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The present study investigates the temporal effects of flaxseed supplementation on boar semen quality, antioxidant status, and in-vivo fertility under high-temperature humidity index (THI) conditions in a sub-tropical climate. Twelve Hampshire crossbreed boars were randomly assigned to control and treatment groups, with the treatment group receiving flaxseed oil supplementation. Semen samples were collected and analyzed for semen quality parameters, sperm kinematics, and antioxidant status. Fertility outcomes were assessed through in-vivo mating trials. Flaxseed supplementation resulted in time dependent significant improvements in semen volume, sperm concentration, total and progressive sperm motility, sperm quality parameters, and antioxidant status. Fertility outcomes, including farrowing rates and litter sizes, were also enhanced in the flaxseed-supplemented group. These findings highlight the potential of flaxseed supplementation to improve boar fertility under high ambient stress conditions, with implications for optimizing reproductive performance in swine production systems., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Omega-3 (ω3) fatty acids are widely investigated for their anti-inflammatory potential, however, there is little evidence regarding their action in the lung parenchyma in the context of obesity. The objective is to investigate the effects of flaxseed oil (FS), rich in α-linolenic (C18:3 - ω3), on the lungs of obese mice. Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HF) for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Subsequently, a part of these animals received HF containing FS oil for another 8 weeks. The HF consumption induced weight gain and hyperglycemia. The lung parenchyma shows a complete fatty acids profile, compared to the control group (CT). In the lung parenchyma, FS increases the ω3 content and, notwithstanding a reduction in the interleukins (IL) IL1β and IL18 contents compared to HF. However, FS promoted increased alveolar spaces, followed by MCP1 (Monocytes Chemoattractant Protein-1) positive cell infiltration and a dramatic reduction in the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL10. Despite reducing the pulmonary inflammatory response, the consumption of a food source of ω3 was associated with alterations in the lipid profile and histoarchitecture of the lung parenchyma, which can lead to the development of pulmonary complications. This study brings an alert against the indiscriminate use of ω3 supplements, warranting caution., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Flaxseed is the richest source of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, which is converted by ruminal microorganisms primarily to the mammalian lignan enterolactone. Our objective was to investigate the effect of diets containing soybean meal or flaxseed meal (FM) supplemented with sucrose, flaxseed oil, or both, on milk enterolactone concentration yield, diversity, and relative abundance of ruminal bacterial taxa, ruminal fermentation profile, production performance, milk fatty acids (FA) yield, and nutrient utilization in dairy cows. Sixteen Holstein cows (8 multiparous [4 ruminally cannulated] and 8 primiparous) averaging (mean ± SD) 134 ± 54.1 DIM and 679 ± 78.9 kg of BW in the beginning of the study were assigned to treatment sequences in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Each experimental period lasted 25 d, with 18 d for diet adaptation and 7 d for data and sample collection. Diets were formulated to contain a 60:40 forage:concentrate ratio and included the following (DM basis): (1) 8% soybean meal and 23% ground corn (SBM); (2) 15% FM, 10.7% ground corn, and 5% sucrose (FLX+S); (3) 15% FM, 15.4% ground corn, and 3% flaxseed oil (FLX+O); and (4) 15% FM, 10.2% ground corn, 5% sucrose, and 3% flaxseed oil (FLX+SO). Compared with SBM, the concentration and yield of milk enterolactone increased in cows fed the FM diets but did not differ among FLX+S, FLX+O, and FLX+SO. The relative abundances of the phyla Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobiota, and Actinobacteriota, and those of the bacterial genera Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group, Anaeromusa-Anaeroarcus, WCHB1-41, and p-251-o5 decreased, whereas Prevotella and NK4A214 group increased when comparing SBM against at least 1 diet containing FM. Furthermore, the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota and those of Prevotella, Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group, Acetitomaculum, Lachnospiraceae unclassified, NK4A214 group, and Anaeromusa-Anaeroarcus changed (increased or decreased) across the FLX+S, FLX+O, and FLX+SO diets. However, all these changes in the relative abundance of the ruminal bacterial taxa were not conclusively associated with the effect of diets on milk enterolactone. Diets did not affect ruminal pH and concentrations of NH 3 -N and total VFA. Dry matter intake and yields of milk, milk fat, and milk true protein all decreased in cows fed FLX+O or FLX+SO. Yields of milk total odd-chain FA, branched-chain FA, total <16C FA, and total 16C FA decreased with feeding FLX+O and FLX+SO. The apparent total-tract digestibilities of DM and OM were lowest in the FLX+S and FLX+O diets, with CP and ADF digestibilities lowest in cows receiving FLX+S or FLX+O, respectively. Urinary excretion of total N was lowest with feeding SBM. Contrarily, diets did not affect the urinary excretion of total purine derivatives. In brief, despite the effect of diets on the relative abundance of several ruminal microbiota phyla and genera, we were unable to conclusively associate these changes with increased milk enterolactone in FM-containing diets versus SBM., (The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Scope: Ferroptosis has been demonstrated to play an important role in various tissue injuries and diseases. Flaxseed oil (FO) has been proven to have benefits for intestinal health. This study aims to explore whether FO relieved lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury through modulating ferroptosis signaling pathway., Methods and Results: A total of 120 weaned piglets are fed diets with 3% soybean oil (SO) or 3% FO for 4 weeks. At the end of the trial, 24 piglets selected from two dietary treatment groups are used in a 2 × 2 factorial design with oil treatment (3% SO versus 3% FO) and LPS challenge (saline versus LPS). At 4 h postinjection with LPS, 24 piglets are slaughtered and intestinal samples are collected. FO improves growth performance of pigs. After LPS treatment, FO mitigates intestinal morphological damage and functional damage. Notably, FO reverses the typical ultra-morphology and biochemical indexes of ferroptosis involving glutathione, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxynonenal contents. Mechanistically, FO ameliorates the changes on mRNA or protein abundance of key ferroptosis signals including transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1), recombinant iron responsive element binding protein 2 (IREB2), FTL, HSPB1, ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), ferroportin 1 (FPN1), SLC7A11, solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and arachidonate-15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15)., Conclusions: FO improves growth performance and mitigates intestinal structural and functional damage, which is involved in regulating ferroptosis signaling pathway., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Studies investigating the effects of flaxseed oil on lipid profiles, weight loss, and inflammatory markers have produced inconsistent results. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to explore the impact of flaxseed oil on these parameters in hemodialysis patients. The study protocol was registered online (PROSPERO number: CRD42023484076). The meta-analyses showed a significant decrease in triglyceride (TG) levels (WMD = -85.78 mg/dL, 95% CI: -155.24 to -16.32, I 2  = 98.32%) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (WMD = -2.66 mg/L, 95% CI: -4.07 to -1.24, I 2  = 92.26%) following consumption of flaxseed oil. Subgroup analyses revealed significant changes in LDL-C, HDL-C, and TC levels only in trials utilizing a dosage higher than 10 g per day and using ground flaxseed oil. Based on the results, flaxseed oil improves CRP and TG levels, and higher doses positively affect lipid profiles. However, it has no significant effect on anthropometric measures., (© 2024 International Society for Apheresis and Japanese Society for Apheresis.)

Exposure to the neurotoxin trimethyltin (TMT) selectively induces hippocampal neuronal injury and astrocyte activation accompanied with resultant neuroinflammation, which causes severe behavioral, cognitive, and memory impairment. A large body of evidence suggests that flaxseed oil (FSO), as one of the richest sources of essential omega-3 fatty acids, i.e., α-linolenic acids (ALA), displays neuroprotective properties. Here, we report the preventive effects of dietary FSO treatment in a rat model of TMT intoxication. The administration of FSO (1 mL/kg, orally) before and over the course of TMT intoxication (a single dose, 8 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced hippocampal cell death, prevented the activation of astrocytes, and inhibited their polarization toward a pro-inflammatory/neurotoxic phenotype. The underlying protective mechanism was delineated through the selective upregulation of BDNF and PI3K/Akt and the suppression of ERK activation in the hippocampus. Pretreatment with FSO reduced cell death and efficiently suppressed the expression of inflammatory molecules. These beneficial effects were accompanied by an increased intrahippocampal content of n-3 fatty acids. In vitro, ALA pretreatment prevented the TMT-induced polarization of cultured astrocytes towards the pro-inflammatory spectrum. Together, these findings support the beneficial neuroprotective properties of FSO/ALA against TMT-induced neurodegeneration and accompanied inflammation and hint at a promising preventive use of FSO in hippocampal degeneration and dysfunction.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how ascorbic acid with dietary flaxseed oil affects the quality and fertility of cryopreserved ram sperm in South African indigenous rams. Treatment diets were supplemented 60 days before semen collection to afford proper spermatogenesis, adaptation to the feed formulated and fed throughout the study. Semen was collected with the use of artificial vagina following dietary supplementation with five treatment diets (neg. cont. - negative control, pos. cont. - positive control, FLO - 5% Flaxseed oil, ASA - 4% Ascorbic acid, and FLO + ASA). Semen was then extended using tris-based extender and cryopreserved using the programmable freezer (CBS Freezer 2100 series, Laboratory consumables & chemical suppliers, America). Ovaries were collected from a neighbouring slaughter house and conveyed to the lab in 0.9% saline at 37 °C. Data (sperm parameters and in vitro fertility) was then exposed to the GLM (General Linear Model) in Minitab 17. Pearson's correlation coefficient was utilized to investigate the relationship between cryopreserved sperm quality and in vitro fertility. The student Least Significant Difference Test was used to separate the treatment means, and differences were accepted when the p-value was less than 0.05. The FLO + ASA group had higher (p < 0.05) progressive (36.33 ± 1.87), total (88.24 ± 2.24), rapid motility (27.52 ± 1.74), intact plasma membrane (75.67 ± 2.08), total fertilization (65.98 ± 7.39), and total cleavage (66.19 ± 6.50) when compared to other treatment groups. Total fertilization rate had a medium significant (p < 0.001) medium correlation with the progressive motility (r2 = 0.435), total motility (r 2  = 0.447) and rapid motility (r 2  = 0.409). In conclusion, dietary flaxseed and ascorbic acid (FLO + ASA) improves cryopreserved semen quality, in vitro fertilization rate, and the total cleavage rate. Noteworthy, the progressive, total and rapid motility play a crucial in the in vitro fertilization rate., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The principal function of skin is to form an effective barrier between the human body and its environment. Impaired barrier function represents a precondition for the development of skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), which is the most common inflammatory skin disease characterized by skin barrier dysfunction. AD significantly affects patients' quality of life, thus, there is a growing interest in the development of novel delivery systems that would improve therapeutic outcomes. Herein, eight novel lyotropic liquid crystals (LCCs) were investigated for the first time in a double-blind, interventional, before-after, single-group trial with healthy adult subjects and a twice-daily application regimen. LCCs consisted of constituents with skin regenerative properties and exhibited lamellar micro-structure, especially suitable for dermal application. The short- and long-term effects of LCCs on TEWL, SC hydration, erythema index, melanin index, and tolerability were determined and compared with baseline. LCCs with the highest oil content and lecithin/Tween 80 mixture stood out by providing a remarkable 2-fold reduction in TEWL values and showing the most distinctive decrease in skin erythema levels in both the short- and long-term exposure. Therefore, they exhibit great potential for clinical use as novel delivery systems for AD treatment, capable of repairing skin barrier function., (© 2024 Mercedes Vitek et al., published by Sciendo.)

Background: This study was designed to explore the effects of flaxseed oil on the metaphase II (MII) oocyte rates in women with decreased ovarian reserve (DOR)., Methods: The women with DOR were divided into a study group (n = 108, flaxseed oil treatment) and a control group (n = 110, no treatment). All patients were treated with assisted reproductive technology (ART). Subsequently, the ART stimulation cycle parameters, embryo transfer (ET) results, and clinical reproductive outcomes were recorded. The influencing factors affecting the MII oocyte rate were analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis., Results: Flaxseed oil reduced the recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) dosage and stimulation time and increased the peak estradiol (E2) concentration in DOR women during ART treatment. The MII oocyte rate, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, high-quality embryo rate, and blastocyst formation rate were increased after flaxseed oil intervention. The embryo implantation rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group ( p = 0.05). Additionally, the female age [odds ratio (OR): 0.609, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52-0.72, p < 0.01] was the hindering factor of MII oocyte rate, while anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH; OR: 100, 95% CI: 20.31-495, p < 0.01), peak E2 concentration (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00-1.00, p = 0.01), and the intake of flaxseed oil (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.06-5.93, p = 0.04) were the promoting factors for MII oocyte rate., Conclusion: Flaxseed oil improved ovarian response and the quality of oocytes and embryos, thereby increasing the fertilization rate and high-quality embryo rate in DOR patients. The use of flaxseed oil was positively correlated with MII oocyte rate in women with DOR., Clinical Trial Number: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2300073785., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chu, Yu, Zhang, Zhang and Yu.)

Flaxseed is an ancient commercial oil that historically has been used as a functional food to lower cholesterol levels. However, despite its longstanding treatment, there is currently a lack of scientific evidence to support its role in the management of cardiac remodeling. This study aimed to address this gap in knowledge by examining the molecular mechanism of standardized flaxseed oil in restoring cardiac remodeling in the heart toxicity vivo model. The oil fraction was purified, and the major components were standardized by qualitative and quantitative analysis. In vivo experimental design was conducted using isoproterenol ISO (85 mg/kg) twice subcutaneously within 24 h between each dose. The rats were treated with flaxseed oil fraction (100 mg/kg orally) and the same dose was used for omega 3 supplement as a positive control group. The GC-MS analysis revealed that α-linolenic acid (24.6%), oleic acid (10.5%), glycerol oleate (9.0%) and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl elaidate (7%) are the major components of oil fraction. Physicochemical analysis indicated that the acidity percentage, saponification, peroxide, and iodine values were 0.43, 188.57, 1.22, and 122.34 respectively. As compared with healthy control, ISO group-induced changes in functional cardiac parameters. After 28-day pretreatment with flaxseed oil, the results indicated an improvement in cardiac function, a decrease in apoptosis, and simultaneous prevention of myocardial fibrosis. The plasma levels of BNP, NT-pro-BNP, endothelin-1, Lp-PLA2, and MMP2, and cTnI and cTn were significantly diminished, while a higher plasma level of Topo 2B was observed. Additionally, miRNA - 1 and 29b were significantly downregulated. These findings provide novel insight into the mechanism of flaxseed oil in restoring cardiac remodeling and support its future application as a cardioprotective against heart diseases., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Induction of obesity by dietary fats and oils differs according to the type of fat. Adiponectin is believed to be related to obesity prevention. We hypothesized that flaxseed oil is important for preventing obesity and producing adiponectin. To clarify this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship between obesity and different fat sources in mice fed diets with 6 types of fat and oils. C57BL/6J mice were given a control diet containing 5% corn oil or a high-fat diet containing 20% of either lard, palm oil, rapeseed oil, oleate-rich safflower oil, corn oil, or flaxseed oil for 14 weeks. In another experiment, mice were given a control diet and rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg body weight) by oral gavage for 1 week. At the end of study, plasma adiponectin and expression of fatty acid metabolism-related factors in white and brown adipose tissue and the liver were measured. Dietary flaxseed oil, which is rich in α-linolenic acid, did not induce obesity. Flaxseed oil resulted in increased β-oxidation-related factors in epididymal white adipose tissue, decreased fatty acid synthesis-related factors in the liver, and thermogenesis-related factor in brown adipose tissue following increase of plasma adiponectin. The results suggested that increase in plasma adiponectin after intake of flaxseed oil may be due to altered expression of AdipoQ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ in epididymal white adipose tissue. Flaxseed oil increased expression of adiponectin in visceral fat and regulated obesity-controlling fatty acid metabolism-related factors in white adipose tissue and liver, and thermogenesis-related factor in brown adipose tissue., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Flaxseed oil (FO) has been demonstrated its multiple beneficial effects in vivo due to high concentration of α-linolenic acid. The deterioration of FO can be triggered by high temperature heating during the deep frying process resulting in alteration of healthy properties. In this study, the effect of FO before and after deep frying on lipid metabolism and gut homeostasis of rats was investigated compared to deep-fried palm oil (DPO) treated group. Deep-fried flaxseed oil (DFO) treatment significantly enhanced the triglyceride accumulation in serum and liver tissues of rats. A greater increase of peroxides and proinflammatory cytokine levels was found in the serum of DFO treated rats compared to other groups. The histopathologic data indicated that DFO and DPO reduced the villus height of intestinal and colonic tissues and increased the inflammatory cell infiltration. The inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-6) were enhanced and the key markers of epithelia colonic tissues (occludin and MUC-2) were suppressed in rats with DFO interventions, which is in consistency with histopathologic results. In addition, FO could increase the number of beneficial bacteria while the relative abundance of obesity and inflammatory-related bacteria was promoted by DFO treatment, including Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Selenomonadales. In conclusion, DFO intake had a significant impact on the disruption of gut barrier homeostasis, potentially worsening the dysbiosis than DPO. The beneficial effects of FO in vivo could be significantly reduced by extreme deep frying, which suggests the need for moderate cooking edible oils such as FO., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pork fat (PF) is a necessary ingredient in making traditional fish cakes (TFCs), which contains saturated fatty acids with potential health concerns. While linseed oil (LO) containing α-linolenic acid is a potential nutrient-enhancing fat substitute. In this study, the effect of pork fat and linseed oil level on gel quality, sensory characteristics, microstructure, and protein conformation of TFCs were characterized. Results showed that the TFCs with 30% pork fat (wt/wt) had the highest gel strength. Additionally, sensory evaluation determined that TFCs with 30% pork fat scored the best by a sensory panel with high gel strength, water-holding capacity, and fresh and sweet taste. The gel strength, chewiness, and hardness of nutrient-enriched fish cakes with 20% linseed oil replaced for pork fat were higher than that only with pork fat (wt/wt) without changing in tenderness and elasticity. Visual results showed that the network was uniform at a moderate level of linseed oil addition (20% LO/PF replacement ratio). The results of this study provided technical guidelines for standardizing the TFC manufacture processes, and useful insight for the development of fish cakes with reduced animal fat content for additional health benefits for consumers., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The gut has been suggested as the first organ to be affected by unbalanced diets contributing to the obesogenic process. This study aimed to test a short time-course exposition model to a known pro- or anti-inflammatory enriched fatty diet to understand the early gut alterations. Male mice were exposed to the chow diet (CT), high-fat (HF) diet, or a high-fat diet partially replaced on flaxseed oil (FS), rich in omega-3 (ω3), for 14 days. HF and FS increased the total body weight mass compared with the CT group, but FS reduced the epididymal fat depot compared to HF. The bioinformatics from mice and human databases showed the Zo1-Ocln-Cldn7 tight junctions as the main protein-triad. In the ileum, the HF diet has increased IL1β transcript and IL1β, TNFα, and CD11b proteins, but reduced the tight junctions (Zo1, Ocln, and Cld7) compared to the CT group. Despite the FS diet being partially efficient in protecting the ileum against inflammation, the tight junctions were increased, compared to the HF group. The GPR120 and GPR40 receptors were unaffected by diets, but GPR120 was colocalized on the surface of ileum macrophages. The short period of a high-fat diet was enough to start the obesogenic process, ileum inflammation, and reduce the tight junctions. Flaxseed oil did not protect efficiently against dysmetabolism. Still, it increased the tight junctions, even without alteration on inflammatory parameters, suggesting the protection against gut permeability during early obesity development., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of vegetable oils as calcium salt on immune responses and the expression of immune-related genes in vaccinated lambs. Twenty-four lambs (35 kg body weight, 6 months old) were assigned to four treatments with six replicates in a completely randomized design for 40 days. Four concentrates were formulated in which the calcium salts of palm oil, canola oil, corn oil, and flaxseed oil were used. On day 30 of the experiment, lambs were vaccinated by a dose of foot-and-mouth disease virus. The blood samples were collected from jugular vein 10 days after vaccination. The level of malondialdehyde and the activity of liver enzymes were the highest in lambs receiving corn oil and the lowest in lambs receiving flaxseed oil. The highest lymphocytes and the lowest neutrophil percentages were observed in lambs receiving flaxseed oil. There was a significant difference among treatments for the relative genes expression. Flaxseed oil significantly upregulated interferon-γ and corn oil upregulated interleukin-1β. The highest titer against foot-and-mouth disease virus was related to lambs receiving flaxseed oil, and the lowest titer was related to lambs that received corn oil. Flaxseed oil had more beneficial effects on immune response than other oils., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The effects of docosahexaenoic acid supplements on cognitive function have long been demonstrated, but the effects of alpha-linolenic acid, a precursor of docosahexaenoic acid, have not been fully tested. The search for functional foods that delay cognitive decline in the older adults is considered a very important area from a preventive perspective. The aim of this study was to conduct an exploratory evaluation of alpha-linolenic acid on various cognitive functions in healthy older subjects. Sixty healthy older adults aged 65 to 80 years, living in Miyagi prefecture, without cognitive impairment or depression, were included in the randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Study subjects were randomly divided into two groups and received either 3.7 g/day of flaxseed oil containing 2.2 g of alpha-linolenic acid, or an isocaloric placebo (corn oil) containing 0.04 g of alpha-linolenic acid for 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were six cognitive functions closely related to everyday life: attention and concentration, executive function, perceptual reasoning, working memory, processing speed and memory function. After 12 weeks of intake, changes in verbal fluency scores on the frontal assessment battery at bedside, a neuropsychological test assessing executive function, in which participants are asked to answer as many words as possible in Japanese, were significantly greater in the intervention group (0.30 ± 0.53) than in the control group (0.03 ± 0.49, p < 0.05). All other cognitive test scores were not significantly different between the groups. In conclusion, daily consumption of flaxseed oil containing 2.2 g alpha-linolenic acid improved cognitive function, specifically verbal fluency, despite the age-related decline, in healthy individuals with no cognitive abnormalities. Further validation studies focusing on the effects of alpha-linolenic acid on verbal fluency and executive function in older adults are needed, as verbal fluency is a predictor of Alzheimer's disease development, important for cognitive health.

Objective. The intent of the present study was to test two hypotheses. The primary hypothesis was that there would be differences between blood serum individual free fatty acids (SIFFA) and serum individual total fatty acids (SITFA) in terms of their different relationships (correlations) to each of homeostatic model assessment-individual insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and homeostatic model assessment-individual insulin resistance-percentage β-cell function (HOMA-% β) remaining in human type 2 diabetic patients with pre-flaxseed oil (FXO) and pre-safflower oil (SFO) administration. The secondary hypothesis was that FXO (rich in alpha-linolenic acid, ALA) supplementation would alter these correlations differently in the SIFFA and STIFFA pools in comparison with the placebo SFO (poor in ALA). Methods. Patients were recruited via a newspaper advertisement and two physicians. All patients came to visit 1 and three months later to visit 2. At visit 2, the subjects were randomly assigned (double-blind) to flaxseed or safflower oil (placebo) treatment for three months until visit 3. Results. There were pre-intervention differences in the SIFFA and STIFA pool's relationships with each of HOMA-IR and HOMA-% β. These relatioships remained either unchanged or became significant after intervention (treatment or placebo). There was a negative correlation found between HOMA-IR and serum free ALA (SFALA) mol % after FXO. Serum total ALA (STALA) mol % had no significant correlations with HOMA-IR and HOMA- % β before and after flaxseed oil administration. Conclusions. The SIFFA and SITFA pools have different relationships with HOMA-IR and HOMA-% β for each of pre- and post-intervention. It is concluded that the data support both the primary and the secondary hypotheses indicating that they are correct., (© 2023 Douglas E. Barre et al., published by Sciendo.)

There is evidence of a relationship between increased energy intake and the development of metabolic inflammation and insulin resistance (IR), and between the aforementioned metabolic state and impaired tolerance to heat stress. Based on the anti-inflammatory properties and mitigating effects on IR and stress of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), an experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation to feedlot-finished steers during summer on animal performance, physiological and biochemical variables associated with glucose metabolism, heat and preslaughter-induced stress, and meat quality. A total of 48 Angus steers (388 ± 2 kg) were fed one of three corn-based finishing diets containing (dry matter basis) 0% added oil (CON; negative control), or 1.90% of sunflower oil-calcium salt (SUN; positive control), or 1.92% of linseed oil-calcium salt (LIN). There was a trend (P = 0.08) for greater dry matter intake (DMI) and greater (P = 0.02) average daily gain (ADG) in LIN-fed animals compared with the average between those that received the CON or SUN diets, whereas no differences (P ≥ 0.34) were observed between the latter. No other performance, physiological, or carcass variables were affected (P ≥ 0.12) by treatment. Blood glucose and insulin were similar (P ≥ 0.14), though the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) which gauges IR tended (P = 0.06) to be reduced for LIN-fed animals compared with the average between those that received the CON or SUN diets. Blood insulin and HOMA increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) with days on feed. An interaction between the study phase (feeding period or slaughter) and treatment was observed (P ≤ 0.05) for glucose and cortisol. While the magnitude of glucose increase (P < 0.01) from the end of the feeding period to slaughter was greater for CON- and SUN-fed animals compared with LIN-fed ones, cortisol increased (P < 0.05) only in animals that received CON or SUN diets. Meat quality attributes were not affected (P ≥ 0.16) by treatment. The concentration of n-3 PUFA was greater (P < 0.01) and n-6:n-3 ratio was lesser (P < 0.01) in meat from LIN-fed animals compared with that resulting from the average between the animals that received the negative (CON) or positive (SUN) control diets. Results suggest that n-3 PUFA supplementation mitigated metabolic alterations associated with IR and preslaughter-related stress. It may have also improved tolerance to heat, resulting in greater DMI and ADG of steers fed a high-energy diet during summer. Results also indicate that glucose metabolism and heat stress tolerance worsen with time when feeding concentrate-based diets., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

We investigated the effects of supplementary calcium salt of fatty acid (CSFA) from linseed oil with different oil adsorbents on in vitro gas production and rumen fermentation characteristics in barley substrate condition. A non-supplementation treatment (CONT) and treatments of six products, CSFA without oil adsorbent (2.1 fatty acid/Ca molar ratio) and CSFAs with silica gel, zeolite, bentonite, diatomite, and vermiculite (2.8 fatty acid/Ca molar ratio), were prepared. The supplementary 2% and 4% CSFA with silica gel (+S) in the substrate reduced CH 4 production 56% and 79%, respectively, compared with that in CONT (p < 0.01). The products, except for +S, did not decrease CH 4 production. The dry matter (DM) disappearance in CSFAs with oil adsorbents was lower than that in the CSFA without oil adsorbent (74.8%-77.3% vs. 79.3%, p < 0.01), and crude protein (CP) disappearance in +S supplementation was lower than that of the other products (53.5% vs. 57.2%-59.1%, p < 0.01). The +S supplementation decreased acetate proportion and increased propionate proportion (p < 0.01). Our study indicated that although the disappearance of DM and CP might decrease, using silica gel as an oil adsorbent of linseed oil calcium salt with high fatty acid/Ca molar ratio has the potential to mitigate CH 4 emissions from ruminants., (© 2022 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

Brain benefits from physical exercise associated with antioxidant supplements such as flaxseed oil. This low cost and simple association may improve hippocampal plasticity, which may work as a preventive and effective therapy in neuroprotection and neuroplasticity processes. This work evaluated the effects of physical exercise with flaxseed oil supplementation (Linum usitatissimum L.) in the hippocampus of Wistar rats. We separated male Wistar rats into four experimental groups: control group (sedentary), a sedentary group with a supplemental diet of flaxseed oil, a group under exercise program with flaxseed oil supplementation, and a group exclusively under exercise program. The swimming exercise consisted of a progressive 28‑day protocol followed by behavioral assessment, brain perfusion, microtomy, immunohistochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), cellular morphology, and optical density analysis. We used the ANOVA test with Tukey's post‑test for behavioral analysis. The exercise program with flaxseed oil supplementation was able to alter the GFAP expression in astrocytes in the CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus regions of the hippocampus and modulate the behavioral aspects of memory and anxiety.

Gut microbial processing of dietary flaxseed (FS) contributes to its health benefits, but the relative effects of its bioactive components (lignans, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber) on the microbiota are unclear. We investigated the gut microbial compositional and functional responses to whole FS and its isolated components, FS oil (FSO) and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) (precursor to microbial-derived enterolignans) to help understand their contribution to whole FS benefits. Cecum content and fecal samples were collected from C57BL/6 female mice fed a basal diet (AIN93G) or isocaloric diets containing 10% FS or 10% FS-equivalent amounts of FSO or SDG for 21 days. Cecal and fecal microbiota composition and predicted genomic functions, and their relationship with serum enterolignans were evaluated. Only FS modified the community structure. Shared- and diet-specific enriched taxa and functions were identified. Carbohydrate and protein processing functions were enriched in FS mice, and there was a positive correlation between select enriched taxa, encompassing fiber degraders and SDG metabolizers, and serum enterolignans. This was not observed in mice receiving isolated FSO and SDG, suggesting that FS fiber supports SDG microbial metabolism. In conclusion, the cooperative activities of a diverse microbiota are necessary to process FS components and, when administered at the amount present in FS, these components may act together to affect SDG-derived enterolignans production. This has implications for the use of FS, FSO and SDG in clinical practice., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and linseed oil (LO) supplementation are effective strategies to reduce obesity-induced oxidative stress. Our aim was to determine whether the HIIT + LO combination prevents obesity-induced oxidative stress in high fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. HFD-fed 8-week-old, male, Wistar rats were subdivided in four groups: HFD, LO (2% of sunflower oil replaced with 2% of LO in the HFD), HIIT (4 days/week for 12 weeks), and HIIT + LO. Wistar rats fed a low-fat diet (LFD) were used as controls. Epididymal and subcutaneous adipose tissue, gastrocnemius muscle, liver, and plasma samples were collected to measure oxidative stress markers (AOPP, oxLDL), antioxidant (SOD, CAT, and GPx activities) and pro-oxidant (NOx and XO) enzyme activities. Compared with the LFD, the HFD altered the pro/antioxidant status in different tissues (increase of AOPP, oxLDL, SOD and catalase activities in plasma, and SOD activity increase in liver and decrease in adipose tissues) but not in gastrocnemius. LO upregulated CAT activity and decreased NOx in liver. HIIT alleviated HFD negative effects in liver by reducing SOD and NOx activities. Moreover, the HIIT + LO combination potentiated SOD activity upregulation in subcutaneous tissue. HIIT and LO supplementation have independent beneficial effects on the pro/antioxidant balance. Their association promotes SOD activity in subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Flaxseed oil is an excellent source of the essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Omega-3 PUFAs are important neuronal components and can counteract aggressive, depressive, and anxiety-like behavior, reduce glucocorticoid (e.g. cortisol) concentrations under chronic stress but also increase acute glucocorticoid responses. As glucocorticoids per se and glucocorticoid responsiveness can modulate the establishment of dominance hierarchies, we investigated if flaxseed oil high in ALA can promote social dominance through effects on glucocorticoid concentrations. Two male and two female groups of domestic guinea pigs (n = 9 per group) were maintained on a control or a 5% (w/w) flaxseed oil diet for four weeks. Social behaviors, hierarchy indices, locomotion, and saliva cortisol concentrations were determined during basal group housing conditions and stressful social confrontations with unfamiliar individuals of the other groups. Flaxseed groups had increased basal cortisol concentrations and showed no cortisol increase during social confrontations. Cortisol concentrations in control groups significantly increased during social confrontations. Such higher cortisol responses positively affected individual hierarchy indices in control males. However, flaxseed males became dominant irrespective of cortisol concentrations. In females, the opposite was detected, namely a higher dominant status in control compared to flaxseed females. Open-field- and dark-light-tests for anxiety-like behavior revealed no pronounced differences, but flaxseed males showed the highest locomotor activity. Flaxseed oil as an ALA source sex-specifically promoted social dominance irrespective of cortisol concentrations and responses. The underlying neuronal mechanisms remain to be determined, but a sex-specific energetic advantage may have accounted for this effect., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The current study aims to investigate the effects of dietary source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on immune response in broiler chickens, represented by cytotoxic cell activity. A total of 255 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chickens were fed on fish oil (FO)-, flaxseed oil-enriched diets at 50 and 19 g/kg, respectively, in addition to the soybean-based control diet. At slaughter, samples of blood and spleen were harvested from 20 birds/treatment (n = 20). The immune tissues' fatty acid profile was analyzed by gas chromatography, and the cytotoxic cell activity was investigated. The results showed that supplementing broiler chickens with diets rich in n-3 PUFA had a substantial effect on the broiler immune tissues' fatty acid profile. Cytotoxic cell activity was significantly higher in splenocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from broilers fed flaxseed oil than those provided FO and the soybean control diet. These results suggest that flaxseed oil may be used to enrich chickens with n-3 PUFA and improve the immune status of chicken flocks to resist diseases.

Lipids are of interest for the targeted modification of oral bioadhesion processes. Therefore, the sustainable effects of linseed oil on the composition and ultrastructure of the in situ pellicle were investigated. Unlike saliva, linseed oil contains linolenic acid (18:3), which served as a marker for lipid accumulation. Individual splints with bovine enamel slabs were worn by five subjects. After 1 min of pellicle formation, rinses were performed with linseed oil for 10 min, and the slabs' oral exposure was continued for up to 2 or 8 h. Gas chromatography coupled with electron impact ionization mass spectrometry (GC-EI/MS) was used to characterize the fatty acid composition of the pellicle samples. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to analyze the ultrastructure. Extensive accumulation of linolenic acid was recorded in the samples of all subjects 2 h after the rinse and considerable amounts persisted after 8 h. The ultrastructure of the 2 h pellicle was less electron-dense and contained lipid vesicles when compared with controls. After 8 h, no apparent ultrastructural effects were visible. Linolenic acid is an excellent marker for the investigation of fatty acid accumulation in the pellicle. New preventive strategies could benefit from the accumulation of lipid components in the pellicle.

The safety and effectiveness of nutricetics suggest that they may offer an alternative to pharmaceutical and surgical therapy for hormone-dependent disorders, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). We investigated the effects of Linum usitatissimum seed oil (LSO) on ovarian functionality, its molecular targets, and the oxidative response in hyperandrogenism-induced polycystic ovary. The composition of LSO has been analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). A well-established PCOS rat model orally administered with letrozole daily for 21 days was used to investigate the effect of LSO at doses of 1 and 2 mL/kg body weight for 28 days. The effect on hormonal profile and antioxidant status, histopathology (cell proliferation), and the expression ratio of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and Cyp11A1 gene were evaluated. LSO exerted beneficial effects on PCOS rat models via restoring glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), beta subunit subunit luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone levels, and histopathological scoring. Furthermore, LSO reversed the elevated StAR and Cyp11A1 genes in the PCOS rat model. This study demonstrated the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the beneficial effect of LSO against the reproductive and metabolic disorders of PCOS.

The study objective was to assess the impact of soybean (SO) and linseed oil (LO) added to feed mixture for laying hens upon the quality characteristics of table eggs, their fatty acid (FA) profile and cholesterol level. The material consisted of eggs from hens fed with a mixture without oil and with the addition of LO or SO in a dose of 2.5%. Eggs were subjected to quality assessment. FA profile and cholesterol content in yolks were determined. The results indicate no negative changes in eggs' quality caused by supplementation. An increase was observed in the n3 FA content in egg yolk in experimental groups, as well as all PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) proportions. No negative impact of these oils on the level of cholesterol was noted. As a consequence, the analysed feed additives can be safely applied as an appropriate material in poultry nutrition to enrich eggs with PUFA., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Individual vegetable oils have a characteristic fatty acids (FA) composition and unique phytonutrient profiles, enabling formulation of oil blends that may have health-promoting effects., Objective: The primary objective of this study was to investigate effects of 2 oil blends made with refined rice bran, flaxseed, and sesame oils, with distinct monounsaturated to saturated FA, polyunsaturated to saturated FA, and omega-3 (n-3) to omega-6 FA ratios and different phytonutrient concentrations on blood lipid profile, compared with refined olive oil as a control. The secondary outcomes were other markers of cardiometabolic health., Methods: A parallel-design, randomized controlled trial compared consumption of 30 g of allocated intervention oil per day for a period of 8 wk. The study recruited 143 borderline hypercholesterolemic (LDL cholesterol: 3.06-4.51 mmol/L) Chinese volunteers between 50 and 70 y old and with a BMI (kg/m2) ≤27.5. All outcomes were measured every 2 wk, and the time × treatment interactions and the main effects of treatment and time were analyzed using an intention-to-treat approach., Results: Compared with baseline (week 0), there were significant reductions during the post-intervention time points in serum total cholesterol (-3.47%; P < 0.0001), LDL cholesterol (-4.16%; P < 0.0001), triglycerides (-10.3%; P < 0.0001), apoB (-3.93%; P < 0.0001), total to HDL-cholesterol (-3.44%; P < 0.0001) and apoB to apoA1 (-3.99%; P < 0.0001) ratios, systolic and diastolic blood pressures (-3.32% and -3.16%, respectively; both P < 0.0001), and serum glucose (-1.51%; P < 0.05) and a small but significant increase in body weight (+0.7%; P < 0.001) for all 3 intervention oils but no effects of intervention on HDL-cholesterol or apoA1 concentration. No significant effects of treatment or time × treatment interactions were found., Conclusions: Using blended vegetable oils that are extensively consumed in Asia, this study found that specific oil blends can improve blood lipid profile and other cardiometabolic parameters, to a similar extent as refined olive oil, in Chinese adults with borderline hypercholesterolemia. This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03964857., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Here, we investigated the effects of total dietary fish oil (FO) substitution with plant oil (PO) on hematological indices, immune status, antioxidant activity, IL1β and TNF-α gene expression, and hypoxia stress resistance in Oreochromis niloticus at suboptimal temperatures. Fish (n = 360) were randomly divided into 12 circular fiberglass tanks (500 L; 3 replicates for each dietary group, 30 fish/replicate, 90 fish/group). The control group was fed a basal diet with FO as the lipid source. The CO, SFO, and LSO groups were fed a basal diet with complete replacement of FO with corn, sunflower, and linseed oils, respectively. After 4 weeks, no effects on hematological indices were observed in fish fed the experimental diets. The LSO and CO groups showed a significant increase in γ globulin levels. The highest levels of non-specific immune parameters, antioxidant activity, and IL-1β and TNF-α gene expressions were recorded in the LSO group. The LSO group also exhibited good resistance to hypoxia stress. Therefore, the total dietary substitution of FO with PO (especially LSO and CO) is recommended as a valuable strategy to ameliorate the immunosuppressive effects of suboptimal temperatures and enhance the resistance of O. niloticus to hypoxia stress.

Calves may experience increased oxidative stress at birth through activation of metabolic and respiratory processes. Reducing oxidative stress may enhance calf viability in early life. Our objective was to determine the dose response to fish and flaxseed oil when supplemented in colostrum on concentrations of plasma fatty acid (FA), FA metabolites, and index of oxidative stress during the critical first week of life in calves to understand how supplementing n-3 FA may decrease oxidative stress. We hypothesized that n-3 FA supplemented in colostrum in a linear dose-dependent fashion would associate with increased plasma n-3 FA concentrations and decreased oxidative stress. Twenty-four male and female Holstein calves were randomly assigned to receive 0, 30, 60, or 120 mL of a 1:1 fish to flaxseed oil supplement in colostrum. All calves received 2.8 L of previously frozen colostrum (≥22% Brix) with their respective treatment within 6 h after birth. Blood was sampled before first feeding after birth and on d 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14 d of age to assess oxidant status and plasma free PUFA, phospholipid FA, and oxylipid concentrations. Health indicators were observed daily. Indicators of general health and growth were unaffected by treatment. Supplemented calves exhibited greater concentrations of n-3 FA in plasma as free and phospholipid FA and some n-3 and n-6 FA-derived oxylipids in the first week of life in a linear fashion with increasing supplemental dose. Fish and flaxseed oil treatments did not alter oxidant status but overall decreased isoprostane concentrations in plasma, indicating oxidative stress was decreased. Together, these responses indicate that the fish and flaxseed oil supplement was antiinflammatory. In conclusion, supplementing colostrum with 30, 60, and 120 mL of a 1:1 mixture of fish and flaxseed oil linearly increased plasma concentrations of n-3 FA and metabolites and decreased biomarkers of oxidative stress, but did not alter oxidant status or affect health or growth. Our findings suggest neonatal calves may benefit from n-3 FA supplementation in colostrum to encourage a greater antiinflammatory state., (Copyright © 2020 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

For centuries, herbs and herbal oils are used for pharmacological purpose. Aloe vera is well-known as silent healer and flax seed oil is known to contain rich amount of omega-3 fatty acids, both are having effects on central nervous system. Valproic acid is anticonvulsant drug with some side effects and has shown effects on behaviors. This study was designed to monitor the effects of valproic acid, aloe vera and flax seed oil on cognitive and anxiolytic behaviors in rats. Animals were categorized into four groups: Control, valproic acid, aloe vera and flax seed oil which were respectively treated with water, valproic acid (300mg/kg), aloe vera (0.4ml/kg) and flax seed oil (1.8ml/kg). The treatment was continued 2 weeks for drug and 3 weeks for aloe vera and flax seed oil. Anxiolytic effect as well as increased GABA levels were observed following drug and oil treatments. Improvement in cognitive function with decrease in acetylcholine esterase activity in aloe vera and flax seed oil while impairment in learning memory with increase acetylcholine esterase activity was observed in rats treated with valproic acid. Results showed substantial decrease in acetylcholinesterase level in aloe vera and flax seed oil supporting the cognitive impact of oils in contrary to drug.

Tempe-type fermentation originating from Indonesia can enhance the antioxidant activity of plant material. However, this biological potential depends on substrates and applied microorganisms. This study aimed to determine whether co-fermentation with Rhizopus oligosporus and Lactobacillus plantarum improved antioxidant activity of tempe obtained from grass pea seeds with flaxseed oil-cake addition (up to 30%). For this purpose, substances reacting with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and free radicals scavenging potential were measured in water-soluble fractions and dialysates from simulated in vitro digestion. Additionally, the water-soluble phenolic profile was estimated. The higher level of water-extractable compounds with antioxidant activity was determined in co-fermentation products than in fungal fermentation products. Moreover, the fermentation process with the use of L. plantarum contributed to a greater accumulation of some phenolic acids (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid) in tempe without having a negative effect on the levels of other phenolic compounds determined in fungal fermented tempe. During in vitro digestion simulating the human digestive tract, more antioxidant compounds were released from products obtained after co-fermentation than fungal fermentation. An addition of 20% flaxseed oil-cake and the application of bacterial-fungal co-fermentation, can be considered as an alternative tool to enhance the antioxidant parameters of grass pea tempe.

Membrane phospholipids, including phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), consist of distinct fatty acids occupying the sn-1 and sn-2 positions, reflecting the highly regulated nature of lipid biosynthesis. However, little is known about the influence of dietary lipids on the positional nature of fatty acids in tissues, including the enrichment of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in chicken egg yolk phospholipids. This study was undertaken to characterize the PC and PE species in egg lipids derived from Lohmann hens (n=10/treatment) randomly allocated to either a control (no supplementation), a flaxseed oil (FO) or a marine algal oil (MA) diet. Each of the FO or MA diets supplied three levels of total omega-3 PUFA (0.20, 0.40 and 0.60% of diet) that were provided for 6 weeks. A combination of multiplexed mass spectrometry (MS) experiments are used to determine total, isobaric, and position molecules for PC and PE in egg yolk. The distribution of phospholipids in the yolk was predominantly PC over PE (~72 vs. 23%, respectively) across treatments. The longer chain PUFA existed in the sn-2 position in the PC and PE. Although docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) formed isomers with fatty acids 16:0, 18:0 and 18:1; it was preferentially enriched in the egg in combination with 16:0 with both the FO and MA-fed groups in both lipid pools. All 22:6-containing isomers were enriched by ~2-fold more (P < 0.0001) with MA than FO, however, all isomers exhibited a plateau with the FO-fed group. In addition, the MS analyses of PCs revealed several isobaric species containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5), however, in the PE, EPA formed only one isomer (i.e. in combination with 16:0). These results may assist to elucidate potential aspects regulating the limited enrichment of omega-3 PUFA, particularly EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) in chicken eggs., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The limited production of fish oil (FO) cannot meet the increasing demand of the aqua-feed industry. Accordingly, the replacement of FO with sustainable alternatives such as vegetable oils has become imperative. Linseed oil (LO), which has an abundance of α-linolenic acid (ALA), is a promising FO alternative. Nevertheless, high dietary LO inclusion generally causes abnormal hepatic lipid accumulation and growth retardation across carnivorous marine fish species. Previous studies have attempted to elucidate the mechanisms with regard to gene and protein levels; however, little is known about posttranslational modifications. In the present study, iTRAQ phosphoproteomics was conducted to investigate the metabolic and physiological responses of the yellow drum (Nibea albiflora) fed an LO-rich or FO-rich diet. Identification and analyses of differentially abundant phosphorylated proteins in hepatic tissue were conducted with parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) verification in reference to the genome sequences of the yellow drum. Among the specific peptides that passed the threshold, 203 hyperphosphorylated and 182 hypophosphorylated peptides were identified. Several functional categories and pathways were associated with these proteins that were mostly related to lipid, amino acid, and carbohydrate metabolism. In particular, the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and citrate (TCA) cycle are discussed. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Dietary LO caused abnormal hepatic lipid accumulation and retarded growth performance. The abnormal hepatic lipid accumulation in the fish fed the LO-rich diet might have arisen from AMPK signaling pathway-mediated de novo synthesis of fatty acids and the synthesis of phospholipids. An mTOR signaling pathway-mediated reduction in ribosome protein synthesis could have been a factor in the growth retardation. Changes in UPS and autophagy proteins phosphorylation and aminotransferase activity levels were related to the flux of amino acids into the TCA cycle for ATP production. The results of PRM were highly correlated with the phosphoproteomics results. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of abnormal hepatic lipid accumulation and retarded growth performance in carnivorous marine fish fed linseed oil-rich diets., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and flaxseed oil (FO) contain a variety of constituents beneficial for chronic inflammation and cardio-metabolic derangement. However, little is known about the impact of EVOO and FO on dysbiosis of gut microbiota, intestinal immunity, and barrier. We, therefore, aimed to assess the impact of EVOO and FO on gut microbiota, mucosal immunity, barrier integrity, and metabolic health in mice., Methods: C57BL/6 J mice were exposed to a low-fat (LF), lard (HF), high fat-extra virgin olive oil (HF-EVOO), or high fat-flaxseed oil (HF-FO) diet for 10 weeks. Gut microbiota assessment was undertaken using 16S rRNA sequencing. Levels of mRNA for genes involved in intestinal inflammation and barrier maintenance in the intestine and bacterial infiltration in the liver were measured by qPCR., Results: HF-EVOO or HF-FO mice showed greater diversity in gut microbiota as well as a lower abundance of the Firmicutes phylum in comparison with HF mice (P < 0.05). The qPCR analyses revealed that mRNA level of FoxP3, a transcription factor, and IL-10, an inducer of regulatory T cells, was significantly elevated in the intestines of mice-fed HF-EVOO in comparison with mice-fed HF (P < 0.05). The mRNA level of the antimicrobial peptide, RegӀӀӀγ, was markedly elevated in the intestines of HF-EVOO and HF-FO compared with HF group (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Our data suggest that the consumption of EVOO or FO can beneficially impact gut microbiota, enhance gut immunity, and assist in the preservation of metabolic health in mice.

Medicinal plants have been used as a source of effective and safe alternative therapeutic agents for various ailments including inflammation. In fact, the aim of this study is to assess the topical anti-inflammatory and antioxidative potential effects of Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin), Linum usitatissimum (linseed), and Opuntia ficus indica (prickly pear) oils on acute inflammation using carrageenan-induced paw edema model. The study was conducted on 36 rats splitted in 6 groups: a normal control group and 5 carrageenan-treated groups (1%), each treated with either a normal saline, the reference drug ("Inflocine®" 2 mg/paw), pumpkin, linseed, or prickly pear oils (25  μ l/paw). The response to these treatments was mainly assessed by the measuring of edema paw size, hematological and biochemical analysis, oxidative stress testing, and histological study. All the studied seed oils especially prickly pear oil proved to be efficient in treating acute inflammation. The oil-treated groups revealed a significant ( p < 0.05) decrease in the clinical signs of inflammation, hematological parameters (white blood cells and platelets), concentrations of CRP and fibrinogen, and congestion compared to the normal saline-treated group. The results also showed that the tested oils, endowed with a radical scavenging ability, could significantly increase the activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx in carrageenan-treated skin by reducing the lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation (TBARS, AOPP). The anti-inflammatory effect of the tested oils was closely related to both their antioxidant properties as well as their bioactive compounds (polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, and phytosterols). For the first time, the findings of the current study highlight the " in vivo " anti-inflammatory property of pumpkin, linseed, and prickly pear oils on carrageenan-induced acute inflammation by regulating inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress markers., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Sana Bardaa et al.)

The present study evaluated the interaction effects of n-3 fatty acids (from linseed oil (LSO), 0 v. 2·5, % DM basis) with rumen undegradable:degradable protein (RUP:RDP) ratios (low ratio (LR) 27:73; high ratio (HR) 38:62 based on crude protein %) in dairy calves' starter diet. Forty-eight 3-d-old female Holstein dairy calves (41·5 kg of body weight (BW)) were allocated in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangements in the following treatments (n 12 calves/each): (1) no supplementation of LSO with LR (NLSO-LR); (2) no supplementation of LSO with HR (NLSO-HR); (3) supplementation of LSO with LR (LSO-LR) and (4) supplementation of LSO with HR (LSO-HR). The calves were weaned on day 53 of the experiment and remained in the study until day 73. Intake was not affected by LSO and RUP:RDP ratio. However, average daily gain (ADG) was improved with LSO supplementation. Feeding the HR diet increased ADG compared with the LR diet during the entire period. Final BW was greater in calves fed on the LSO than those fed the NLSO diet. Microbial protein production did not differ among treatments. Calves fed on LSO diets had greater feed efficiency than those which were not fed on LSO diets. The calves supplemented with LSO had greater wither and hip heights compared with the unsupplemented calves. The glucose, cholesterol, HDL and insulin concentrations increased in calves supplemented with LSO. In conclusion, the HR diet improved calves' performance post-weaning; however, LSO could enhance growth performance of dairy calves during the pre-weaning period.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents a common endocrine-metabolic disorder disease with chronic low-grade inflammation and alteration of intestinal flora. Serving as functional food, flaxseed oil (FO), which is rich in plant-derived α-linolenic acid of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, has been proven to benefit for chronic metabolic diseases. However, the exact role of dietary FO on PCOS remains largely unclear. In the present study, 6-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (eight rats/group), including (a) pair-fed (PF) control (CON) group (PF/CON), (b) FO-fed CON group (FO/CON), (c) PF with letrozole-induced PCOS model (MOD) group (PF/MOD), and (d) FO-fed MOD group (FO/MOD). All rats were fed a standard diet. After 3 weeks of modeling and subsequent 8 weeks of treatment, the rats in diverse groups were euthanized and associated indications were investigated. The results showed that dietary FO ameliorated the disorder of estrous cycle and ovarian morphology. In parallel, dietary FO improved the sex steroid hormone disturbance (luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone, estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone), body weights, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Moreover, FO treatment improved plasma and ovary inflammatory interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor-α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Additionally, FO intervention significantly modulated the composition of gut microbiota and vaginal microbiota by increasing the abundances of Allobaculum, Lactobacillus, Butyrivibrio, Desulfovibrio, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, Parabacteroides as well as decreasing the abundances of Actinobacteria, Bacteroides, Proteobacteria , and Streptococcus , the ratio of Firmicutes / Bacteroidetes . A decrease in plasma lipopolysaccharide level and an increase in short-chain fatty acids, including acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and pentanoic acid, were determined after dietary FO supplementation. Correlation analysis revealed close relationships among sex steroid hormones, inflammation, and gut/vaginal microbiota. Collectively, this study demonstrated that dietary FO ameliorated PCOS through the sex steroid hormones-microbiota-inflammation axis in rats, which may contribute to the understanding of pathogenesis and potentially serve as an inexpensive intervention in the control of PCOS., (Copyright © 2020 Wang, Sha, Li, Zhu, Wang, Li, Lu, Bao, Guo, Zhang and Wang.)

Flaxseed oil is rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA), which is the metabolic precursor of EPA and DHA. The present study investigated the effect of flaxseed oil supplementation on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced muscle atrophy and carbohydrate oxidation impairment in a piglet model. Twenty-four weaned pigs were used in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment including dietary treatment (5 % maize oil v. 5 % flaxseed oil) and LPS challenge (saline v. LPS). On day 21 of treatment, the pigs were injected intraperitoneally with 100 μg/kg body weight LPS or sterile saline. At 4 h after injection, blood, gastrocnemius muscle and longissimus dorsi muscle were collected. Flaxseed oil supplementation increased ALA, EPA, total n-3 PUFA contents, protein:DNA ratio and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex quantity in muscles (P < 0·05). In addition, flaxseed oil reduced mRNA expression of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain protein (NOD) 2 and their downstream signalling molecules in muscles and decreased plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8, and mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 (P < 0·05). Moreover, flaxseed oil inclusion increased the ratios of phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt) 1:total Akt1 and phosphorylated Forkhead box O (FOXO) 1:total FOXO1 and reduced mRNA expression of FOXO1, muscle RING finger (MuRF) 1 and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 in muscles (P < 0·05). These results suggest that flaxseed oil might have a positive effect on alleviating muscle protein loss and carbohydrates oxidation impairment induced by LPS challenge through regulation of the TLR4/NOD and Akt/FOXO signalling pathways.

The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of n-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil on genetic and metabolic profiles in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed in sixty women with GDM. Participants were randomly divided into two groups to intake either 2 × 1000 mg/d n-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil containing 400 mg α-linolenic acid in each capsule (n 30) or placebo (n 30) for 6 weeks. n-3 Fatty acid intake up-regulated PPAR-γ (P < 0·001) and LDL receptor (P = 0·004) and down-regulated gene expression of IL-1 (P = 0·002) and TNF-α (P = 0·001) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of subjects with GDM. In addition, n-3 fatty acid supplementation reduced fasting plasma glucose (P = 0·001), insulin levels (P = 0·001) and insulin resistance (P < 0·001) and increased insulin sensitivity (P = 0·005) when compared with the placebo. Additionally, n-3 fatty acid supplementation was associated with a decrease in TAG (P < 0·001), VLDL-cholesterol (P < 0·001), total cholesterol (P = 0·01) and total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio (P = 0·01) when compared with placebo. n-3 Fatty acid administration was also associated with a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0·006) and malondialdehyde (P < 0·001), and an increase in total nitrite (P < 0·001) and total glutathione levels (P = 0·006) when compared with the placebo. n-3 Fatty acid supplementation for 6 weeks to women with GDM had beneficial effects on gene expression related to insulin, lipid and inflammation, glycaemic control, lipids, inflammatory markers and oxidative stress.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a member of the n-3 fatty acid family present in fish oil, has several positive effects on bovine sperm, including membrane integrity, motility and viability, as well as cold sensitivity. Our objective was to investigate effects of varying amounts of omega-3 fatty acids from linseed oil, administered orally, on quality of fresh and frozen-thawed bull sperm. Twenty fertile Holstein bulls (874 ± 45.38 kg) were randomly and equally assigned to four groups and received encapsulated (rumen-protected) fats for 12 weeks, as follows: group P, 300 g palm oil; group Pl, 200 g palm oil + 100 g linseed oil; group pL, 100 g palm oil + 200 g linseed oil; and group L, 300 g linseed oil. Sperm quality of fresh and frozen-thawed semen was evaluated by routine assays including sperm motion characteristics (CASA), membrane integrity (eosin-nigrosin), membrane activity (hypo-osmotic swelling test; HOST) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. There were no significant differences among groups in semen volume, sperm concentration or sperm quality parameters in fresh semen. However, after freezing-thawing, total and progressive motility in group P (59.61 ± 1.95 and 40.19 ± 2.48%, respectively; LSM ± SEM) were lower (P < 0.05) than in groups Pl (66.06 ± 1.95 and 47.53 ± 2.48%), pL (65.67 ± 1.95 and 47.48 ± 2.48%) and L (65.36 ± 1.95 and 47.62 ± 2.48)%, with no significant differences among the latter three groups. Furthermore, membrane integrity (eosin-nigrosin) and activity (HOST) were lower (P < 0.05) in group P (55.79 ± 2.15 and 42.19 ± 2.17%) compared to groups Pl (62.73 ± 2.15 and 48.93 ± 2.17%), pL (64.06 ± 2.15 and 50.01 ± 2.17%) and L (64.47 ± 2.15 and 49.68 ± 2.17%), with no significant differences among the latter three. Furthermore, there were more (P < 0.05) morphologically abnormal sperm in group P (25.99 ± 1.62%) than in groups Pl, PL and L (21.55 ± 1.62, 21.69 ± 1.62 and 20.90 ± 1.62%). In conclusion, feeding Holstein bulls 100-300 g linseed oil daily improved sperm cryotolerance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We confirm that there is not any conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effects of Linum usitatissimum oil (LuO) against sub-chronic Roundup (RDP)-induced toxicity and oxidative stress in rats. Rats were divided into four groups: control group (no treatment), RDP group (Roundup at 269.9 mg/kg b.w.), LuO group (0.5 g/kg b.w. of LuO) and RDP+LuO group (RDP and LuO simultaneously). LuO decreased the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (IC50=10.36 μg/ml) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (IC50=22.85 mg/ml) in the tested tissues. The 30-day exposure of rats to RDP caused an increase in serum hepatic and renal markers: AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, γGT, bilirubin, urea, and creatinine. In addition, SOD, CAT and GST activities decreased by 43%, 61%, and 61%, respectively, while GPx activity, MDA and PCOs levels increased by 80%, 46%, 25%, respectively. LuO treatment alleviated hepatotoxicity in RDP-treated rats, showing improved levels of oxidative stress biomarkers and plasma biochemical parameters. The histological examination of the liver and kidney confirmed the changes in Roundup-treated rats and demonstrated the protective role of LuO.

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacement of dietary fish oil by palm and linseed oils on the growth performance, anti-oxidative capacity, and inflammatory responses of large yellow croaker (initial body weight: 36.82 ± 0.29 g). The control diet was designed to contain 6.5% of fish oil, and named as FO. On the basis of the control diet, the fish oil was 100% replaced by palm and linseed oils, and these two diets were named as PO and LO, respectively. Results showed that the specific growth rate significantly reduced in the PO and LO groups. Crude lipid content in liver of fish fed FO was significantly lower than that in the PO and LO groups. Fatty acid composition in liver reflected the dietary input. Compared with the FO group, palm oil inclusion significantly decreased expressions of superoxide dismutase 1, catalase, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in liver, while linseed oil inclusion significantly increased expressions of above genes. However, both of the PO and LO groups had a significantly lower total anti-oxidative capacity in liver than the fish fed FO. Dietary palm and linseed oils significantly decreased expressions of arginase I and interleukin 10, and increased expressions of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β, toll-like receptor 22, and myeloid differentiation factor 88 in liver. In conclusion, total replacement of dietary fish oil by palm and linseed oils could suppress growth performance and liver anti-oxidative capacity, and induce inflammatory responses of large yellow croaker.

The aims of this study are to investigate the preventive effect of flaxseed oil (FO) on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Thirty adult male Wistar rats (180-220 g) were randomly divided into three groups. The control group (G 1 ) received no treatment, the group (G 2 ) received only intratracheally BLM, and the group (G 3 ) received FO (2 mL/kg body weight) once a day for 60 days + BLM (4 mg/kg body weight "bw"). Our results demonstrated that FO protected against BLM-induced PF, by increasing proline, fructose, glucose, glyceride, choline, lactate, and malate metabolites in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (Balf) which are involved in anti-inflammatory reactions. Also, FO-treatment reduced the score of fibrosis and the inflammatory index and revealed a decrease in tumor growth factor beta (TGFβ) density in alveoli, inflammatory infiltrate and fibrocytes, comparatively to the BLM group. As well, our data demonstrated that acute BLM-induced fibrosis was accompanied by an oxidative stress in lung tissue as assessed by an increase of lipid peroxidation as well as antioxidant enzyme activities depletion such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The FO treatment reversed all disturbances of BLM-induced oxidative stress parameters, and increased fatty acids levels promoting anti-inflammatory reactions especially in erythrocytes (linoleic, α-linolenic, docosapentaenoic acids).

Background/aims: Flaxseed contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), lignans, and dietary fiber, and its intake lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Here, we examined the effects of flaxseed powder, which includes all flaxseed components, flaxseed oil, composed mainly of ALA, flaxseed lignan, and flaxseed fiber, on hypertension and renal damage induced by deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt. Then, we investigated the mechanisms of action associated with the effects of flaxseed., Methods: Flaxseed powder, oil, lignan, or fiber was administered to DOCA-salt rats. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), urinary protein excretion, renal angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity, sympathetic nerve activity, and gene expression of inflammatory mediators in the kidney and hypothalamus were measured., Results: Flaxseed powder and oil reduced the increases in SBP and urinary protein excretion induced by DOCA-salt treatment, whereas lignan and fiber had no effects. Flaxseed oil suppressed the increase in renal ACE activity, sympathetic nerve activity, and gene expression of renal and hypothalamic inflammatory mediators., Conclusion: Flaxseed has antihypertensive and renoprotective effects in DOCA-salt rats. These effects are likely principally exerted by ALA. Furthermore, the suppression of renal ACE activity, sympathetic nerve activity, and inflammation is partly involved in the effects of flaxseed., (© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Rubber seed oil (RO) that is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (FA) can improve milk production and milk FA profiles of dairy cows; however, the responses of digestion and ruminal fermentation to RO supplementation in vivo are still unknown. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of RO and flaxseed oil (FO) supplementation on nutrients digestibility, rumen fermentation parameters and rumen FA profile of dairy cows. Forty-eight mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of four treatments for 8 weeks, including basal diet (CON) or the basal dietary supplemented with 4% RO, 4% FO or 2% RO plus 2% FO on a DM basis. Compared with CON, dietary oil supplementation improved the total tract apparent digestibility of DM, neutral detergent fibre and ether extracts ( P < 0.05). Oil treatment groups had no effects on ruminal digesta pH value, ammonia N and microbial crude protein ( P > 0.05), whereas oil groups significantly changed the volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile by increasing the proportion of propionate whilst decreasing total VFA concentration, the proportion of acetate and the ratio of acetate to propionate ( P < 0.05). However, there were no differences in VFA proportions between the three oil groups (P > 0.05). In addition, dietary oil supplementation increased the total unsaturated FA proportion in the rumen by enhancing the proportion of trans-11 C18:1 vaccenic acid (VA), cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) ( P < 0.05). These results indicate that dietary supplementation with RO and FO could improve nutrients digestibility, ruminal fermentation and ruminal FA profile by enhancing the VA, cis-9, trans-11 CLA and ALA composition of lactating dairy cows. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of RO in livestock production.

There have been various clinical studies on the effect of flaxseed-derived products on circulating inflammatory biomarkers, but the findings from these are contradictory. The aim of the present study was to clarify any association. A comprehensive literature search was conducted from inception to May 2018. From the eligible trials, 32 articles describing studies conducted on adults aged 18-70 y were selected for the meta-analysis. Meta-analyses using the random-effects model were performed to investigate the data and results showed significant effects of flaxseed intake on circulating high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) [weighted mean difference (WMD) = -0.75; 95% CI: -1.19, -0.30; P < 0.001] and TNFα (WMD = -0.38; 95% CI: -0.75,-0.01; P = 0.04). However, no significant changes were found in IL6 concentration (WMD = -0.24; 95% CI: -0.70, 0.21; P = 0.28) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (WMD = -0.34; 95% CI:-0.89, 0.20; P = 0.22). Moreover, by eliminating 1 of the studies from the sensitivity analysis, changes in IL6 concentration were significant (WMD = -0.44; 95% CI: -0.81, -0.08). The changes in inflammatory biomarkers were dependent on study design (parallel or crossover), supplement type (flaxseed, flaxseed oil, or lignan), study quality (high or low), and participants' age and BMI. According to this meta-analysis, flaxseed significantly reduced circulating concentrations of hs-CRP and TNFα, but did not affect IL6 and CRP. Further research is needed to examine the effect of different doses and long-term benefits of flaxseed and its derivatives on inflammatory factors., (Copyright © American Society for Nutrition 2019.)

The present study evaluates the effect of flaxseed oil (FXO) supplementation on adipose tissue macrophages (ATM's), E and D series resolvin (Rv) levels and adipose tissue inflammation. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into five groups (n = 5): lean group (given standard chow diet), HFD group given high fat diet (approx. 18 weeks) till they developed insulin resistance and 4, 8 or 16 mg/kg group (HFD group later orally supplemented with 4, 8 or 16 mg/kg body weight flaxseed oil) for 4 weeks.The present study showed that FXO supplementation led to enhanced DHA, EPA, RvE1-E2, RvD2, RvD5- D6, IL-4, IL-10 and arginase 1 levels in ATMs together with altered immune cell infiltration and reduced NF-κB expression. The FXO supplementation suppresses immune cell infiltration into adipose tissue and alters adipose tissue macrophage phenotype towards the anti-inflammatory state via enhancement of E and D series resolvins, arginase 1 expression and anti-inflammatory cytokines level (IL-4 and IL-10.) leading to amelioration of insulin resistance in flaxseed oil supplemented HFD mice., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the possible effect of grounded flaxseed and flaxseed oil on serum levels of inflammatory markers, metabolic parameters, and the severity of disease in patients with UC., Methods: In this open-labeled randomized controlled trial, 90 UC patients were randomly assigned to one of the 3 groups for 12 weeks: grounded flaxseed (GF; 30 g/day), flaxseed oil (FO; 10 g/day) and control group. The weight, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon gamma (INF-γ), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)), and fecal calprotectin were measured at the baseline and end of the study., Results: Totally, 75 patients (43 men and 32 women) with a mean age of 31.54 ± 9.84 years participated in the present study. Comparing the change of the variables indicated a significant decrease in fecal calprotectin (P < 0.001), Mayo score (P < 0.001), ESR (P < 0.001), INF-γ (P < 0.001), IL-6 (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P = 0.02), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) (P < 0.001), and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (P < 0.001) and a significant increase in TGF-β (P < 0.001) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire-Short form (IBDQ-9) score (P < 0.001) in the GF and FO groups compared to the control. No difference was obvious between the FO and GF groups except for TGF-β., Conclusion: The present study showed that both flaxseed and flaxseed oil, attenuate inflammatory markers, disease severity, blood pressure, and WC. However, the effect of flaxseed on weight and BMI was not evident., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of linseed oil (LO) on growth, plasma biochemistry, hepatic metabolism enzymes, and antioxidant capacity of juvenile largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides. Four isonitrogenous (crude protein, 45%) and isoenergetic (gross energy, 18 MJ/kg) diets were formulated by replacing 0 (the control), 33.3%, 66.7%, and 100% of fish oil with linseed oil. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of fish (initial body weight, 22.02 ± 0.61 g) for 8 weeks. The results indicated that fish fed diet with 100% LO substitution level had lower weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) than the other groups (P < 0.05), while feed conversion ratio (FCR) was higher compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Feed intake (FI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) of 66.7% LO substitution level were significantly lower than the control groups (P < 0.05). Glycogen, lipid, and non-esterified fatty acid content in the liver decreased significantly with increasing dietary LO levels (P < 0.05). Moreover, the replacement of fish oil (FO) with LO could significantly reduce the content of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) and the activity of alanine amiotransferase (ALT) in plasma of M. salmoides (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in hepatic metabolism enzymes in fish fed diets with different dietary LO levels. Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-α) activities in liver significantly increased with increasing dietary LO level (P < 0.05). In addition, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) activities in the liver significantly increased with decreasing dietary LO level (P < 0.05). Both the lowest superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in the liver were recorded in the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, nitric oxide content, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activities in the liver significantly increased with increasing dietary LO level, while malondialdehyde (MDA) content significantly reduced. These findings demonstrated that LO can improve liver function and antioxidant ability of M. salmoides. In addition, replacing partial FO with LO cannot affect growth performance, but all substitutions inhibit growth performance of M. salmoides.