Dietary Flaxseed Research Articles

Dietary flaxseed oil inhibits kidney NF-kappa B activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in cisplatin-treated rats

The current study explores the anti-inflammatory effect of flaxseed oil (FXO) on cisplatin (CP)-induced renal damage. Rats prefed with normal experimental diets (normal/FXO diet) for 10 days were administered 30 mg kg−1 and 50 mg kg−1 i.p. CP in a single dose, while still on the experimental diets. Significant improvement in kidney function test and antioxidant enzyme activities in rats treated with combination therapy (FXO + CP) was detected. Interestingly, treatment by FXO resulted in significant downregulation (P < 0.05) in interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β expression in the renal tissue in comparison with CP-treated rats. Moreover, administration of FXO yielding negative and mild positive brown immunostain for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) or mild and moderate positive brown immunostain for nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-kB) in the renal tissue of rats treated with 3 mg kg−1 CP + FXO and 5 mg kg−1 CP + FXO, respectively. The obtained results highlight the ameliorative anti-inflammatory effect of FXO in the renal damage associated with CP administration and confirm the necessity and usefulness of FXO dietary supplement when using CP in the treatment of cancer patients.

The effects of dietary flaxseed on cardiac function in rats after myocardial infarction

The effects of dietary flaxseed on cardiac function in rats after myocardial infarction

Effect of Dietary Flaxseed Intake on Circulating Sex Hormone Levels among Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Intervention Trial

Lignan intake, and its richest food source, flaxseed, have been associated with reduced breast cancer risk. Endogenous sex hormones, such as estrogens, play a role in breast cancer development, and lignans may alter these sex hormone levels. To assess the effect of flaxseed on circulating sex hormones, a randomized controlled trial was conducted among 99 postmenopausal women in Toronto, Canada. The intervention arm consumed 2 tablespoons (15 g) of ground flaxseed daily for 7 weeks; the control arm maintained usual diet. Baseline and week 7 concentrations of 14 serum sex hormones were measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and immunoassay, and serum enterolignans (lignan biomarker) using LC-MS/MS. Intervention effects on sex hormone levels were assessed using analysis of covariance. Serum enterolignans increased among the flaxseed arm (+516%). Women consuming flaxseed (vs. controls) had increased serum 2-hydroxyestrone [treatment effect ratio (TER) = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.18–2.00] and 2:16α-hydroxyestrone ratio (TER =1.54; 95% CI: 1.15–2.06); effects on other hormones were not statistically significant. Within the flaxseed arm, change in enterolignan level was positively correlated with changes in 2-hydroxyestrone and 2:16α-hydroxyestrone ratio, and negatively with prolactin. Findings suggest flaxseed affects certain circulating sex hormone levels with possible implications for future breast cancer prevention research.

Effect of Dietary Flaxseed Oil on Growth Performance and Serum Lipid Profiles in Broilers

Effect of Dietary Flaxseed Oil on Growth Performance and Serum Lipid Profiles in Broilers

The effects of dietary flaxseed on cardiac arrhythmias and claudication in patients with peripheral arterial disease 1.

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are at increased risk for cardiovascular events, and higher susceptibility for cardiac arrhythmias may be involved. The objectives of this double-blinded randomized controlled FLAX-PAD trial were to determine whether daily consumption of a diet supplemented with 30 g of milled flaxseed (or placebo) over 1 year by PAD patients has effects on the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias and exercise capacity. Cardiac arrhythmias were assessed on a cardiac stress test and at rest. At baseline, the PAD patients had a high incidence of cardiac arrhythmias (48% in the flaxseed group and 32% in the placebo group). After 1 year, the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in the flaxseed group decreased by 2% and increased by 12% in the placebo group (P > 0.05). Electrocardiographic variables (P, PR, QRS, QT, and QTc) did not change in either group during the trial. Patients from both groups improved initial and absolute claudication distances but the intergroup difference was also not statistically significant. In summary, the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias and physical capacity trended in a positive direction for patients ingesting flaxseed but either a larger sample size or a longer intervention with flaxseed may be required to show statistically significant differences.

Supplementation of whole grain flaxseeds (Linum usitatissimum) along with high cholesterol diet and its effect on hyperlipidemia and initiated atherosclerosis in Wistar albino male rats.

Background and Aim:Flaxseeds are known to have varying antihypercholesterolemic and antiatherogenic activity due to its lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, alpha-linolenic acid, and omega-3 fatty acids. The beneficial effect of whole grain dietary flaxseed was evaluated experimentally in high cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed Wistar albino rats.Materials and Methods:Male Wistar albino rats (200 g) were divided into four groups of 12 rats each. Group I rats kept as control and given basal rat chew diet, Group II as positive control for induction of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis by addition of 1% cholesterol and 15% saturated edible oil to the 1000 g of standard rat chew diet (HCD), Group III rats fed with whole grain flaxseed powder at 7.5 g/kg of rat/day in the standard rat chew diet and kept as flaxseed control, and Group IV rats supplemented with flaxseed at 7.5 g/kg of rat/day along with HCD and maintained for 90 days.Results:Group II rats revealed significantly (p<0.05) higher total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very LDL-C and significantly (p<0.05) reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), whereas tissue antioxidants such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione S transferase (GST) were significantly (p<0.05) reduced, and lipid peroxidation products of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level were nonsignificantly (p<0.05) increased in the heart and liver tissues. Flaxseeds supplementation along with HCD significantly ameliorated the serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C along with cellular antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, SOD, GPx, GR, GST, and non-significant amelioration of TBARS in the heart and liver tissues compared to Group II rats. Majority of the histopathologically initiated atherosclerotic changes in the aorta and fatty change in the liver of Group II were not observed in the flaxseed supplemented Group IV; however, interestingly proliferation of endothelial cells with new vascular channel formation in the liver and in between cardiac muscle fibers was observed in Group I and Group IV rats.Conclusion:The present study established the hypercholesterolemia with initiated atherosclerotic lesion in the aorta but unable to establish the atheromatous plaque in the aorta. Flaxseed supplementation along with HCD showed significant antihypercholesterolemic effect and ameliorated the changes of initiated atherosclerosis in the aorta. It needs further studies to explore all the possible beneficial effects and angiogenic properties of flaxseeds in the laboratory animals and human trials.

Can the indicators of chronic ethanol consumption be minimized by a continuous flaxseed intake?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of flaxseed in animals subjected to ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. Twenty-four male rats were divided into four groups (n=6): control group (CG) which received a control diet and water adlibitum; flaxseed group (FG) which received control diet with an addition of 25% flaxseed flour and water adlibitum; ethanol control group (ECG) which received control diet and a solution of 10% ethanol (v/v) as the only liquid source; and ethanol flaxseed group (EFG) which received control diet with an addition of 25% flaxseed flour and a solution of 10% ethanol (v/v) as the only liquid source. The animals were euthanized at 60days, when blood was collected for biochemical analysis and liver was collected for histomorphometric analysis. Rats fed with diets containing flaxseed showed lower values of alkaline phosphatase (P=0.020) and lower concentration of total bilirubin (P=0.006), direct bilirubin (P=0.013) and indirect bilirubin (P=0.018) compared to ECG and EFG. The groups receiving flaxseed diets demonstrated higher expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme (P<0.001) than CG and ECG but did not affect thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) expression (P=0.055). Regarding liver analysis, the ECG and EFG showed larger hepatocyte nuclei and paler cytoplasm than the groups who had not received ethanol, and less in fluid accumulation (oedema) in the cytoplasm than was seen in the FG and EFG livers. These latter two groups showed fewer fatty cells than was seen in the groups that had not been given flaxseed, so that the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis was not justified. In conclusion, therefore, this study showed that the indicators of ethanol chronic consumption can be reduced by the introduction of continuous flaxseed dietary intake.

Incorporation of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.) larvae fat or extruded linseed in diets of growing rabbits and their effects on meat quality traits including detailed fatty acid composition.

The inclusion of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) fat or extruded linseed (LIN) in diets for growing rabbits on meat fatty acids (FA), dimethyl acetals (DMA), oxidative stability and color was evaluated. Forty-eight rabbits with 35 days of age were individually housed, fed one of 4 diets (LIN-Low, 30 g/kg of fat from LIN; LIN-High, 60 g/kg of fat from LIN; BSF-Low, 30 g/kg of BSF fat; BSF-High, 60 g/kg of BSF fat) and slaughtered after 5 weeks. Diets with BSF reduced the intramuscular FA but increased the 12:0 and 14:0 in meat compared to LIN, whereas LIN diets increased the 18:3n-3 deposition in meat. Regressions between FA intake and FA meat concentration indicate that the deposition of 12:0 and 14:0 in the meat of BSF-fed rabbits was lower than the deposition of n-3 PUFA in the meat of LIN-fed rabbits. Overall, lipid profiles of meat from BSF-fed rabbits were less healthy, but meat from LIN-fed rabbits was the more susceptible to oxidation.

Supplemental flaxseed modulates ovarian functions of weanling gilts via the action of selected fatty acids

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of dietary flaxseed on the endocrine and ovarian functions of weanling gilts challenged with E. coli and Coronavirus infections treated with dietary probiotic cheeses and to understand the possible mechanisms of its effects on ovarian function. Probiotics were used as a natural substitution for antibiotics and 10% dietary flaxseed is an effective prebiotic which supports the action of probiotics and has other beneficial effects on the organism. Probiotics with or without flaxseed were fed to weanling gilts starting 10 days before and lasting up until 14 days after weaning. The ovaries were measured and histologically analysed. The blood samples for the levels of steroid hormones and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were assessed using immunoassays and the levels of fatty acids were assessed using gas chromatography. All samples were collected on the day of weaning and 14 days after weaning. On the day of weaning, increased levels of linoleic acid and IGF-I was associated with higher body weight. The steroid hormones were not affected by the diet. The conversion of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) to timodonic (EPA) and cervonic (DHA) acids were lower compared to controls, and together with high levels of myristic, palmitic and palmitoleic acids was associated with the higher proliferation and lower apoptosis in the primordial, primary and secondary follicles; although the inhibition of the cell cycle was observed in relation to the low level of eicosadienoic acid. The high levels of ALA, EPA and DHA and the low levels of myristic, palmitic and palmitoleic acids may have been the effect of flaxseed feeding 14 days post-weaning and may have had a reverse effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian follicles. These data suggest that flaxseed may suppress the follicle development in weanlings via the stimulation of apoptosis and the inhibition of proliferation via the modulation of the metabolism of selected fatty acids.

Effect of linseed oil sediment in the diet of pigs on the growth performance and fatty acid profile of meat

ABSTRACT The objective of this investigation was to examine the influence of dietary linseed oil sediment on the growth performance and fatty acid composition in the muscle tissue of pigs. Sixty-eight crossbred Swedish Yorkshire × Norwegian Landrace pigs were allocated to two trials with two different levels of linseed oil sediment. Twenty-four pigs in Trial 1 were allotted into control 1 and experimental 1, of 12 animals each, and forty-four pigs in Trial 2 were allotted into control 2 and experimental 2, of 22 animals each. In both treatments, control and experimental groups were formed by animals analogous by origin, gender, weight, and condition score. Control pigs were fed identical diets ad libitum in both trials. The treated pigs were fed the same diet as control pigs, but vegetable oil was replaced by linseed oil sediment at a rate of 25 g kg−1 (experimental group 1) in Trial 1 and 50 g kg−1 (experimental group 2) in Trial 2. The results indicated that in both trials, vegetable oil replacement for linseed oil sediment had no significant influence on the growth rate of pigs, though a tendency was observed for a more rapid daily gain. Addition of linseed oil sediment to the diets increased the content of n-3 α-linolenic (C18:3n-3), eicosatrienoic (C20:3n-3), and eicosapentaenoic (C20:5n-3) acids and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and decreased the C18:2n-6/C18:3n-3 and n-6:n-3 ratios and the thrombogenic index of meat. Moreover, the addition of 50 g kg−1 linseed oil sediment resulted in higher content of docosapentaenoic (C22:5n-3) fatty acid, total PUFA, and PUFA:SFA ratio. Supplementation of pig diets with linseed oil sediment increases the content of α-linolenic, eicosatrienoic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosapentaenoic fatty acids and total content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and have a positive effect by improving the polyunsaturated fatty acids:saturated fatty acids and n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratios in meat.

Flaxseed Consumption Inhibits Chemically Induced Lung Tumorigenesis and Modulates Expression of Phase II Enzymes and Inflammatory Cytokines in A/J Mice

Flaxseed consumption is associated with reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in lung injury models and has shown anticancer effects for breast and prostate tissues. However, the chemopreventive potential of flaxseed remains unexplored for lung cancer. In this study, we investigated the effect of flaxseed on tobacco smoke carcinogen (NNK)-induced lung tumorigenesis in an A/J mouse model. Mice exposed to NNK were fed a control diet or a 10% flaxseed-supplemented diet for 26 weeks. Flaxseed-fed mice showed reduced lung tumor incidence (78%) and multiplicity, with an average of 2.7 ± 2.3 surface lung tumor nodules and 1.0 ± 0.9 H&E cross-section nodules per lung compared with the control group, which had 100% tumor incidence and an average of 10.2 ± 5.7 surface lung tumor nodules and 3.9 ± 2.6 H&E cross-section nodules per lung. Furthermore, flaxseed-fed mice had a lower incidence of adenocarcinomas compared with control-fed mice. Western blotting performed on normal lung tissues showed flaxseed suppressed phosphorylation (activation) of p-AKT, p-ERK, and p-JNK kinases. RNA-Seq data obtained from normal lung and lung tumors of control and flaxseed-fed mice suggested that flaxseed intake resulted in differential expression of genes involved in inflammation-mediated cytokine signaling (IL1, 6, 8, 9, and 12α), xenobiotic metabolism (several CYPs, GSTs, and UGTs), and signaling pathways (AKT and MAPK) involved in tumor cell proliferation. Together, our results indicate that dietary flaxseed supplementation may be an effective chemoprevention strategy for chemically induced lung carcinogenesis by altering signaling pathways, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Cancer Prev Res; 11(1); 27-37. ©2017 AACR.

Dietary flaxseed oil improved western-type diet-induced atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein-E knockout mice

Flaxseed oil is a rich source of n-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid which has been identified as having significant cardioprotective effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of partial replacement of lard with flaxseed oil on atherosclerosis and investigate the underlying mechanisms. Apolipoprotein-E knockout mice were given a normal chow diet, a lard based western-type high-fat diet (WTD), or a WTD with partial replacement of lard with 10% flaxseed oil (w/w) for 16 weeks, respectively. Results demonstrated that partial replacing of lard with flaxseed oil significantly ameliorated atherosclerosis, as well as improved lipid abnormalities, oxidative stress, and inflammation. These data were associated with modification effects on expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism (SREBP-2, HMGCR, SREBP-1c, and ACC), oxidative stress (NADPH oxidase), and inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, and VCAM-1). Our data providing evidence that flaxseed oil could be a promising functional food in cardiovascular health promotion.

Why the Dr. Budwig Flaxseed Diet should be Part of your Cancer Treatment Program

Gerontology & Geriatrics Studies Why the Dr. Budwig Flaxseed Diet should be Part of your Cancer Treatment Program Lloyd Arthur Jenkins* Teaching & Public Speaking, Spain *Corresponding author: Lloyd Arthur Jenkins, Teaching & Public Speaking, Spain Submission: August 22, 2017; Published: November 13, 2017 DOI: 10.31031/GGS.2017.01.000508 ISSN : 2578-0093Volume1 Issue2

Flaxseed: its bioactive components and their cardiovascular benefits.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The inclusion of functional foods and natural health products in the diet are gaining increasing recognition as integral components of lifestyle changes in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Several preclinical and clinical studies have shown the beneficial cardiovascular effects of dietary supplementation with flaxseed. The cardiovascular effects of dietary flaxseed have included an antihypertensive action, antiatherogenic effects, a lowering of cholesterol, an anti-inflammatory action, and an inhibition of arrhythmias. Its enrichment in the ω-3 fatty acid α-linolenic acid and the antioxidant lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside as well as its high fiber content have been implicated primarily in these beneficial cardiovascular actions. Although not as well recognized, flaxseed is also composed of other potential bioactive compounds such as proteins, cyclolinopeptides, and cyanogenic glycosides, which may also produce biological actions. These compounds could also be responsible for the cardiovascular effects of flaxseed. This article will not only summarize the cardiovascular effects of dietary supplementation with flaxseed but also review its bioactive compounds in terms of their properties, biological effects, and proposed mechanisms of action. It will also discuss promising research directions for the future to identify additional health-related benefits of dietary flaxseed.

Influence of Flaxseed Lignan Supplementation to Older Adults on Biochemical and Functional Outcome Measures of Inflammation

ABSTRACT Evidence from the literature suggests that dietary flaxseed lignans have the ability to modulate inflammation, which is recognized as the underlying basis of multiple chronic human diseases in older adults. Our objective was to determine the effects of oral lignan supplementation on biochemical and functional indicators of inflammation as well as safety and tolerability in older healthy adults. We designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in older healthy adults (60–80 years) to assess flaxseed lignan–enriched complex (∼38% secoisolariciresinol diglucoside [SDG]; 600 mg SDG dose) oral supplementation effects on biochemical and functional indicators of inflammation and safety and tolerability in older healthy adults after 6 months of once-daily oral administration. The clinical trial confirmed that plasma concentration of total flaxseed lignans (free and conjugated forms) secoisolariciresinol (SECO), enterodiol (ED), and enterolactone (ENL) were significantly associated with daily oral supplementation of flaxseed lignan–enriched complex (p < 0.05). A significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP; from a mean of 155 ± 13 mm Hg at baseline to 140 ± 11 mm Hg at 24 weeks) was observed in lignan-supplemented participants stratified into an SBP ≥140 mm Hg subcategory (p = 0.04). No differences were found between treatment or placebo groups in terms of cognition, pain, activity, physical measurements (calf, waist, and upper arm circumstances), and grip strength. With respect to blood inflammatory markers, lipid profiles, and biochemical parameters, no significant differences were found between treatment and placebo groups at the end of the 6-month supplementation. No adverse effects were reported during supplementation. These data further support the safety and tolerability of long-term flaxseed lignan–enriched complex supplementation in older adults and identify an ability to favorably modulate SBP, an important risk factor in cardiovascular disease.

The effect of essential oils on quality and mineral composition of eggshell

The effect of essential oils on quality and mineral composition of eggshell

Comparative omega-3 fatty acid enrichment of egg yolks from first-cycle laying hens fed flaxseed oil or ground flaxseed

When laying hen diets are enriched with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to generate value-added eggs for human consumption markets, concentrations of alpha-linolenic (ALA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) in the yolk can reach 250mg/50g whole egg. Flaxseed, a rich source of ALA, is commonly used for omega-3 enrichment; however, the impact of dietary flaxseed source (extracted oil vs. milled seed) on fatty acid transfer to egg yolk in laying hens is unknown. Therefore, transfer of ALA, EPA, and DHA into egg yolk from extracted flaxseed oil or milled flaxseed was evaluated in Hy-Line W-36 laying hens over an 8-week feeding period (25 to 33 wk old). Hens (n = 132) were randomly housed with 3 birds/cage (4 replicates/treatment) for each of the 11 treatment groups. Diets were isocaloric and consisted of a control diet, 5 flaxseed oil diets (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, or 5.0% flaxseed oil), and 5 milled flaxseed diets (calculated flaxseed oil concentration from milled flaxseed 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0%). Increasing dietary concentrations of flaxseed oil and milled flaxseed resulted in increased ALA, EPA, and DHA concentration in egg yolk, and fatty acid deposition from flaxseed oil was 2 times greater compared to milled flaxseed when fed at the same dietary inclusions (P < 0.01). Egg yolk EPA and DHA concentrations were not different due to oil or milled source (P = 0.21); however, increasing dietary inclusion rates of flaxseed oil from either source increased yolk EPA and DHA (P < 0.01). Hens fed either flaxseed oil or milled flaxseed resulted in reduced BW change as dietary concentrations increased (P = 0.02). Feed efficiency increased as flaxseed oil increased in concentration, while feeding milled flaxseed decreased feed efficiency (P = 0.01). Analysis of the nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy of flaxseed oil resulted in 7,488kcal/kg on an as-fed basis. Dietary flaxseed oil improved feed efficiency and increased ALA deposition into yolk compared to a milled source, demonstrating flaxseed oil to be a viable alternative for ALA egg enrichment.

English

The present study evaluated the impact of varying dietary linseed oil composition on growth, survival and tissue polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) profiles in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Five iso-nitrogenious diets with varying linseed and sunflower oil concentrations were formulated and fish fed twice daily to for 3 months. Commercial diet was used as a control in triplicate tanks set for each diet treatment. Growth parameters were measured from changes in body weight and length. A 75:25 ratio of sunflower oil to linseed oil gave a better survival and specific growth rate than 100% linseed oil or 100% sunflower oil. Tissue PUFA composition were determined using gas chromatography. High dietary linseed oil composition (100%) resulted into significantly high (P&lt;0.05) total n3 fatty acids (9.9-25%) and DHA (1.8-7.9%) in muscles whereas liver n3 fatty acids and DHA composition ranged between 9.3-25.5 and 0.7-2.6%, respectively. Muscle and liver n3/n6 ratio ranged between 0.7-2.2 and 0.7-2.6 while tissue arachidonic acid (ARA 20.4 n6) content ranged between 2.6-3.5% in muscles and 3.4-4.5% in the liver. ARA 20.4 n6 values were low relative to the dietary precursor, linoleic acid, LA, 18.2 n6.&nbsp; Fatty acid deposition in the tissues increased with the feeding period with the third feeding month recording significantly higher DHA, total n3 and n3/n6 ratio. Based on the result, dietary linseed oil &gt; 50% reduced growth and survival rate in tilapia, however, it increased tissue accumulation of essential fatty acids which also increased with the length of feeding period. &nbsp; Key words: Growth, Tilapia, n3 fatty acids, linseed oil, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).

Dietary linseed oil increases trans-10,cis-15 18:2 in caprine milk fat

Trans-10,cis-15 18:2 has been recently detected and characterized in digestive contents and meat and adipose tissue of ruminants, but its presence in milk and dairy products is hardly known. The aim of this study was to quantify trans-10,cis-15 18:2 in milk fat, better understand its metabolic origin, and help to elucidate the mechanisms of rumen biohydrogenation when the diet composition might affect ruminal environment. To address these objectives, 16 dairy goats were allocated to 2 simultaneous experiments (2 groups of goats and 2 treatments in each experiment). Experimental treatments consisted of basal diets with the same forage-to-concentrate ratio (33/67) and 2 starch-to-nonforage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratios (0.8 and 3.1), which were supplemented or not with 30 g/d of linseed oil for 25 d in a crossover design. Trans-10,cis-15 18:2 contents in milk fat were determined by gas chromatography fitted with an extremely polar capillary column (SLB-IL111). Levels of trans-10,cis-15 18:2 in individual milk fat samples ranged from 0 to 0.2% of total fatty acids, and its content in milk fat increased 8 fold due to linseed oil supplementation, substantiating the predominant role of α-linolenic acid in its formation. The trans-10,cis-15 18:2 levels in milk fat were similar in both experiments, despite the fact starch-to-nonforage NDF ratio of their respective basal diets greatly differed. In conclusion, trans-10,cis-15 18:2 was clearly related to linseed oil supplementation, and its increase in milk fat was comparable when the basal diets were rich in either nonforage NDF or starch.

A reduced cost strategy for enriching chicken meat with omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids using dietary flaxseed oil

ABSTRACT1. This study aimed to determine the minimal duration required for feeding male broilers (Cobb 500) with a flaxseed oil diet while still retaining long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA) accumulation in the meat at a desirable level.2. Three groups of broilers (60 each) were fed on a 3% flaxseed oil (high α-linolenic acid (ALA)) diet for either 6, 4 or 2 weeks prior to slaughter. During the remaining time they were maintained on a 3% macadamia oil (low ALA) diet. A fourth group (control, n = 60) was fed on a commercial diet for 6 weeks.3. No significant difference was observed in growth performance of broilers between groups. The amounts of total n-3 and n-3 LCPUFA in breast and thigh meat were not different between broilers fed the flaxseed oil diet for 4 and 6 weeks, but they were lower (P < 0.001) in those fed the flaxseed diet for only 2 weeks.4. These results suggest comparable levels of n-3 LCPUFA in the meat can be achieved by only feeding the flaxseed oil diet in the last 3–4 weeks of the growth period; this would result in a ≥ 9.4% reduction in the use of flaxseed oil compared to 6 weeks of feeding; thereby reducing the cost of the enrichment process.