The influence of a diet based on flaxseed, an omega-3 source, during different developmental periods, on the blood pressure of rats submitted to stress

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate a flaxseed diet during different developmental periods, and its effect on the blood pressure of rats submitted to stress.

Methods: Fifty-six male rats (F₁), born from 14 rats (F₀), were divided into seven groups (n = 8): flaxseed group (FG); flaxseed group gestation and lactation (FG-GL); flaxseed group weaning (FG-W); flaxseed group weaning and stress (FG-WS); flaxseed group stress (FG-S); flaxseed group gestation lactation and weaning (FG-GLW), and control Group (CG). Stress protocol was undertaken for 1 month. Blood pressure was analysed before and after the stress protocol. The left adrenal glands and serum corticosterone levels were analysed.

Results: Systolic blood pressure before stress was lower in all groups with flaxseed diet compared with the CG (p = .00001). After stress, CG showed higher blood pressure compared with FG, FG-GL, and FG-GLW (p = .004). The levels of corticosterone were lower in the FG between all groups (p < .000001) and the CG showed higher compared with FG-W, FG-WS, FG-GL, and FG-GLW (p < .0001). The adrenal gland did not show differences.

Conclusions: Results suggest a possible factor from a flaxseed diet against the effects of stress on a blood pressure in all periods of life but especially in the gestation and lactation periods.

Keywords:

• Blood pressure
• flaxseed
• omega-3
• rat
• stress

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Rio de Janeiro State Foundation for Scientific Research (FAPERJ).