights
The association of certain foods and dietary habits with several chronic health conditions, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and some types of cancers, has boosted the search for novel and healthier food options [1,2,3]
Between 10 and 13 months of the experiment, the rats fed with chia seeds, in contrast with the control group, were still growing and changes of weight were seen in different body compartments, including the musculoskeletal system, skin, and visceral weight (Table 3)
This study explored the effects of the long-term administration of chia seeds, a promising
Summary
The association of certain foods and dietary habits with several chronic health conditions, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and some types of cancers, has boosted the search for novel and healthier food options [1,2,3]. In the face of recent evidence showing the health benefits associated with the intake of foods high in omega-3 [10], the chia seed constitutes an important plant source of n-3 PUFA to be explored in different research models for human health and disease prevention. In the skeleton, for example, some known exogenous factors influencing bone health are associated with the lifestyle category (dietary habits, physical activity/sedentarism, tobacco smoking, sunlight exposure, or vitamin D supplementation) [14,15,16,17], usage of certain medicines [18], and exposure to environmental factors [19]. The mechanisms by which these conditions affect the skeletal system are not yet clearly understood, but dysregulated or unbalanced inflammatory processes seem to be one of the candidates associated with bone loss [21,22]
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