Distribution of omega-3 fatty acids in tissues of rabbits fed a flaxseed-supplemented diet

Ander, Bradley P.; Edel, Andrea L.; McCullough, Richelle; Rodriguez-Leyva, Delfin; Rampersad, Penelope; Gilchrist, James S.C.; Lukas, Anton; Pierce, Grant N.

doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2009.09.005

« Previous Next »Metabolism - Clinical and Experimental
Volume 59, Issue 5 , Pages 620-627, May 2010

Distribution of omega-3 fatty acids in tissues of rabbits fed a flaxseed-supplemented diet

Bradley P. Ander
- 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 R2H 2A6
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Andrea L. Edel
- 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 R2H 2A6
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Richelle McCullough
- 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 R2H 2A6
Delfin Rodriguez-Leyva
- Cardiovascular Research Division, VI Lenin Universitary Hospital, Holguin, Cuba
Penelope Rampersad
- 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 R2H 2A6
James S.C. Gilchrist
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R2H 2A6
Anton Lukas
- 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 R2H 2A6
Grant N. Pierce
- Department of Physiology, Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, 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 R2H 2A6
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 204 235 3206; fax: +1 204 235 0793.

Received 12 February 2009; accepted 4 September 2009. published online 16 November 2009.

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 α-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 ω-6/ω-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.