Key Findings:
This study evaluated safety issues related to high long term dosages of flaxseed. In rats fed very high levels of flax (25% and 40% of the diet), reductions in both growth 28 days after weaning and body mass at 250 days were noted. Lower weight gains were found with rats fed SDG (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside) and SECO (secoisolariciresinol) for 4 weeks. Less weight gain was also found with a high fat diet with flaxseed oil. The results suggest that chronic intake of 25% flaxseed alters hematologic and immunological indicators in adult Wistar rats. However, the authors concluded that supplementation with flaxseed appears of benefit to reduce body mass. Further studies are required to elucidate effects on hematologic and immunological findings. It is important note that flaxseed received Generally Recognized as Safe Status (GRAS) in the U.S. in 2009 so safety is not an issue.
ABSTRACT:
This work sought to evaluate the effects of chronic intake of flaxseed upon hematologic parameters and immunological findings on body development of Wistar rats. Female Wistar rats were used after gestation. They were randomly assigned into two groups during lactation period: Control Group (CG), fed with casein based diet, made up of 17% protein and flaxseed group (FG), fed with casein based diet with the addition of 25% flaxseed. At weaning, 12 male pups of each group continued to receive the experimental diets of their mothers (with only 10% of protein) until adult age, when they were killed at 250 days of life aiming at blood collection. At 250 days old FG presented significant reduction in body mass (p < 0.000) and higher levels of hemoglobin (p = 0.019) and albumin (p = 0.030) than CG. It was observed smaller percentage of segmented lymphocytes (p = 0.016) in rats from FG and bigger percentage of segmented leucocytes (p = 0.023) when compared to CG. The chronic consumption of flaxseed altered hematologic and immunological indicators in adult Wistar rats. Supplementation with flaxseed seems to be beneficial to maintenance or reduction of body mass. (Authors abstract)
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