Dietary Intake of Flaxseed Oil since Early Stages of Life Promotes Femur Quality in Male Rats.

BACKGROUND: Flaxseed oil (FO) is an alpha linolenic acid source important for growth and body development. However, there is little literature on the role of FO in critical stages of bone development and formation. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the influence of a diet containing FO on rat femurs. METHODS: After birth, mothers and pups were divided into control and flaxseed groups (n = 6 pups each) fed diets containing 7% soybean oil (C) or 7% FO. At 21 days, pups were weaned and separated from the mothers, and control or experimental diets were continued. At 67 days, the following were analyzed: osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels, bone mineral density (BMD) and content, and bone area; the dimension, BMD, head radiodensity, and biomechanical proprieties of the right femur; and histomorphometric parameters of the left femur. RESULTS: Compared to the C group, the FO group presented (p < 0.05) a lower body mass (-3.7%) and medullary area (-10.1%) and higher osteocalcin (+36.7%), OPG (+52.5%), femur width (+3.8%), absolute mass (+2.3%), femur BMD (+3.6%), head radiodensity (+6.1%), maximum force (+7.4%), breaking strength (+17.3), and cortical thickness (+7.0). CONCLUSION: The FO diet contributed to femur quality in healthy male Wistar rats.

Antioxidant action of alpha lipoic acid on the testis and epididymis of diabetic rats: morphological, sperm and immunohistochemical evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic hyperglycemia is caused by diabetes mellitus-committed genital morphophysiology, and oxidative stress is one of the main factors involved in this process. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) can prevent metabolic and morphological changes in diabetic individuals. OBJECTIVES: In present study, we evaluated the effects of regular ALA consumption on the spermatogenesis and histoarchitecture in the male genital system of diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided into groups: Control (CG); Diabetic Control (DCG), receiving commercial diet: ALA Group (ALAG) and Diabetic ALA Group (DALAG), fed diets with added ALA (300 mg/Kg bw). The diabetic groups received a single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). After sixty days of the diet, the animals were euthanized, and semen, testis and epididymis samples were collected. A histomorphometric analysis was performed to determine the epithelial height, tubular and luminal diameter, tubular and luminal area of seminiferous tubules and each epididymal region. Sertoli cells were evidenced using the antivimentin antibody and were quantified. The results were statistically analyzed by the ANOVA test. RESULTS: At the end of the experiment, the DALAG glycemia was signifi cantly lower than DCG. The histomorphometric parameters of the seminiferous and epididymal tubules did not show improvement in the DALAG. However, there was an improvement in the DALAG in terms of the concentration, motility and percentage of spermatic pathologies, as well as in the number of Sertoli cells (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that supplementation with the ALA antioxidant retards testicular lesions and preserve the process of spermatogenesis in diabetes.

Effects of flour or flaxseed oil upon testis mass in rats subjected to early weaning.

Study evaluates testis mass in rats subjected to early weaning and subsequently nourished with diet containing flour or flaxseed oil. Pups were weaned for separation from mothers at 14 days (early weaning, EW) and 21 days (control, C). After 21 days, the control group (C60) was nourished with control diet. EW was divided as: control (EWC60), flaxseed flour (EWFF60) and flaxseed oil (EWFO60) group diets for the next 60 days. At 21st and 60th day, body mass, serum cholesterol and triglycerides and testis mass were evaluated. At 21 day, EW group showed lower (p < 0.05) body mass, serum cholesterol and testis mass. At 60 days, EWC60 and EWFO60 groups showed lower (p < 0.05) body mass (vs. C60 and EWFF60). EWFF60 group showed lower (p < 0.05) serum cholesterol (vs. EWC60 and EWFO60) and higher (p < 0.05) testis mass (vs. C60, EWC60 and EWFO60). Flaxseed flour (vs. oil) was associated with higher testis mass following early weaning.

Maternal Flaxseed Oil During Lactation Enhances Bone Development in Male Rat Pups.

Flaxseed oil is an alpha linolenic acid source important in the growth and body development stage; furthermore, this acid acts on adipose tissue and bone health. The aim of this study was to evaluate body composition, fatty acid composition, hormone profile, retroperitoneal adipocyte area and femur structure of pups at weaning, whose mothers were fed a diet containing flaxseed oil during lactation. After birth, pups were randomly assigned: control (C, n = 12) and flaxseed oil (FO, n = 12), rats whose mothers were treated with diet containing soybean or flaxseed oil. At 21 days, the pups were weaned and body mass, length, body composition, biochemical parameter, leptin, osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin, fatty acids composition, intra-abdominal fat mass and femur structure were analyzed. FO showed (p < 0.05): higher body mass (+12 %) and length (+9 %); body fat mass (g, +45 %); bone mineral density (+8 %), bone mineral content (+55 %) and bone area (+35 %), osteocalcin (+173 %) and osteoprotegerin (+183 %). Arachidonic acid was lower (p < 0.0001), alpha-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic were higher (p < 0.0001). Intra-abdominal fat mass was higher (+25 %), however, the retroperitoneal adipocytes area was lower (-44 %). Femur mass (+10 %), distance between epiphyses (+4 %) and bone mineral density (+13 %) were higher. The study demonstrates that adequate flaxseed oil content during a lactation diet plays an important role in the development of pups.

Flaxseed flour, compared to flaxseed oil, contributes to femoral structure in male rats subjected to early weaning.

The aim of this study was to analyze whether flaxseed flour or flaxseed oil treatment contributes to femoral structure in male rats subjected to early weaning. Pups were weaned for separation from mothers at 14 days (early weaning, EW) or 21 days (control, C). After 21 days, the control (C60) was fed with the control diet. The EW group was divided based on control (EWC60), flaxseed flour (EWFF60) and flaxseed oil (EWFO60) diets until 60 days. Femoral dimension, bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), area and biomechanical properties were determined. EWFO60 showed lower (P < 0.05) femur mass. EWC60 and EWFO60 showed lower (P < 0.05) distance between epiphyses, diaphysis width and BMD. BMC was lower (P < 0.05) in EWC60 (vs. C60 and EWFF60). EWC60 and EWFO60 showed lower (P < 0.05) maximum force (vs. C60). Breaking strength was lower (P < 0.05) in EWFO60 (vs. C60). EWFF60 showed higher (P < 0.05) rigidity. Flaxseed flour abbreviated the femoral fragility secondary to early weaning.

The intake of yam (Dioscorea bulbifera Linn) attenuated the hyperglycemia and the bone fragility in female diabetic rats.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic patients have a higher risk to osteoporotic fractures. Foods, such as yam, to oppose hyperglycemia, has been used to treatment of diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The goal was assess the role of Brazilian yam (Dioscorea bulbifera) on glycemia and bone parameters of female diabetic rats. METHODS: Female Wistar rats with 3 months age were allocated in three groups. Control group (C, n = 6), treated with normal fat diet. Diabetic rats treated with high-fat diet without (DM, n = 8) and with (DMY, n = 8) liofilized yam flour. After 5 weeks of the experiment, serum glucose and insulin, pancreas mass, number and area of pancreas islets were quantified. And femur parameters were analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and computed tomography (CT). RESULTS: Differences were considered significant if P<0.05. Diabetic groups showed lower (P < 0.05): femur and pancreas mass, area of the pancreatic islets and insulin. However, DMY showed lower (-10%, P < 0.05) concentrations of glucose to DM group. Femur, by DXA, showed lower bone mineral density, content and area in the DM group. While the DMY group showed greater (+27%, P < 0.05) radiodensity of femoral head when compared to DM group. DISCUSSION: Brazilian yam flour supplement did not fix a defect, but alleviated the consequences of the experimental diabetic disease. It showed results to control the rise in blood glucose levels in diabetic rats, suggesting protection in oxidative agents and postpone harm in the bone. CONCLUSION: Considering all the findings of the present study, our results suggest that yam flour does act producing benefits in the experimental diabetes.

Introducción: Los pacientes diabéticos tienen un mayor riesgo de fracturas osteoporóticas. Los alimentos, como el ñame, para oponerse a la hiperglucemia, se ha utilizado para el tratamiento de la diabetes. Objetivos: El objetivo era evaluar el papel de ñame brasileño (Dioscorea bulbifera) sobre la glucemia y el hueso parámetros de ratas diabéticas hembra. Métodos: Ratas Wistar hembra con 3 meses de edad fueron asignados en tres grupos. El grupo de control (C, n = 6), tratados con dieta normal de la grasa. Las ratas diabéticas tratadas con dieta alta en grasas y sin (DM, n = 8) y con (DMY, n = 8) harina de ñame liofilizado. Después se cuantificaron 5 semanas del experimento, la glucosa y la insulina en suero, la masa páncreas, el número y el área de islotes del páncreas. Y los parámetros de fémur fueron analizados por absorciometría de rayos X de energía dual (DXA) y la tomografía computarizada (CT). Resultados: Las diferencias se consideraron significativas si P < 0,05. Grupos diabéticos mostraron menor (P < 0,05): el fémur y la masa páncreas, el área de los islotes pancreáticos y la insulina. Sin embargo, DMY mostró inferior (-10%, P < 0,05) concentraciones de glucosa al grupo DM. Fémur, por DXA, mostró menor densidad mineral ósea, el contenido y el área en el grupo de DM. Mientras que el grupo DMY mostró mayor (27%, P < 0,05) radiodensidad de la cabeza femoral en comparación con el grupo de DM. Discusión: Suplemento de harina de ñame brasileña no fijó un defecto, pero alivia las consecuencias de la enfermedad diabética experimental. Se mostró resultados para controlar el aumento de los niveles de glucosa en sangre en ratas diabéticas, lo que sugiere la protección en agentes oxidantes y posponer daño en el hueso. Conclusión: Teniendo en cuenta todos los resultados de este estudio, nuestros resultados sugieren que la harina de ñame actúa de producir beneficios en la diabetes experimental.