O objetivo do presente estudo experimental foi desenvolver um modelo animal de diabetes tipo 2 que mimetizasse o curso natural e metabólico desta doença em humanos. Assim, foi oferecida uma dieta hiperlipídica (com aproximadamente 60% das calorias totais provenientes de lipídeos) por três semanas, estabelecendo então, um quadro de resistência à insulina. Em seguida, as ratas foram submetidas a uma dose única de estreptozotocina (STZ) (35mg/kg de peso corporal) em veículo de tampão citrato (pH: 4,4). Após 1 semana da injeção de STZ, as ratas foram submetidas ao teste oral de tolerância à glicose, mediante administração oral de glicose (2g glicose/kg de massa corporal). Os dados foram submetidos à comparação entre os grupos utilizando-se o teste t. A significância em todos os testes se deu ao nível de p ≤ 0,05. O grupo controle manteve a concentração média de glicose final igual a inicial. Após ingestão da dieta hiperlipídica houve um aumento da glicemia de jejum em cerca de 16,5% em relação ao momento inicial do experimento (P<0,0001) enquanto os animais que receberam a dieta controle apresentaram um aumento aproximado de 8,7%. Uma semana após a administração intraperitoneal de STZ, pode-se verificar aumento da concentração média de glicose no grupo hiperlipídico em cerca de 194,2%, representando um aumento de 275,8% (P<0,0001) quando comparado ao GC. O presente estudo retrata que a combinação de uma dieta hiperlipídica e baixa dose de estreptozotocina serve como um modelo animal alternativo para a diabetes tipo 2 simulando a síndrome em humanos.

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These data suggest that the use of both flaxseed flour and its oil reduces the remodeling of the aorta; however; it has not been possible to modify the cardiovascular biochemical parameters.

Nutritional recommendations have promoted the increased need to consume n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Flaxseed is the richest dietary source of n-3 fatty acids among plant sources and is widely used for its edible oil. This study aimed to investigate whether maternal use of flaxseed oil has effects on pancreas morphology in the female offspring of diabetic mothers. Female Wistar rats (n = 12) were induced into diabetes by a high-fat diet and low dose of streptozotocin. After confirmation of the diabetes, rats were mated, and once pregnancy was confirmed, they were allocated into three groups (n = 6): high-fat group (HG); flaxseed oil group (FOG); and control group (CG) (non-diabetic rats). At weaning, female offspring (n = 6/group) received standard chow diet. The animals were euthanized at 180 days. Pancreas was collected for histomorphometric and immunohistochemistry analysis. HG showed hypertrophy of pancreatic islets (P < 0.0001), whereas FOG offspring had islets with smaller diameters compared to HG (P < 0.0001). HG offspring showed higher percentage of larger (P = 0.0061) and lower percentage of smaller islets (P = 0.0036). HG showed lower islet insulin immunodensity at 180 days (P < 0.0001), whereas FOG was similar to CG (P < 0.0001). Flaxseed oil reduced the damage caused by maternal hyperglycaemia, promoting normal pancreas histomorphometry and β-cell mass in female offspring.

Purpose The purpose of this review of the literature is to provide data about flaxseed intake during pregnancy and/or lactation and its effects in the offspring from birth to adulthood. Design/methodology/approach This review includes up-to-date information from evidence-based sources on flaxseed intake and its by-products, during pregnancy and lactation and its effects on male and female offspring, from post-weaning until adulthood. Topics included are effects on body mass; glycaemic metabolism; lipid profile; blood pressure and aortic structure; reproductive system and brain tissue. Findings The main effects of flaxseed or its by-products were observed in the cardiovascular system, where a lipid profile improvement and minor aortic remodelling were noticed, and in the cerebral development, where greater n-3 PUFA incorporation in the brain was detected. Originality/value The research done in this study, to understand the offspring response that were early exposed to the flaxseed components during pregnancy and lactation, may be the first step toward guiding future strategies for recommending the use of this seed during the offspring’s perinatal period.