Nutritional and hematological impact of dietary flaxseed and defatted flaxseed meal in rats

An 8-week study was conducted to determine the impact of dietary ground flaxseed (FS) or defatted flaxseed meal (FLM) on plasma lipids, minerals, hematological parameters and vitamin E status of weanling female Sprague-Dawley rats. These rats were fed isocaloric modified AIN-76 diets supplemented with 0.0, 5.0, 10.0% (w/w) FS or 6.2% (w/w) FLM for 56 days. Total and HDL cholesterol were not influenced by any of the dietary treatments. Plasma triglyceride was significantly increased by FLM, but not affected by FS. Total RBC counts and hematocrit were significantly higher in FS groups than in the control group; however, hemoglobin was not affected by FS. Dietary FLM had no effect on any of the above hematological parameters. Plasma alkaline phosphatase, an indicator of Zn status and a marker of bone formation, was significantly lower in the FS and FLM groups than in the control group. Plasma vitamin E content was not influenced by dietary treatment. Liver vitamin E was significantly higher in groups fed 10% FS and 6.2% FLM. In summary, moderate amounts of dietary FS may have the potential to increase liver vitamin E level and improve iron status. However, FS/FLM consumption may have a negative effect on zinc status, as indicated by decreased alkaline phosphatase levels.