Abstract
Obesity is known to be partially influenced by low-grade inflammation caused by pro-inflammatory cytokines and excess adipose tissue. Flaxseed contains secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) that have been shown to prevent pro-inflammatory cytokine production and secretion. This study determined flaxseed effects on inflammation regulatory gene expressions and their relationships with weight gain in an obese animal model. C57BL/6J mice were fed with whole flaxseed, defatted flaxseed, or flaxseed oil supplemented high-fat diet for eight weeks. After eight weeks of dietary treatment, NF-κB, IκBα, IKKβ, IL-6, TNF-α, Akt2, and adiponectin gene expressions were measured. The result shows how health-promoting compounds in flaxseed assist in alleviating and preventing obesity-induced low-grade inflammation by actively working against IKKβ/NF-κB pathway.
Link to Full Text
Key Points
Antioxidants and α -linolenic acid (ALA) play a role in the prevention of inflammation and insulin resistance and flaxseed is a good source of antioxidant, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), a plant lignan. Flaxseed contains the largest amount of SDG within the plant kingdom, as compared to other readily consumed sources. The current study determined the role of flaxseed in inflammation regulatory gene expressions, and their relationships with weight gain in an obese animal model.
This study showed that flaxseed and its health promoting compounds, SDG and ALA, down-regulate the low-grade inflammation associated gene expressions in obese animals. Down-regulation of Akt2 expression by flaxseed supplementation may alleviate the low-grade inflammatory state found in obesity by shutting down feedback loops that promote the induction of the IKKβ/NF-κB signaling pathway and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reducing insulin resistance.