Key Findings
Flaxseed has antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic actions in ovarian hormone deficiency. Endothelial cells express adhesion molecules such as P selectin, E selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM 1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM 1) on the cell surface which stimulate leukocyte recruitment and platelet adhesion during thrombosis and inflammation. Plasma proteins such as von Wille brand factor (vWF) that cause platelet adhesion in thrombosis and soluble molecules such as E selectin and thrombo modulin (TM) are also generated by endothelial cells. In ovariectomized rats fed a high fat diet, flaxseed reduced leukocyte and platelet adhesion to endothelial cells and decreased soluble adhesion molecules (sVCAM 1) and endothelial integrity markers (vWF). The diet was lard based with ground flaxseed (15 g per 100 g food) and also prevented the progression of atherosclerotic lesions in estrogen deficiency states. The results suggest that the atherosclerotic risk in postmenopausal women can be reduced by flaxseed through increasing vascular wall protection, decreasing thrombotic risk and improving lipid metabolism.
ABSTRACT
We studied the possible effect of flaxseed to prevent leukocytes and platelets adhesion to endothelial cells and to reduce soluble adhesion molecules (sVCAM1) and endothelial integrity markers (vWF) in ovariectomized rats fed a high fat diet. Forty two female Wistar rats were either sham operated or ovariectomized and randomly assigned for 36 weeks to three different diets: (1) low fat diet (8 percent energy as fat); (2) high fat diet (40 percent energy as fat, lard based, lard group); (3) high fat diet enriched with ground flaxseed 15 g/100 g of food (40 percent energy as fat, lard plus flaxseed group).The ovariectomized rats fed with lard plus flaxseeds had significantly lower serum concentrations of sVCAM and vWF, reduced platelet adhesiveness, and lower extent of platelet and leukocyte adherence to endotheliumin the histological evaluation of the aorta as compared to Ovx plus lard group. In our study, high dose of ground flaxseed incorporated to lard-based diet prevented the progression of atherosclerotic lesions in estrogen deficiency rats by decreasing platelet and endothelium reactivity. Assessment of platelet adhesion, serum soluble adhesion molecule sVCAM, and endothelium integrity molecule vWF could be useful to detect the risk for atherosclerotic lesions in estrogen deficiency states and to estimate the effect of flaxseed supplementation. (Authors abstract)
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