Effects of dietary flaxseed on atherosclerotic plaque regression

Abstract

Francis AA, Deniset JF, Austria JA, LaValleé RK, Maddaford GG, Hedley TE, Dibrov E, Pierce GN. Effects of dietary flaxseed on atherosclerotic plaque regression. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 304: H1743-H1751, 2013. First published April 12, 2013 doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00606.2012.-Dietary flaxseed can retard the progression of atherosclerotic plaques. However, it remains unclear whether these antiatherogenic effects extend to plaque regression. In the present study, the therapeutic potential of dietary flaxseed on atherosclerotic plaque regression and vascular contractile function was evaluated using a novel rabbit model. Rabbits were randomly assigned to receive either a regular diet for 12 wk (group I) or a 1% cholesterol-supplemented diet for 4 wk followed by a regular diet for 8 wk (group II). The remaining experimental animals were treated as in group II but were fed for an additional 14 wk with either a regular diet (group III) or a 10% flaxseed-supplemented diet (group IV). Animals in group II showed clear evidence of plaque growth stabilization. Their vessels also exhibited significantly lower norepinephrine-induced contraction and an impaired relaxation response to acetylcholine compared with animals in group I. Dietary flaxseed supplementation resulted in a significant Ϸ40% reduction in plaque formation (P ϭ 0.033). Animals in both groups II and III displayed improved contraction and endothelium-dependent vessel relaxation. Dietary flaxseed is a valuable strategy to accelerate the regression of atherosclerotic plaques; however, flaxseed intervention did not demonstrate a clear beneficial effect on the vessel contractile response and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. atherosclerosis; flaxseed; heart disease; regression; vascular contractile function CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD) is currently the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Its prevalence continues to increase despite improved treatments for atherosclerosis and will reach epidemic proportions within a decade due to the escalating predominance of sedentary, unhealthy lifestyles (32, 51, 52). Atherosclerosis is orchestrated by a complex array of molecular and cellular events commencing after endothelial injury. The resultant plaques may continue to progress, ultimately causing acute events such as myocardial infarction and stroke (23,32). Recently, it has been shown that atherosclerotic plaques are highly dynamic and that their progression can be slowed, stopped, and even reversed by drug intervention (6,18,43). For example, aggressive risk modification with statin drug therapy can remove lipids and necrotic material, restore endothelial function and viability, and prevent vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and phenotype reversal, three processes involved in atherosclerotic plaque formation (18, 43).Akin to pharmaceuticals, functional foods can also be used to prevent and treat CVD. A functional food has a similar appearance to or may be a conventional food and may be consumed as part of a normal diet to have physiological benefits and/...

Mix of Allegedly Functional Components Improves Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors

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The effects of a diet formulation with oats, soybeans, and flax on lipid profiles and uricemia in patients with AIDS and dyslipidemia

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Noninvasive imaging vulnerable plaques of atherosclerosis: Antiatherogenic properties of dietary flaxseed

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