Key Findings:
Using the Han:SPRD-cy rat model (which is typical of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), flaxseed feeding reduced inflammation in the renal tubule interstitium. In addition, omega 3 PUFA content of the kidney was increased following flaxseed. The lignans enterodiol and enterolactone may have estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, and platelet-aggregating factor activity. Gender is a significant factor in the progression of both animal and human PKD. Estrogen-like compounds may influence inflammatory activity n renal disease.
ABSTRACT:
Flaxseed has demonstrated useful anti-inflammatory properties in a number of animal models and human diseases. We undertook a study to determine if flaxseed would also modify clinical course and renal pathology in the Han: SPRD-cy rat. Male Han: SPRD-cy rats were pair fed a 10% flaxseed or control rat chow diet for eight weeks from weaning. Tissue was harvested for analysis of cystic change, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and fibrosis. Tissue was also harvested for lipid analysis using gas chromatography. Animals thrived on both diets. Flaxseed-fed animals had lower scrum creatinine (69 vs. 81 mol/liter, P = 0.02), less cystic change (1.78 vs. 2.03 ml/kg, P = 0.02), less renal fibrosis (0.60 vs. 0.93 ml/kg, P = 0.0009), and less macrophage infiltration (13.8 vs. 16.7 cells/high-power video field) of the renal interstitium than controls. The groups did not differ in renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis and proliferation. Lipid analysis revealed significant renal enrichment of 18 and 20 carbon w3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (total w6:w3 ratio 3.6 vs. 9.1, P < 0.0001). Flaxseed ameliorates Han:SPRD-cy rat polycystic kidney disease through moderation of the associated chronic interstitial mephritis. The diet alters renal content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in a manner that may promote the formation of less inflammatory classes of renal prostanoids. (Author’s abstract)
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