Key Findings:
The consumption of trans fatty acids from industrially hydrogenated vegetable sources (TFA) has been associated with atherogenic risk factors, such as elevated plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels and plasma markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. ALA from flaxseed demonstrates significant cardioprotective effects. In this study, the addition of a lignan fraction reduced circulating triglyceride levels better than whole ground flaxseed. Whole ground flaxseed significantly increased triglycerides in the C+T group (C+T+F), despite reducing atherogenic lesions. The trans fat – flaxseed enriched diets elevated the levels of omega-3 PUFAs and decreased the n-6 PUFAs. Adding whole ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil to the typical Western diet containing TFAs and cholesterol may be an effective dietary strategy to protect against atherosclerotic CVD.
ABSTRACT:
Objective – Dietary intake of industrially hydrogenated trans fatty acids (TFA) has been associated with coronary heart disease. Dietary flaxseed can inhibit atherosclerosis induced by dietary cholesterol. The aim of this study was to determine if supplementing the diet with flaxseed could protect against atherosclerosis induced by a diet enriched in TFA. Methods and Results – Low-density lipoprotein receptor deficient (LDLr-/-) mice were fed one of 14 experimental diets for 14 weeks containing one of two fat sources (regular (pork/soy) or trans fat) at two concentrations (4 or 8%) and supplemented with or without dietary cholesterol (2%), whole ground flaxseed or one of the components of flaxseed (α-linolenic acid (ALA), defatted fiber or lignan). Adding flaxseed to the diet partially mitigated the rise in circulating cholesterol levels induced by the cholesterol-enriched diet. Atherosclerosis was stimulated by TFA and/or cholesterol. Including milled flaxseed to an atherogenic diet significantly reduced atherosclerosis as compared to the groups that consumed cholesterol and/or TFA. ALA was the only component within flaxseed that could inhibit the atherogenic action of cholesterol and/or TFA on its own. Conclusion – Dietary flaxseed protects against atherosclerotic development induced by TFA and cholesterol feeding through its content of ALA.