Key Findings
There is a growing interest in using n-3 fatty acids in diabetic patients based on the results of interventional studies indicating a significant inverse relationship between n-3 fatty acid intake and metabolic complications. Data on the effects of flaxseed oil supplementation on gene expression levels related to insulin, lipid and inflammation in diabetic patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of flaxseed oil supplementation on gene expression levels related to insulin, lipid and inflammation in diabetic patients with CHD. The study, in diabetic patients with CHD, showed that flaxseed oil supplementation for 12 weeks up-regulated gene expression levels of PPAR-γ compared with the placebo, but did not change GLUT-1 expression. GLUT-1 or Glucose transporter 1 facilaitates glucose transport. Results of this study showed that flaxseed oil supplementation for 12 weeks in diabetic patients with CHD downregulated gene expression levels of pro-inflammatory IL-1 and TNF-α compared with the placebo, but did not affect gene expression of IL-8 and TGF-β. Overall, flaxseed oil supplementation for 12 weeks in diabetic patients with CHD significantly improved gene expression levels of PPAR-γ, LP(a), IL-1 and TNF-α, but did not influence LDLR, IL-8 and TGF-β.
ABSTRACT:
This study was carried out to determine the effects of flaxseed oil administration on gene expression levels related to insulin, lipid and inflammation in overweight diabetic patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 diabetic patients with CHD. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to intake either 1000 mg n-3 fatty acid from flaxseed oil containing 400 mg α-Linolenic acid [ALA (18:3n-3)] (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) twice a day for 12 weeks. Gene expression related to insulin, lipid and inflammation were quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of diabetic patients with CHD with RT-PCR method. Results of RT-PCR demonstrated that after the 12-week intervention, compared with the placebo, flaxseed oil supplementation could up-regulate gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) (P = 0.02) in PBMC of diabetic patients with CHD. In addition, compared with the placebo, taking flaxseed oil supplements down-regulated gene expression levels of lipoprotein(a) [LP(a)] (P = 0.001), interleukin-1 (IL-1) (P = 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P = 0.02) in PBMC of diabetic patients with CHD. We did not observe any significant effect of flaxseed oil supplementation on gene expression levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), IL-8 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in PBMC of diabetic patients with CHD. Overall, flaxseed oil supplementation for 12 weeks in diabetic patients with CHD significantly improved gene expression levels of PPAR-γ, LP(a), IL-1 and TNF-α, but did not influence LDLR, IL-8 and TGF-β.
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