Maternal Flaxseed Oil During Lactation Enhances Bone Development in Male Rat Pups

Abstract

Flaxseed oil is an alpha linolenic acid source important in the growth and body development stage; furthermore, this acid acts on adipose tissue and bone health. The aim of this study was to evaluate body composition, fatty acid composition, hormone profile, retroperitoneal adipocyte area and femur structure of pups at weaning, whose mothers were fed a diet containing flaxseed oil during lactation. After birth, pups were randomly assigned: control (C, n = 12) and flaxseed oil (FO, n = 12), rats whose mothers were treated with diet containing soybean or flaxseed oil. At 21 days, the pups were weaned and body mass, length, body composition, biochemical parameter, leptin, osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin, fatty acids composition, intra-abdominal fat mass and femur structure were analyzed. FO showed (p < 0.05): higher body mass (+12 %) and length (+9 %); body fat mass (g, +45 %); bone mineral density (+8 %), bone mineral content (+55 %) and bone area (+35 %), osteocalcin (+173 %) and osteoprotegerin (+183 %). Arachidonic acid was lower (p < 0.0001), alpha-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic were higher (p < 0.0001). Intra-abdominal fat mass was higher (+25 %), however, the retroperitoneal adipocytes area was lower (-44 %). Femur mass (+10 %), distance between epiphyses (+4 %) and bone mineral density (+13 %) were higher. The study demonstrates that adequate flaxseed oil content during a lactation diet plays an important role in the development of pups.

<i>Linum usitatissimum</i> (Flaxseed) Oil during Postpartum Period Contributes to Lean Mass and Healthy Serum Lipid Profile in Rats

“…In this study, FO group presented a significant decrease in total cholesterol (P<0.05) and LDL-c serum levels (P<0.05) vs. C group (Table 3). Low total cholesterol has been observed by Pereira et al (2016) in male pups treated with FO [24]. Similar results were reported by Tzang et al (2009) and Vijaimohan et al (2006) with male hamsters and rats respectively, fed with a high fat diet rich in FO [42,43].…”

“…However, the FO group presented an increase in body mass (P<0.05) vs. C group. Similar results were found in Pereira et al (2016) and Abreu et al (2018) with diets containing FO in puppies over lactation period or flaxseed flour during 180 days in male rats, respectively [24,26]. Ribeiro et al (2017) studied the influence of a diet with flaxseed flour during postpartum period and found no difference in body mass [23].…”

“…In the present study FO group presented lower serum n-6: GLA (P<0.05), DGLA (P<0.05), ARA (P<0.0001) and also a higher serum n-3: ALA (P<0.0001) and EPA (P<0.05) vs. C group (Table 2). [23,24]. Small chain PUFA ALA and LNA could be transformed to long chain PUFA by the organism.…”

“…In this study, no change in fat mass or intra-abdominal fat mass ( Table 3) was observed between FO and C groups. Diverse results on fat mass were observed based on the dietary source, the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA and length of the study [12,24,26,37]. However, a 51-day postpartum study is insufficient to observe the effect of FO in body and intra-abdominal fat mass.…”

Likely positive effect of alpha-linolenic acid supplementation on the lung and the negative effect of it on the adipose tissue of COVID-19 patients

“…Diet comprising ALA provided by flaxseed ( Linum usitatissimum ) was associated with increased body and intra-abdominal (mesenteric, epididymal and retroperitoneal mass) adiposity in pups and adult male rats (Pereira et al , 2016; Abreu et al , 2017). Abreu et al (2017) have associated these results with the insulin-stimulated glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) expressed in the adipose tissue.…”