Manipulation of flaxseed inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 production in ovarian-induced osteoporosis

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the potential effects of whole flaxseed (FS), and/or flax oil (FO) incorporation into the diet on the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in ovariectomized (OVX) rats model of osteoporosis. Methods: This study was performed in the Food Science &Agriculture Collage, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from October to December 2009. Forty eight, 3-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: Group 1 - sham + control diet; Group 2 - OVX rats + basal diet; Group 3 - OVX + 20% whole FS; Group 4 - OVX rats + 40% FS; Group 5 - OVX rats + 5% FO; Group 6 - OVX rats + 10% FO. All OVX rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy. The experiment was continued for 2 months. Serum bone alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP), interleukin-6 (IL- 6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-), calcium (Ca), phosphorous (P), and magnesium (Mg) were measured. Results: A significant increase of serum IL-6 and TNF-concentrations were observed between OVX rats when compared with Group 1, while there was no significant difference in the activity of B-ALP, serum Ca, P, and Mg among all groups. A remarkable significant decrease of serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-was observed in the group of rats that were fed with FS (Groups 3 and 4) and FO (Groups 5 and 6). Conclusion: This study suggests that FS and FO might be useful in the prevention of estrogen-deficiency induced osteoporosis via decreasing osteoclastogenesis. Further studies are needed to demonstrate their efficacy in humans by using bioactive components of FS, and to clarify their mechanism of action. Saudi Med J 2011; Vol. 32 (4): 369-375