Preventive effects of flaxseed and sesame oil on bone loss in ovariectomized rats

A study was designed to examine the effects of dietary flaxseed oil (FO) and sesame oil (SO) which are rich successively in n-3 and (n-9 and n-6) on biochemical parameters and histological status of bone. Sixty-four 90-day-old female wistar rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups: sham-operated rat (sham)+ control diets, ovariectomized rat (OVX) + control diets, OVX + 7% FO, OVX + 7% SO, OVX + 10% FO, OVX + 10% SO. After 4 weeks of treatments, rats were euthanized; blood and tissues were collected for analyses. Markers of bone formation which is alkaline phosphatase activity and markers of bone resorption which is tartrate resistant acid phosphatase activity were measured. Present results showed that OVX increased significantly ALP and TRAP activity and the examination of bone tissue showed disruptive and lytic bone trabeculae. Animals fed 10% FO and 10% SO of fat reduced these parameters and improved bone microarchitecture. Whereas, there was no improvement in biochemical and histological states in OVX rats that received 7% of PUFAs successively provided from FO and SO diets. In conclusion, our results are encouraging because they suggest that PUFAs intake may help to prevent osteoporosis associated with estrogens deficiency. However, further studies are needed to determine the mechanism by which a diet rich in n-3 or lignans modulate bone tissue.