Abstract
Abstract
Scope: Studies have suggested that foods rich in dietary fiber may contribute to body weight loss and lower triacylglycerol (TG) levels. This study aimed to investigate the effect of flaxseed meal (FM) (a by-product of flaxseed after oil processing) supplemented biscuits on body weight, body composition, and blood lipids in overweight and obese participants. Method and results: In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, 53 overweight and obese adults (18-36 years of age) were recruited and randomized to consume control biscuits or biscuits supplemented with FM for their breakfast for 60 days (approximately 100 g per day). Significant group × time interaction (P = 0.011) was observed for body weight, and the body weight of the FM group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P = 0.049). We also found significant group × time interactions for body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.008), TG (P = 0.041) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (P = 0.016). In addition, after 60 days of intervention, the body weight, BMI and TG levels of the FM group significantly decreased compared to those of the control group. On day 60, the serum concentration of IL-6 in the FM group was significantly lower than that in the control group. Conclusions: FM supplemented biscuits have a beneficial effect on body weight, BMI and TG of overweight and obese subjects (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: ChiCTR1900022833).
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Key Points
Flaxseed meal – FM plays a beneficial role in obesity control and has been reported to shorten the defecation time of normal and constipation mice and promote defecation in them, thus reducing their body weight. Previous studies have shown that the serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels of obese rats with high cholesterol and high triglycerides were significantly reduced after eating a diet containing 20% FM. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible effects of FM intake on the prevention of obesity and improvement of lipid profile, so as to improve the recovery and utilization of FM. This randomized clinical trial assessed the beneficial effects of FM on overweight and obese participants. There were significant differences in the body weight, BMI and TG levels between the two groups after 60 days of intervention, and the consumption of FM biscuits resulted in significant changes in IL-6 on day 60. The analysis of nutritional composition of the participants on day 0 and day 60 showed that dietary fiber intake in the FM group was significantly increased by 9.67 g (134.7%) compared to that in the control group. In comparison with the baseline, dietary fiber intake in the FM group was increased from 10.31 g to 17.49 g, while that in the control group was decreased from 14.95 g to 12.46 g. Therefore, the present results showed that FM supplementation can reduce body weight in obese and overweight subjects because of its gum and other insoluble dietary fibers.
The present results supported that FM can improve blood lipids, especially TG, by increasing the level of LPL, while the individual effect results showed that LPL was significantly increased in the FM group, compared with that in the control group. The present results showed that compared with the control group, FM could significantly reduce the level of IL-6, which may be due to flaxseed fiber and Mg2+ or Zn2+. One of the possible mechanisms is to reduce IL-6 through short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by fermentation of dietary fiber in the colon. The subjects’ high compliance with the provided food, and the use of DEXA as a relatively sensitive measure to assess obesity were the main advantages of the present study. In conclusion, the present study shows that FM consumption is beneficial for the reduction of body weight, BMI, serum triglyceride and IL-6 levels in overweight and obese adults.
These findings may highlight the benefits of FM, which could be useful as a functional ingredient with health-promoting attributes.