Potential effects of lignan-enriched flaxseed powder on bodyweight, visceral fat, lipid profile, and blood pressure in rats

The potential effects of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside lignan-enriched flaxseed powder (LEFP) on bodyweight, visceral fat, lipid profile, adipokines, and blood pressure were investigated using rats, divided into four groups (n = 8); a normal control diet (NC), a normal control diet with 0.02% LEFP (NCL), a high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFD), or a high-fat and high-fructose diet with 0.02% LEFP (HFDL). Liver, heart, kidney, adipose tissues, and blood were collected following 12-weeks on the diets. The average body weight of the HFD group was significantly higher than those of the NC, NCL, and the HFDL groups (P < 0.05). Also, the average weights of kidneys from the HFD and HFDL groups was higher than those of the NC and NCL groups (P < 0.05), although not significantly different in the weights of livers and hearts. The visceral fat weight was significantly higher in rats in the HFD group, but notably reduced in the HFDL fed rats (P < 0.05). Accordingly, plasma leptin increased significantly in rats fed the HFD diet, higher than rats fed the HFDL diet. Also, the rats in the HFDL group showed improved lipid profile, compared to the rats in the HFD group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a significant reduction in blood pressure was observed in the rats of the HFDL group compared to the HFD group (P < 0.05). These data suggest that the LEFP supplementation may provide beneficial effects such as the reduction of bodyweight and fat accumulation, the lipid profile improvement, and blood pressure control. Published by Elsevier B.V.