Maternal use of flaxseed oil during pregnancy and lactation prevents morphological alterations in pancreas of female offspring from rat dams with experimental diabetes

Abstract

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.

Sexual dimorphism on aortic remodelling in rats offspring from diabetic mothers and the role of flaxseed oil in this effect

“…Postnatal development is retarded, and these offspring remain small in adulthood. 16 This data endorse our results since at weaning the offspring of diabetic mothers had the lowest body mass when compared to the CG. Besides, the FOG results are in agreement with Guarda et al, 17 once maternal intake of a high-fat diet containing flaxseed oil during lactation also led to the low body mass of male and female offspring at weaning when compared to the CG.…”

Composition of a maternal high fat diet rich in satured fats and omega 3 in gestation and lactation for studies with rodents

“…monounsaturated and 49.0% polyunsaturated fatty acids [14]. Lard was kept in the formulation of the high-fat diet, since it is an ingredient that is frequently found in the composition of high-fat diets in other studies [3,4,18]. Monosodium glutamate has been added as it is a substance used in the development of experimental models of neuroendocrine obesity [19].…”

“…Consumption of high fat diets in pregnancy and lactation is associated with cardiometabolic diseases in adulthood [1,2]. Fat content in high fat diets varies among experimental studies, reaching 65% of Total Energy Value (TEV) fat in some diets [1,3,4]. High fat rodent diets can be classified into: high lipid diets with 30% to 50% TEV and very high lipid diets with over 50% TEV [5]; such values are well above those recommended by the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN), which advocates the supply of 7% lipids in the concentration of the soybean-based experimental diet, which corresponds to 17% TEV, as safe for meeting the needs of essential fatty acids.…”

“…Nutritional manipulation with high fat diets during the critical period may imply morphological and functional changes in organs important for endocrine regulation with risk for the development of metabolic diseases in adulthood [3,4,14]. The increased nutritional demands of rodents regarding macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and lipids) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) during pregnancy, lactation and growth [6,7] sometimes is not considered in the elaboration of experimental diets or in the supply of food to animals by their breeders, especially when using commercial feed and this fact can lead to potential deficiencies.…”

Herbal Therapy in Pregnancy-What to Expect when you Expect?

“…In animal models, maternal supplementation with flaxseed oil resulted in normal pancreas histomorphometry and β-cell mass in both female [86] and male offspring [87], while treatment of diabetic mothers with flaxseed flour reversed offspring low birth weight [88]. Supplementation with ω-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil in combination with vitamin E in women with gestational diabetes resulted in a reduction of all parameters of glucose homeostasis: glucose and insulin levels, as well as values for the homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), in addition to serum triglycerides, very low density cholesterol (VLDL) and HDL concentrations [89], followed by increment of total antioxidant capacity and decrement of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, as well as lower incidences of hyperbilirubinemia in newborns [90].…”