title: Prolonged flaxseed flour intake decreased the thickness of the aorta and modulates some modifiable risk factors related to cardiovascular disease in rats.
abstract: Cardiovascular diseases are a major public health problem. Different risk factors have been recognized as the main causes of the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Flaxseed is a source of dietary fiber, lignans, and alpha-linolenic acid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of prolonged supplementation with flaxseed flour as preventive therapy on cardiovascular risk parameters in healthy Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Wistar rats were divided into two groups after giving birth and during lactation period: the control group was fed with diet based on casein and the flaxseed group was fed with diet based on casein containing 25% of flaxseed flour. At weaning, 10 male offspring from each group continued to receive the same diets from their mothers during 250 days. The body weight, visceral fat mass, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, VLDL, glucose and thickness of the aorta were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The body weight, visceral fat mass, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, VLDL, glucose and thickness of the aorta values were statistically lower when compared to control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that flaxseed flour supplementation in healthy wistar rats for a prolonged period may decrease the thickness of the aorta and may be used as a preventive measure in modulating some modifiable risk factors related to cardiovascular disease.
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition (LabNE). College of Nutrition. Federal Fluminense University (UFF). Graduate Programme in Cardiovascular Sciences. Federal Fluminense University (UFF).. ludmila.cardozo@gmail.com.
authors: Ludmila Ferreira Medeiros de França
authors: LF
authors: Cardozo
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition (LabNE). College of Nutrition. Federal Fluminense University (UFF). Graduate Programme in Medical Sciences. Federal Fluminense University (UFF).. ludmila.cardozo@gmail.com.
authors: Gabriela Câmara
authors: GC
authors: Vicente
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition (LabNE). College of Nutrition. Federal Fluminense University (UFF). Graduate Programme in Medical Sciences. Federal Fluminense University (UFF).. ludmila.cardozo@gmail.com.
authors: Lívia Hipólito Cardozo
authors: LH
authors: Brant
authors: Graduate Programme in Cardiovascular Sciences. Federal Fluminense University (UFF).. ludmila.cardozo@gmail.com.
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Mafra
authors: Laboratory of Cellular and Extracellular Biomorphology. Federal Fluminense University (UFF). Brazil.. ludmila.cardozo@gmail.com.
authors: Maurício Alves
authors: MA
authors: Chagas
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition (LabNE). College of Nutrition. Federal Fluminense University (UFF). Graduate Programme in Medical Sciences. Federal Fluminense University (UFF).. ludmila.cardozo@gmail.com.
authors: Gilson Teles
authors: GT
authors: Boaventura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax; D005433:Flour; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012307:Risk Factors