Protective effects of flaxseed oil against dexamethasone induced skeletal muscle atrophy on rats

Abstract

The production of omega-3 fatty acids in the lipids of muscle tissue was boosted by flaxseed oil (Linum usitatissimum), which is well-described in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. In skeletal muscle disorders, atrophy is a major problem which arises due to cachexia, sarcopenia and immobilization. Nevertheless, despite significant efforts, few FDA-approved medications are available in the market to treat skeletal muscle atrophy. The current project was conceptualized to investigate the protective effects of flaxseed oil against dexamethasone-induced muscular atrophy in adult Sprague Dawley Rats. Marketed preparation of dexamethasone was used to induce muscle atrophy and flaxseed oil was administered orally after disease induction of 7 days till 28 days. Body weight and behavioural studies were carried out to assess muscle mass and glucose. Due to its high antioxidant and fatty acid Omega-3 content, flaxseed oil promotes significant improvements in diseased animals. Rats administered with flaxseed oil demonstrated great weight gain and a decreased blood sugar level. After three weeks-blood sugar levels, muscle mass, momentary changes in rats and HDL levels were all significantly higher in the dexamethasone alone treated control group animals. Flaxseed oil protects against the biochemical and histopathological changes caused due to dexamethasone toxicity. The findings of this study reveals that, flaxseed oil protects against dexamethasone induced skeletal muscle atrophy and protective effect may be due to flaxseed oil's antioxidant properties. However, further research is essential to prove the protective effects of flaxseed oil in some more studies mainly revealing its actions at cellular and molecular level.