Journal of Nutritional Disorders & Therapy

Abstract

Low dose Flaxseed Oil Supplementation Alters the Fatty Acids Profile and the Progression of Metabolic Syndrome in Men without Adequate Medical Treatment

Tint D, Anghel M, Lupu DS, Fischer LM and Niculescu MD

Many studies indicated that increased intakes of ω-3 fatty acids could positively impact the progression of metabolic syndrome (MS). This study aimed to characterize the clinical and biochemical changes initiated by a low-dose flaxseed oil supplementation upon the evolution of metabolic syndrome in men without adequate medical treatment.

In a double blind, randomized study, middle-aged men with metabolic syndrome, who were not able to follow the prescribed medical treatment, were assigned to either a group receiving daily 2.4 g flaxseed oil, or the same amount of corn oil, for 90 days, respectively. Analysis of variance, logistic, and bivariate fit analyses were used to describe the statistical significance of parameters changed by either treatment (within and between group comparisons), between the start and end of treatment. While none of the five diagnostic criteria for MS were differently altered between groups and time points, changes in body mass index (BMI) and insulin resistance were significantly correlated with the treatment received. Subjects receiving flaxseed oil registered no increase in BMI, as compared to an increased BMI registered in the corn oil group (+1.12 ± 0.63, p<0.05). Bivariate fit for plasma insulin and derived HOMA index indicated that flaxseed oil maintained the individual correlation of these parameters between the start and end of study, while corn oil supplementation was associated with an increase in insulin resistance with no individual correlation between start and end of treatment (1.12 ± 0.17, p<0.05 vs. 2.11 ± 0.79, p>0.05 ratios between start and end of study, respectively).

The analysis of total serum fatty acid profiles indicated, among other changes, significance for time-treatment interaction for serum 11-eicosenoic acid (p<0.05). Other correlations on inflammation markers associated with MS are reported. In conclusion, low daily doses of flaxseed oil may improve clinical and metabolic parameters in middle-aged men without adequate treatment for metabolic syndrome.