Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the possible effect of grounded flaxseed and flaxseed oil on serum levels of inflammatory markers, metabolic parameters, and the severity of disease in patients with UC. METHODS: In this open-labeled randomized controlled trial, 90 UC patients were randomly assigned to one of the 3 groups for 12 weeks: grounded flaxseed (GF; 30 g/day), flaxseed oil (FO; 10 g/day) and control group. The weight, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon gamma (INF-γ), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)), and fecal calprotectin were measured at the baseline and end of the study. RESULTS: Totally, 75 patients (43 men and 32 women) with a mean age of 31.54 ± 9.84 years participated in the present study. Comparing the change of the variables indicated a significant decrease in fecal calprotectin (P < 0.001), Mayo score (P < 0.001), ESR (P < 0.001), INF-γ (P < 0.001), IL-6 (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P = 0.02), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) (P < 0.001), and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (P < 0.001) and a significant increase in TGF-β (P < 0.001) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire-Short form (IBDQ-9) score (P < 0.001) in the GF and FO groups compared to the control. No difference was obvious between the FO and GF groups except for TGF-β. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that both flaxseed and flaxseed oil, attenuate inflammatory markers, disease severity, blood pressure, and WC. However, the effect of flaxseed on weight and BMI was not evident.
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Key Points
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to diseases that cause inflammation of the intestinal wall. Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are two of the most important subtype of these diseases.
Inflammation is a key factor in the pathology of IBD. The most common cause of gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation is the inadequate response of the immune system to the intestinal mucosa. The most important cytokines in this process are inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), INF-γ, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP) and anti-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). The present study aimed to evaluate the possible effect of grounded flaxseed and flaxseed oil on serum levels of inflammatory markers, metabolic parameters and the severity of disease in patients with UC. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of flaxseed or flaxseed oil on serum levels of inflammatory markers, metabolic parameters and the severity of disease in patients with UC. Both flaxseed and flaxseed oil, attenuate inflammatory markers, disease severity, blood pressure, and WC.
In this study, 12 weeks of flaxseed consumption did not change body weight or BMI. The present study found that the mean WC of the subjects in the GF and FO groups reduced at the end of the study compared to the control. Flaxseed may help in weight management due to its fiber content. Also, omega-3 fatty acids (ALA) present in flaxseed oil may ameliorate central obesity. In the present study, the relationship between flaxseed consumption and weight or BMI did not change after adjusting for the effect of the energy intake or other nutrients. Flaxseed oil and powder, both can reduce circulating levels of inflammatory markers. In conclusion, the present study showed that both grounded flaxseed and flaxseed oil can reduce pro-inflammatory markers and improve the severity of disease in UC patients. Also, the results suggested a beneficial effect of flaxseed on central obesity and blood pressure in participants. However, no change was observed in weight and BMI following intervention by grounded flaxseed or flaxseed oil.