Dietary α-Linolenic Acid-Rich Flaxseed Oil Exerts Beneficial Effects on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Through Sex Steroid Hormones—Microbiota—Inflammation Axis in Rats

Abstract

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 Wang et al. FO Ameliorates PCOS in Rats 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.

Adherence to a Supplemented Mediterranean Diet Drives Changes in the Gut Microbiota of HIV-1-Infected Individuals

“…We found that specific bacterial genera were influenced by some components of the diet (i.e., calorie intake and carbohydrates) and were inversely associated with Butyrivibrio abundances. In a rat model, an increased abundance of the Butyrivibrio genus has been associated with diets supplemented with alpha-linoleic acid or prebiotics [44,45], which is consistent with our findings. Our data suggested that some bacterial genera were associated with increased levels of total cholesterol, microbial translocation, and inflammation (Blautia and Catenibacterium), while others were related to a beneficial profile (the reduction in Succinivibrio genus correlated with high immune activation).…”

Fecal Microbiota Changes in Patients With Postpartum Depressive Disorder

“…In the present research, our results also found that some bacteria genera were associated with serum sex hormone levels in PPD patients, such as Faecalibacterium, Lachnospiraceae , and Megamonas , which were significantly different from those in HCs. A recent study has demonstrated that the regulation of sex hormones–microbiota–inflammation axis could ameliorate polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), including Faecalibacterium, Parabacteroides, Bifidobacterium , and so on (Wang et al, 2020 ). Another study showed that prenatal androgen exposure causes hypertension and gut microbiota dysbiosis (Sherman et al, 2018 ).…”

Associations among Dietary Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, the Gut Microbiota, and Intestinal Immunity

“…This diet also increased the amount of omega-3 PUFAs in the mucosa and decreased the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 PUFAs. In addition, the omega-3 PUFA-enriched diet decreased the abundance of pathogenic spirochaetes in the colonic digestive tract and increased the abundance of Actinomycetes , Blautia spp., and Bifidobacteria [ 78 ]. Omega-3 fatty acids inhibit the growth of gut microbiota associated with obesity and peptic ulcer disease and increase the proliferation of beneficial bacteria.…”