title: Distribution of omega-3 fatty acids in tissues of rabbits fed a flaxseed-supplemented diet.
abstract: Diets rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with decreased incidences of cardiovascular disease. The extent of incorporation and distribution of these beneficial fats into body tissues is uncertain. Rabbits were fed regular rabbit chow or a diet containing 10% ground flaxseed that is highly enriched with the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The high-flaxseed diet resulted in an incorporation of ALA in all tissues, but mostly in the heart and liver with little in the brain. Docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acid levels were also selectively increased in some tissues, and the effects were not as large as ALA. Arachidonic acid and the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids were decreased in all tissues obtained from the flax-supplemented group. Consumption of dietary flaxseed appears to be an effective means to increase ALA content in body tissues, but the degree will depend upon the tissues examined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine and Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St Boniface General Hospital Research Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Bradley P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Ander
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Edel
authors.forename: Richelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCullough
authors.forename: Delfin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Leyva
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rampersad
authors.forename: James S C
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lukas
authors.forename: Grant N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Pierce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D019597:Flax; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid