Development of polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber scaffolds loaded with flaxseed extract for bone regeneration: phytochemicals, cell proliferation, adhesion, and osteogenic gene expression.

Introduction: Bone tissue engineering seeks innovative materials that support cell growth and regeneration. Electrospun nanofibers, with their high surface area and tunable properties, serve as promising scaffolds. This study explores the incorporation of flaxseed extract, rich in polyphenolic compounds, into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers to improve their application in bone tissue engineering. Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identified ten key compounds in flaxseed extract, including polyphenolic acids and flavonoids. PVA nanofibers were fabricated with 30 wt.% flaxseed extract (P70/E30) via electrospinning. We optimized characteristics like diameter, hydrophilicity, swelling behavior, and hydrolytic degradation. MG-63 osteoblast cultures were used to assess scaffold efficacy through cell adhesion, proliferation, viability (MTT assay), and differentiation. RT-qPCR measured expression of osteogenic genes RUNX2, COL1A1, and OCN. Results: Flaxseed extract increased nanofiber diameter from 252 nm (pure PVA) to 435 nm (P70/E30). P70/E30 nanofibers showed higher cell viability (102.6% vs. 74.5% for pure PVA), although adhesion decreased (151 vs. 206 cells/section). Notably, P70/E30 enhanced osteoblast differentiation, significantly upregulating RUNX2, COL1A1, and OCN genes. Discussion: Flaxseed extract incorporation into PVA nanofibers enhances bone tissue engineering by boosting osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, despite reduced adhesion. These properties suggest P70/E30's potential for regenerative medicine, emphasizing scaffold optimization for biomedical applications.

Flaxseed Oil Attenuates Intestinal Damage by Regulating Ferroptosis Signaling Pathway Following LPS Challenge in Piglets.

SCOPE: Ferroptosis has been demonstrated to play an important role in various tissue injuries and diseases. Flaxseed oil (FO) has been proven to have benefits for intestinal health. This study aims to explore whether FO relieved lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury through modulating ferroptosis signaling pathway. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 120 weaned piglets are fed diets with 3% soybean oil (SO) or 3% FO for 4 weeks. At the end of the trial, 24 piglets selected from two dietary treatment groups are used in a 2 × 2 factorial design with oil treatment (3% SO versus 3% FO) and LPS challenge (saline versus LPS). At 4 h postinjection with LPS, 24 piglets are slaughtered and intestinal samples are collected. FO improves growth performance of pigs. After LPS treatment, FO mitigates intestinal morphological damage and functional damage. Notably, FO reverses the typical ultra-morphology and biochemical indexes of ferroptosis involving glutathione, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxynonenal contents. Mechanistically, FO ameliorates the changes on mRNA or protein abundance of key ferroptosis signals including transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1), recombinant iron responsive element binding protein 2 (IREB2), FTL, HSPB1, ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), ferroportin 1 (FPN1), SLC7A11, solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and arachidonate-15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15). CONCLUSIONS: FO improves growth performance and mitigates intestinal structural and functional damage, which is involved in regulating ferroptosis signaling pathway.

The effect of synbiotic coating of flaxseed mucilage-defatted rice bran carbohydrate on quality of dried mango, viability of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. LactisBB12 on storage and simulating gastrointestinal condition.

In the present study, a synbiotic coating of flaxseed mucilage, defatted rice bran carbohydrate, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis BB12 was fabricated for coating dried mango slices (M-P-C). The control samples contained only probiotic bacteria without coating (M-P). Several quality parameters (moisture, weight loss, shrinkage percentage, pH, firmness, and color) were assessed on specific storage circumstances (25°C, relative humidity (RH) = 22%.). In addition, the survival of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis BB12 was evaluated on storage and under simulated gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. According to the results, the log number of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis BB12 reached 8.1 and 6.2 for coated and uncoated samples, respectively, during the 45 days storage at 25°C (>6 log CFU (log colony-forming units)/g) and at finished stage of in vitro gastrointestinal circumstances, the log number of probiotic bacterial count reached 6.8 and 4 for coated and uncoated samples, respectively. The coating resulted in significantly less weight loss, moisture loss, and shrinkage of the mango slices than uncoated ones (p < .05). The growth of yeasts and molds was undetectable in both samples. The results of acceptance experiments for M-P and M-P-C dried mango samples showedthat there were no significant differences between M-P and M-P-C samples (p >.05), indeed in the case of purchase intention and overall acceptability. After reading the text highlighting, there was no significant difference in all attributes of M-P-C samples pre and post of reading text highlighting. It could be concluded that the synbiotic coating of mango slices improved the quality characteristics of the dried mango as well as viability of the probiotic bacteria at storage time and under simulated gastrointestinal conditions.

Estimating the Potential Health Care Cost-Savings from a Flax-Based Treatment for Hypertension.

Hypertension contributes to the increase in health care spending in Canada through two primary mechanisms. First, it directly increases costs, as individuals with hypertension require medical care to manage the condition. Second, it indirectly raises expenses by serving as a risk factor for numerous chronic diseases, leading to increased health care utilization among those affected. Therefore, reducing hypertension prevalence could alleviate its resulting strain on the Canadian health care system. Clinical trials have demonstrated that daily flaxseed consumption effectively lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This study employs a four-step cost-of-illness analysis to estimate the potential health care cost-savings from a flaxseed-based treatment for hypertension. The analysis begins by assessing the proportion of individuals with hypertension likely to adopt the flaxseed regimen. It then evaluates the impact of flaxseed consumption on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Next, data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, Cycles 5 and 6, are used to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and the expected reduction in prevalence due to the flaxseed treatment. Finally, the potential reduction in health care spending is calculated. To incorporate uncertainty, partial sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulations were utilized, varying the intake success rate and other model parameters, respectively. The most conservative estimate suggests a potential health care cost-savings of CAD 96,284,344 in Canada for the year 2020.

Development and characterization of flaxseed mucilage and elastin/collagen biofilms.

Flaxseed mucilage (FSM)-based biofilms were prepared with varying compositions of the elastin/collagen (ELN/COL) protein matrix. These biofilms were characterized by using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The thickness, water solubility, moisture content, transparency, and mechanical properties of biofilms were investigated. The biofilms were observed to be homogeneous and flexible. The addition of 40 % w/w ELN/COL to the FSM biofilms (FSM-ELN/COL biofilms) enhanced the thickness from 0.127 to 0.142 mm, water solubility from 59.30 to 84.60 % and elongation at break from 91.4 to 188.6 %. However, the reductions in the tensile strength from 6.56 to 4.69 MPa and melting point from 140 °C to 134 °C of the biofilms were observed. The transparency value of 40 % w/w FSM-ELN/COL biofilms increased from 5.42 to 7.19 due to the presence of ELN/COL within the FSM matrix that hinders the light transmission passing through the biofilm. FTIR and XRD tests indicated hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions occurred between FSM and ELN/COL, giving rise to a good compatibility of the system. FSM-ELN/COL biofilms fabricated in this work had appropriate mechanical and thermal stability, thus the promising potential to be employed as food packaging and coating.

Flaxseed promotes productive performance through regulating gut microbiome in ducks.

BACKGROUND: Flaxseed has been widely used in animal diets to increase the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content in animal products and promote overall animal health, but little known about its effects on the productive performance and the mictobita of gut of laying duck. METHODS AND RESULTS: Jinding duck, a Chinese indigenous breed, was used in the study. The corn-soybean basal diet supplemented with 0, 2%, 3% 4% and 5% flaxseed were provided to Control, 2% Fla, 3% Fla, 4% Fla and 5% Fla groups for 53 days, respectively. Compared with Control group, groups fed with flaxseed diets showed higher egg production, egg mass, ovary weight and more preovulatory follicles. The Docosahexaenoic Acid content of egg was extremely significantly elevated by flaxseed diets (P < 0.01), and the albumen height and haugh unit were elevated, especially in 4% Fla and/or 5% Fla group (P < 0.05). Groups 4% Fla and 5% Fla had highest ileal villus height, jejunal and ileal crypt depth. Moreover, Flaxseed diets significantly increased the levels of IgG and IgM in all Fla groups (P < 0.01), while increased IgA levels except for in 3% Fla group (P < 0.05). The results of 16s rDNA sequencing showed that flaxseed diet altered the microbial composition of gut and reduced the diversity and evenness of gut microbial communities except for 5% Fla. The correlation analysis identified Blautia, Butyricicoccus and Subdoligranulum positively associated with egg production. Genera Fourinierella, Fusobacterium and Intestinimonas positively associated with ovary weight, haught unit and album height. And Mucispirillum positively associated with haugh unit and album height. CONCLUSION: This study has suggested that flaxseed play a positive role in productive performance, the overall or intestinal health of laying ducks.

Reduction of toxic aldehydes in heated flaxseed oil using sesame and perilla protein enzymatic hydrolysates.

Reducing ability of sesame meal protein enzymatic hydrolysates (SMH) and perilla protein enzymatic hydrolysates (PMH) on the content of toxic aldehydes including acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, 2-hydroxylhexenal (HHE), and 2-hydroxyl nonenal (HNE), were evaluated in heated flaxseed oil at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 g. Adding SMH and PMH decreased the formation of secondary oxidation products and toxic aldehydes during heating. In particular, HHE and HNE were not detected, even at 0.01 g of protein concentration. Free radical scavenging activities in heated flaxseed oil significantly increased when 1.0 g of SMH and PMH were added (p < 0.05). Some volatiles including 2-ethylpyridine, pyrazines, and trimethylamine were formed or increased substantially in flaxseed oils with higher concentrations of SMH and PMH. In general, SMH showed higher antioxidative activity and reducing ability on the toxic aldehydes than PMH. Plant protein enzymatic hydrolysate could control the formation of toxic aldehydes during oxidation of ω-3 edible oil.

Effects of flaxseed supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Several studies reported the benefits of flaxseed on inflammatory biomarkers, while others reported conflicting findings. Thus, the aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the impacts of flaxseed on inflammatory biomarkers in adults. Databases including Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences were searched till February 2024. The 54 RCTs were included in the final analysis, which involved 3000 individuals from 12 countries. Overall, the flaxseed supplementation had a significant reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD = -0.46; 95 % CI: -0.70, -0.23, P < 0.001; I2 = 82.9 %, P < 0.001), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) (SMD = -0.64, 95 % CI: -1.13, -0.16, P = 0.010; I2 = 92.7, P < 0.001). Furthermore, flaxseed did not significantly change the concentration of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) (SMD = -0.17; 95 % CI: -0.63, 0.29, P = 0.467; I2 = 92, P < 0.001). Flaxseed supplementation significantly decreased serum concentrations of CRP and IL-6, but not TNF-a. Thus, this meta-analysis suggests that the current evidence supports the potential benefits of flaxseed in managing inflammatory conditions.

Does flaxseed supplementation affect apo-lipoproteins? A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis.

Several studies indicated the ameliorating effects of flaxseed supplementation on apolipoproteins, although others have conflicting results. Therefore, the present research was conducted in order to accurately and definitively understand the effect of flaxseed on apolipoproteins in adults. All articles published up to Juan 2024 were systematically searched through PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science to collect all randomized clinical trials (RCTs). A random effects model was used to measure the combined effect sizes. Also, standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were used to report the combined effect size. Our results showed that flaxseed supplementation significantly reduced apo-BI (SMD: -0.57; 95 % CI: -0.95, -0.19, p = 0.003; I2 = 83.2 %, heterogeneity p < 0.001) and lipo(a) decreased (SMD: -0.34; 95 % CI: -0.59, -0.09, p=0.007; I2=30.3 %, heterogeneity p=0.197). However, flaxseed did not change apo-AI levels (SMD: -0.37; 95 % CI: -0.87, 0.13, p = 0.146; I2 = 89.2 %, p-heterogeneity < 0.001). This meta-analysis has shown that flaxseed supplementation may have beneficial effects on apolipoproteins. Future high-quality, long-term clinical trials are needed to confirm our results.

Flaxseed polyphenols: Effects of varieties on its composition and antioxidant capacity.

This study identified phenolic compounds in five flaxseed varieties and evaluated their antioxidant activities. Results showed significant variations in phenolic acids and flavonoids among the varieties. Longya 16 had the lowest flavonoid content, Longya 13 had the lowest phenolic acid content, while Longya 10 exhibited the highest content and diversity of polyphenols, including six flavonoids (vitexin, quercitrin, quercetin, apigenin, kaempfero1, (+)-dihydroquercetin) and five phenolic acids (gallic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid). Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, and cell-based assays under tBHP-induced oxidative stress. Flaxseed polyphenol extracts significantly reduced ROS, MDA, and GSSG levels and increased SOD and CAT activities, preserving cell vitality and morphology. These findings confirmed the significant antioxidant activity of flaxseed polyphenols, providing a theoretical basis for their application in antioxidative functional areas.

The effects of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) supplementation on anthropometric indices: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE: Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) supplementation has shown promise as an anti-obesity agent in various clinical trials, although results have been inconsistent. To provide a more accurate assessment of the impact of flaxseed supplementation on anthropometric indices, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. METHODS: We searched several international databases until August 2023, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) were analyzed using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Sixty-four trials comprising 72 treatment arms were included. All studies reported the intervention types (Lignans, Whole flaxseed, and Flaxseed oil) and dosage. However, three studies did testing for purity, and 40 studies reported potency. Also, the risk of contamination with heavy metals was not mentioned in studies. Another limitation was the lack of blind evaluation in the studies. According to three trials included in the systematic review, flaxseed did not affect anthropometric indices. Our meta-analysis revealed significant reductions in body weight (WMD = -0.63 kg; 95 % CI: -1.00, -0.27, P < 0.001; I2 = 76.7 %, P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (WMD: -0.24 kg/m2, 95 % CI: -0.36, -0.11, P < 0.001; I2 = 78.5 %, P < 0.001) and waist circumference (WC) (WMD: -1.43 cm, 95 % CI: -2.06, -0.80, P < 0.001; I2 = 81.1 %, P < 0.001) following flaxseed supplementation. Subgroup analyses indicated that interventions lasting 10-20 weeks, and studies involving subjects with higher BMI (>30 kg/m2) showed more significant anti-obesity effects. Based on the GRADE evaluation, body weight, BMI, and WC results were considered as moderate-certainty evidence. CONCLUSION: Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that supplementation with flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) leads to meaningful improvements in body weight, BMI, and WC. Therefore, flaxseed can be considered as an adjunctive therapeutic approach in improving obesity.

Effect of Crushed Flaxseed Consumption on Cardiovascular Risk Indicators in Menopausal Women.

Flaxseed is known for its numerous health benefits and is often used in the prevention and treatment of civilizational diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of consuming crushed flaxseed on cardiovascular risk in 51 menopausal women. The intervention lasted for 8 weeks, during which participants received a daily dose of 40 g of crushed flaxseed from two varieties with differing lignan contents. Participants were divided into three subgroups based on the variety of flaxseed consumed: (1) high-lignan group (HL), (2) low-lignan group (LL), and (3) control group (no flaxseed consumption). Biochemical blood parameters were measured using a BiOLis 24i Premium automatic analyzer. Body composition was assessed using an InBody 720 device. In the lipid profile, we observed a significant increase in total cholesterol (T-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, along with a significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in both the HL and LL groups. Triglyceride (TG) levels exhibited no significant change, whereas high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were significantly reduced in both the HL (p < 0.01) and LL (p < 0.01) groups. Visceral fat area (VFA) and percent body fat (PBF) showed a slight decreasing trend in the HL group, whereas in the LL group, VFA showed a slight increase. Body mass index (BMI) remained stable across all groups. These findings suggest that for the modulation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, the daily dosage, duration of consumption, form of intake, and the specific variety of flaxseed (based on lignan content) are crucial factors.

Flaxseed Oil Alleviates Trimethyltin-Induced Cell Injury and Inhibits the Pro-Inflammatory Activation of Astrocytes in the Hippocampus of Female Rats.

Exposure to the neurotoxin trimethyltin (TMT) selectively induces hippocampal neuronal injury and astrocyte activation accompanied with resultant neuroinflammation, which causes severe behavioral, cognitive, and memory impairment. A large body of evidence suggests that flaxseed oil (FSO), as one of the richest sources of essential omega-3 fatty acids, i.e., α-linolenic acids (ALA), displays neuroprotective properties. Here, we report the preventive effects of dietary FSO treatment in a rat model of TMT intoxication. The administration of FSO (1 mL/kg, orally) before and over the course of TMT intoxication (a single dose, 8 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced hippocampal cell death, prevented the activation of astrocytes, and inhibited their polarization toward a pro-inflammatory/neurotoxic phenotype. The underlying protective mechanism was delineated through the selective upregulation of BDNF and PI3K/Akt and the suppression of ERK activation in the hippocampus. Pretreatment with FSO reduced cell death and efficiently suppressed the expression of inflammatory molecules. These beneficial effects were accompanied by an increased intrahippocampal content of n-3 fatty acids. In vitro, ALA pretreatment prevented the TMT-induced polarization of cultured astrocytes towards the pro-inflammatory spectrum. Together, these findings support the beneficial neuroprotective properties of FSO/ALA against TMT-induced neurodegeneration and accompanied inflammation and hint at a promising preventive use of FSO in hippocampal degeneration and dysfunction.

A Synthetic Small Molecule, LGM2605: A Promising Modulator of Increased Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine and Osteoclast Differentiation by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Cytolethal Distending Toxin.

Our research explores the interplay between Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt) and the host's inflammatory response in molar/incisor pattern periodontitis (MIPP). Cdt disrupts phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3) signaling, influencing cytokine expression through canonical and non-canonical inflammasome activation as well as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation, leading to inflammation in MIPP. THP-1 differentiated macrophages (TDMs) exposed to Cdt exhibited an upregulation of pro-inflammatory genes and subsequent cytokine release. We analyzed the ability of a small molecule therapeutic, LGM2605, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, to reduce pro-inflammatory gene expression and cytokine release in Cdt-exposed and Aa-inoculated TDMs. LGM2605's mechanism of action involves inhibiting NF-κB while activating the Nrf2-transcription factor and antioxidants. Herein, we show that this small molecule therapeutic mitigates Cdt-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and secretion. Our study also further defines Cdt's impact on osteoclast differentiation and maturation in MIPP. Cdt promotes increased TRAP+ cells, indicating heightened osteoclast differentiation, specific to Cdt's phosphatase activity. Cathepsin K levels rise during this process, reflecting changes in TRAP distribution between control and Cdt-treated cells. Exploring LGM2605's effect on Cdt-induced osteoclast differentiation and maturation, we found TRAP+ cells significantly reduced with LGM2605 treatment compared to Cdt alone. Upon LGM2605 treatment, immunocytochemistry revealed a decreased TRAP intensity and number of multinucleated cells. Moreover, immunoblotting showed reduced TRAP and cathepsin K levels, suggesting LGM2605's potential to curb osteoclast differentiation and maturation by modulating inflammatory cytokines, possibly involving Nrf2 activation. In summary, our research reveals the intricate connections between Cdt, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and osteoclast differentiation, offering novel therapeutic possibilities for managing these conditions.

The Effects of Flaxseed Consumption on Glycemic Control in Native American Postmenopausal Women with Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia.

Glucose control in postmenopausal women is influenced by many factors, such as hormones, lifestyle variables, and genetics. Limited data exist on the effect of whole flaxseed on glucose status in postmenopausal Native American women. The aim of this study was to investigate the glucose management effect of a flaxseed dietary intervention on postmenopausal Native American women. In this study, 55 Native American postmenopausal women (aged 47-63 years) with borderline hyperglycemia (>100 and <126 mg/dL) and mild to moderate hypercholestorolemia (≥200 to ≤380 mmol/L), who were not on hormone replacement therapy, were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary regimens (control, flaxseed, and flaxseed + fiber) for three months, receiving interventions in the form of bread, muffins, and flaxseed powder. Despite daily consumption of flaxseed across diverse food formats, no significant changes in glucose (p = 0.3, p = 0.2), insulin levels (p = 0.59, p = 0.9), or HOMA-IR (p = 0.84, p = 0.66) were observed compared to their respective baseline values within the flaxseed and flaxseed + fiber groups, respectively. Conversely, the control group showed a significant rise in final glucose values from baseline (p = 0.01). However, the incorporation of ground flaxseed into low-glycemic foods holds potential for beneficial effects through maintaining glucose status among postmenopausal Native American women. This research provides critical insights into the effects of flaxseed, emphasizing the need for continued exploration to understand its role in supporting glucose management among postmenopausal Native American women. Further exploration is required to investigate the potential long-term impact and the use of flaxseed in managing glucose levels in this demographic.

Lipase-catalyzed interesterification of Sunite sheep tail fat and flaxseed oil provides a fat having a unique fatty acid content and favorable physicochemical and nutritional properties.

The aim of this study is to combine flaxseed oil (FO), rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA), with Sunite sheep tail fat (STF) through a lipase-catalyzed transesterification reaction, in order to produce an edible oil with a fatty acid ratio suitable for human needs. Initially, the optimal conditions for esterification were determined using the Box-Behnken design, with the measurement criterion being the content of ALA at the sn-2 position. The results indicated that the highest content of sn-2 ALA was obtained under the conditions of using 6.8 wt% Lipozyme®RMIM as the catalyst, a reaction temperature of 57°C, a reaction time of 3.3 h, and a substrate mass ratio of 5.6:4.4 for STF and FO. This led to the rapid breaking and recombining of molecular bonds, resulting in the interesterified fat (IF) with the highest content of ALA at the sn-2 position. Comparing STF and FO, IF exhibited excellent fatty acid composition and content. Furthermore, IF had a lower melting point and crystallization temperature compared to STF, and its solid fat content decreased with increasing temperature, completely melting at temperatures above 30°C. Thus, IF is a synthesized fat with excellent properties from both animal and vegetable sources.

Long Chain Fatty Acids Mediate Hepatic Metabolic Flux in Preruminating Dairy Calves Fed Flaxseed Oil, High Oleic Soybean Oil, or Milk Fat.

Nutrition and physiological state affect hepatic metabolism. Our objective was to determine if feeding flaxseed oil (∼50% C18:3n-3 cis), high oleic soybean oil (∼70% C18:1 cis-9), or milk fat (∼50% C16:0) alters hepatic expression of PC, PCK1, and PCK2 and the flow of carbons from propionate and pyruvate into the TCA cycle in preruminating calves. Male Holstein calves (n = 40) were assigned to a diet of skim milk with either: 3% milk fat (MF; n = 8), 3% flaxseed oil (Flax; n = 8), 3% high oleic soybean oil (HOSO; n = 8), 1.5% MF + 1.5% high oleic soybean oil (MF-HOSO; n = 8), or 1.5% MF + 1.5% flaxseed oil (MF-Flax; n = 8) from d 14 to d 21 postnatal. At d 21 postnatal, a liver biopsy was taken for gene expression and metabolic flux analysis. Liver explants were incubated in [U-13C] propionate and [U-13C] pyruvate to trace carbon flux through TCA cycle intermediates or with [U-14C] lactate, [1-14C] palmitic acid, or [2-14C] propionate to quantify substrate oxidation to CO2 and acid soluble products. Compared with other treatments, plasma C18:3n-3 cis was 10 times higher and C18:1 cis-9 was 3 times lower in both flax (Flax and MF-Flax) treatments. PC, PCK1, and PCK2 expression and flux of [U-13C] pyruvate as well as [U-13C] propionate were not different between treatments. PC expression was negatively correlated with the enrichment of citrate M+5 and malate M+3, and PCK2 was negatively correlated with citrate M+5, suggesting that when expression of these enzymes is increased, carbon from pyruvate enters the TCA cycle via PC mediated carboxylation, and then OAA is converted to phosphoenolpyruvate via PCK2. Acid soluble product formation and PC expression were reduced in HOSO (MF-HOSO and HOSO) treatments compared with flax (MF-Flax and Flax), indicating that fatty acids regulate PC expression and carbon flux, but that fatty acid flux control points are not connected to PC, PCK1, or PCK2. In conclusion, fatty acids regulate hepatic expression of PC, PCK1, and PCK2, and carbon flux, but the point of control is distinct.

Bioconversion of lignans in flaxseed cake by fermented tofu microbiota and isolation of Enterococcus faecium strain ZB26 responsible for converting secoisolariciresinol diglucoside to enterodiol.

Human intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in converting secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, a lignan found in flaxseed, to enterodiol, which has a range of health benefits: antioxidative, antitumor, and estrogenic/anti-estrogenic effects. Given the high secoisolariciresinol diglucoside content in flaxseed cake, this study investigated the potential of co-fermenting flaxseed cake with fermented soybean product to isolate bacterial strains that effectively convert secoisolariciresinol diglucoside to enterodiol in a controlled environment (in vitro). The co-fermentation process with stinky tofu microbiota significantly altered the lignan, generating 12 intermediate lignan metabolites as identified by targeted metabolomics. One particular promising strain, ZB26, demonstrated an impressive ability to convert secoisolariciresinol diglucoside. It achieved a conversion rate of 87.42 ± 0.33%, with secoisolariciresinol and enterodiol generation rates of 94.22 ± 0.51% and 2.91 ± 0.03%, respectively. Further optimization revealed, under specific conditions (0.5 mM secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, pH 8, 30 °C for 3 days), ZB26 could convert an even higher percentage (97.75 ± 0.05%) of the secoisolariciresinol diglucoside to generate secoisolariciresinol (103.02 ± 0.16%) and enterodiol (3.18 ± 0.31%). These findings suggest that the identified strains ZB26 have promising potential for developing functional foods and ingredients enriched with lignans.

Investigation on Fermented Milk Quality after the Addition of Flaxseed Mucilage and the Use of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AG9.

BACKGROUND: Flaxseed mucilage (FSM) is one of the healthy components of flaxseed. FSM is an example of a material that can be used in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries due to its rheological properties. FSM consists mainly of two polysaccharides, arabinoxylan, and rhamnogalacturonan I, and it also contains protein components and minerals. The prospect of using FSM in food is due to its gelling, water binding, emulsifying, and foaming properties. In addition, valuable natural sources of phenolic compounds such as lignans, phenolic acids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and tannins are partially extracted from flaxseed in FSM. These antioxidant components have pharmacological properties, including anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. A combination of FSM and lactobacilli in dairy foods can improve their functional properties. This study aimed to develop dairy products by adding of FSM and using two lactic acid bacteria (LAB). FSM (0.2%) was used as an ingredient to improve both the texture and antioxidant properties of the product. METHODS: Skim milk was fermented with 0.2% flaxseed mucilage using Lactobacillus delbrueckii subs. bulgaricus and the probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AG9. The finished fermented milk products were stored at 4 °C for 14 days. Quantitative chemical, textural, and antioxidant analyses were carried out. RESULTS: Adding 0.2% FSM to the dairy product stimulated the synthesis of lactic acid. FSM increased the viscosity and water-holding capacity of L. bulgaricus or L. bulgaricus/L. plantarum AG9 fermented milk products. Combining these starter strains with FSM promoted the formation of a hard, elastic, resilient casein matrix in the product. When only L. plantarum AG9 was used for the fermentation, the dairy product had a high syneresis and a low viscosity and firmness; such a product is inferior in textural characteristics to the variant with commercial L. bulgaricus. The addition of FSM improved the textural properties of this variant. The use of L. plantarum AG9 and FSM makes it possible to obtain a fermented milk product with the highest content of polyphenolic compounds, which have the highest antioxidant properties and stimulate lipase and α-glucosidase inhibitor synthesis. Combining of L. bulgaricus and L. plantarum AG9 in the starter (20% of the total mass of the starter) and adding of 0.2% FSM is the optimal combination for obtaining a dairy product with high textural and antioxidant properties. CONCLUSIONS: The physicochemical properties (viscosity, syneresis, water holding capacity, texture) and antioxidant properties of fermented milk were improved. In the future, as part of the work to investigate the functional properties of dairy products with FSM, studies will be conducted using in in vivo models.

Egg Quality, Sensory Attributes, and Protein Metabolites of Laying Hens Fed Whole Flaxseed, Fish Oil, and Different Sources of Trace Elements.

This study evaluated the effects of whole flaxseed (WFS), fish oil (FO), and different sources of Se, Zn, and Fe (inorganic, organic, and nano-source) on egg production, quality, sensory attributes, and serum protein metabolites in laying hens. A total of 144 hens were divided into six groups with six replicates of four hens each. Hens were fed six diets as follows: 1) control diet; 2) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO; 3) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg vitamin E (VE); 4) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg VE + inorganic sources of Se, Zn, and Fe (ISeZnFe); 5) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg VE + organic sources of Se, Zn, and Fe (OSeZnFe); 6) 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+175 mg/kg VE + nano-source of Se, Zn, and Fe (NSeZnFe) from 40-50 weeks of age. Laying hens fed 7.5% WFS, 1.5% FO, and different sources of trace elements in their diets had no negative effects on laying rate, egg weight, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, body weight change, or survival rate compared to that of hens fed the control diet. Dietary treatments did not negatively affect the external and internal egg characteristics or egg sensory attributes. Feeding 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+VE+ISeZnFe positively influenced yolk color in fresh eggs. Dietary treatments had a significant impact on egg nutritional composition, with the highest levels of macronutrients found in eggs from hens fed the 7.5%WFS+1.5%FO+VE+NSeZnFe treatment. The highest plasma globulin concentrations were observed in hens fed organic and nano-source trace elements. The same diets reduced plasma uric acid levels. Based on these findings, the inclusion of organic or nano-source trace minerals in diets containing WFS and FO positively affected egg quality and hen protein metabolites.