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

Abstract Background The erythrocyte membrane lesion is a serious diabetic complication. A number of studies suggested that n-3 fatty acid could reduce lipid peroxidation and elevate α- or γ-tocopherol contents in membrane of erythrocytes. However, evidence regarding the protective effects of flaxseed oil, a natural product rich in n-3 fatty acid, on lipid peroxidation, antioxidative capacity and membrane deformation of erythrocytes exposed to high glucose is limited. Methods Human peripheral blood erythrocytes were isolated and treated with 50 mM glucose to mimic hyperglycemia in the absence or presence of three different doses of flaxseed oil (50, 100 or 200 μM) in the culture medium for 24 h. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and L-glutathione (GSH) were measured by HPLC and LC/MS respectively. The phospholipids symmetry and membrane fatty acid composition of human erythrocytes were detected by flow cytometry and gas chromatograph (GC). The morphology of human erythrocyte was illuminated by ultra scanning electron microscopy. Results Flaxseed oil attenuated hyperglycemia-induced increase of MDA and decrease of GSH in human erythrocytes. Human erythrocytes treated with flaxseed oil contained higher C22:5 and C22:6 than those in the 50 mM glucose control group, indicating that flaxseed oil could reduce lipid asymmetric distribution and membrane perturbation. The ultra scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometer have also indicated that flaxseed oil could protect the membrane of human erythrocytes from deformation at high glucose level. Conclusion The flaxseed oil supplementation may prevent lipid peroxidation and membrane dysfunction of human erythrocytes in hyperglycemia.

Abstract Background Constipation is a very common health problem in the world. Intake of sufficient amount of dietary fibers is a cornerstone in the prevention and treatment of constipation. As a traditional medicine, flaxseed has been used to treat constipation for centuries, but the controlled trials are rare. The purpose of the present study was to assess that whether partially defatted flaxseed meal (PDFM) has the potential role to facilitate fecal output in normal and experimental constipated mice. Methods After supplemented with 2.5%, 5% and 10% (w/w) PDFM (L-, M- and H -PDFM) for 14 days, the constipation models of mice were induced by atropine-diphenoxylate. The small intestinal transit rates, start time of defecation, amount of defecation and wet weight of feces were researched in normal and constipation model mice. Results M- and H-PDFM significantly increase small intestinal transit rates in constipation model mice. All dose of PDFM markedly shortened the start time of defecation and M- and H-PDFM significantly increase stool frequency and weight in both normal and constipation model mice. Conclusions PDFM may be a useful laxative to facilitate fecal output in normal and constipation conditions.

Abstract Background Micronutrients polyphenols, tocopherols and phytosterols in rapeseed exert potential benefit to cardiovascular system, but most of these micronutrients are removed by the refining process. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of rapeseed oil fortified with these micronutrients on the atherosclerosis risk factors in rats fed a high-fat diet. Methods The rodent diet contained 20% fat whose source was refined rapeseed oil (RRO) or fortified refined rapeseed oil with low, middle and high quantities of these micronutrients (L-, M- and H-FRRO). Forty male SD rats were divided into four groups. One group received RRO diet and other groups received L-, M- and H-FRRO diet for 10 weeks. Results Micronutrients supplementation significantly increased plasma antioxidant defense capacities, as evaluated by the significant elevation in the activities of GPx, CAT and SOD as well as the level of GSH, and the significant decline in lipid peroxidation. These micronutrients also reduced the plasma contents of TG, TC and LDL-C and increased the ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C. In addition, in parallel with the enhancement of these micronutrients, plasma levels of IL-6 and CRP declined remarkably. Conclusion Rapeseed oil fortified with micronutrients polyphenols, tocopherols and phytosterols may contribute to prevent atherogenesis by ameliorating plasma oxidative stress, lipid profile and inflammation.

The major purpose of this study was to determine the effects of procyanidins extracted from the lotus seedpod on cAMP-response element-binding protein phosphorylation in hippocampus and cerebral cortex in cognitively impaired aged rats. Based on Morris water maze, aged unimpaired and aged impaired rats were chosen from aged rats. Comparing with young and aged unimpaired animals, aged impaired rats exhibited significant reduction in hippocampal but not cortical cAMP-response element-binding phosphorylation states as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA and protein expressions, which were accompanied by decreased phosphorylation states of hippocampal extracellular signal-related kinase (42/44) and calcium calmodulin kinase IV. Lotus seedpod supplementation (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight intragastric administration) for 7 weeks significantly reversed all these declines happened in hippocampus except calcium calmodulin kinase IV phosphorylation levels. These results suggested that lotus seedpod might enhance cAMP-response element-binding--dependent transcription through the activation of extracellular signal-related kinase signalling pathway, which might contribute to its ameliorative effects on cognitive deficits in aged impaired animals. Key Words: Procyanidins--Memory--CREB--BDNF--ERK--Hippocampus. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glq094

The alleviative effect of procyanidins extracted from the lotus seedpod (LSPC) on oxidative stress in various tissues was evaluated by determining the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) in heart, liver, lung, kidney, skeletal muscle, and serum in aged rats. Aging led to antioxidant deficit in various tissues in this study, which is confirmed by remarkable increased lipid peroxidation, whereas the change patterns of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and GSH were diverse in various tissues of aged rats. LSPC treatment (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) modified the activity of SOD, CAT, and GPx as well as GSH content alteration in these tissues, which reversed the age-related antioxidant deficit in aged rats. However, the regulatory patterns on the activities of these enzymes and GSH content by LSPC treatment were different according to the tissues in aged rats. Key Words: Procyanidins--Aging--Oxidative stress--Lipid peroxidation--Antioxidant enzymes. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glp211

The present study aimed to use a chemometric study to compare the in-vitro antioxidant activities and bioactive compounds of flaxseed based on the variety and geographical origins, and further explore the specific components constructed the endogenous antioxidant system of flaxseed in China. The differential contents of α-linolenic acid (35.83-58.91%), lignans (11.37-33.31 mg/g), total phenolic acids (109.93-246.88 mg/100 g) and phytosterols (56.52-125.12 mg/g) of 32 flaxseed varieties were observed. Concomitantly, the in-vitro antioxidant activities varied from 32.56 to 46.22 mg TE/100 g, 0.58 to 1.08 mg TE/g, and 14.22 to 36.14 mmol TE/g as determined by the 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline 6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays, respectively. Significant correlations were found between the antioxidant activities and contents of free syringic acid, p-coumaric acid glucoside and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) (p < 0.01). Principal component analysis showed a relatively dispersed distribution between samples, which was not effective enough to determine the geographical origins of the flaxseed samples. Hierarchical cluster analysis allowed flaxseed samples to be grouped based on their in-vitro antioxidant activities and bioactive component contents, primarily in relation to variety specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present, oil pressing is still the main process for extracting oil from flaxseed in China, but it cannot achieve efficient utilization of functional materials in flaxseed, such as flaxseed gum and lignin secoisolariciresinol diglycoside (SDG). So a comprehensive process that produces multiple products from flaxseed needs to be developed. On the basis of the structural characteristics that the flaxseed gum is in the outermost layer of flaxseeds, the grinding degumming technology using high-speed rotating sand roller grind flaxseed surface is studied before in our laboratory. Model 150 flaxseed degumming machine was designed and manufactured according to this technology, it is composes of motor, sand roller, sieve, gum powder collector etc. Electronic motor is used in the machine to drive the sand roller with high-speed rotation inner the sieve to grind flaxseed, the gum powder flow out the sieve and is collected, the sand roller length and diameter is 800 and 146 mm, the cylindrical sieve diameter is 158 mm with uniform distribution of F1.5 mm sieve size. In this paper, the feasibility of Model 150 flaxseed degumming machine was studied. Based on that, the research work of flaxseed degumming and oil pressing co-process was carried out with the commodity flaxseed from Gansu as the research material. The results showed that: the machine was able to obtain flaxseed gum-powder successfully when flaxseed flow rate was controlled at 40 to 220 kg/h. The rate of gum-powder grinded from flaxseed was 6.5%±0.3%. The viscosity of the defatted gum-powder was (5100 ± 520) mPaos. The oil contents of flaxseed and the degummed flaxseed were 39.30%±0.25% and 41.62%±0.22%, respectively. By using the method of adding 30% flaxseed cake to degummed flaxseed, the oil of degummed flaxseed can be screw pressed successfully. The oil yield pressed from degummed flaxseed was 34.65%±0.43%, higher than that pressed twice from flaxseed (33.94% ± 0.43%)when the flaxseed was pressed with the screw pressing machine without degumming. By the combination of degumming and screw-pressing for flaxseed processing, two benefits were achieved, they were: increase number of products and high pressed oil yield. The research results can provide reference for flaxseed processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) has shown clinical beneficial effect in inflammatory bowel diseases recently. However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The aim of present study was to tested whether S. boulardii targets gut microbiota to protect against the development of experimental colitis in mice., Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were gavaged with S. boulardii for 3 weeks before being challenged with dextran sulphate sodium to induce ulcerative colitis. Bodyweight, diarrhea severity, intestinal permeability, colonic histopathology, colonic inflammatory status, and epithelial cell death of mice were examined. The fecal microbiota and its metabolomic profiles were detected by 16S rDNA sequencing and UPLC-MS, respectively., Results and Discussion: Supplementation with S. boulardii significantly prevented weight loss and colon shortening, lowered colonic inflammation, ameliorated epithelial injury, and enhanced the intestinal barrier integrity in colitis mice. By inhibiting the abundance of pathogenic bacteria and increasing the probiotics abundance, S. boulardii improved the microbial diversity and restored the microbiota dysbiosis. Moreover, it also modulated microbial metabolome and altered the relative contents of metabolites involving amino acids, lipids, energy and vitamin metabolisms. These yeast-driven shifts in gut flora and metabolites are were associated with each other and with the inflammation profile in colitis. Collectively, S. boulardii exerts protective effects on colitis in mice by reshaping gut microbiome and its metabolic profile, indicating it as a promising therapeutic avenue., 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 © 2023 Gao, Li, Xu, Zuo, Yue, Xu, Sun, Wang, Ye, Yu and Yao.)

Background: There are only a very limited number of studies relating to risk factors for hypertension in rural populations in China. There are even fewer studies comparing various hypertension subtypes., Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was carried out in a representative sample of 20,390 subjects drawn from among 1,180,000 adult residents of Tongshan County of Jiangsu Province, China. The impact of risk factors including demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and behavioral, on three hypertension subtypes, namely, isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH), and systolic-diastolic hypertension (SDH), was analyzed by applying statistical tests and a classification tree., Results: ISH was the predominant untreated hypertension subtype (13.68 +/- 0.24%) in the adults of Tongshan County, followed by SDH (11.70 +/- 0.23%) and IDH (6.24 +/- 0.17%). Age, number of cigarettes smoked daily, and the types of vitamins taken varied among the ISH, IDH, and SDH classification trees. Low socioeconomic status was associated with an increased risk for ISH and SDH. Light alcohol intake was associated with higher risk for ISH, but with lower risks for IDH and SDH. Light cigarette smoking was associated with higher ISH risk but lower SDH risk. The intake of appropriate amounts of fish, shrimp, or meat lowered the risks for ISH and IDH. The intake of appropriate amounts of seafood, eggs, milk, or fruit lowered the risks for all hypertension subtypes. Interestingly, an excessive preference for sweet or salty foods was associated with a higher risk for all the subtypes., Conclusions: In Tongshan County, there was a considerable prevalence of hypertension of various subtypes, each associated with distinctive and complex risk factors. This suggests that there is a need for testing more diverse prevention measures, tailored to specific subtypes.