Effects of Dietary Flaxseed on Intestinal Tumorigenesis in Apc^Min Mouse

Abstract

Dietary flaxseed has been shown to prevent azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colorectal cancers in male Fisher rats. The present study was designed to investigate the chemopreventive effects of dietary flaxseed on the development of intestinal tumors in Apc ^Min mice. Apc ^Min mice were divided into five different groups, fed with control (AIN-93M meal), corn meal, flaxseed meal, corn oil, and flaxseed oil supplemented diets. Results showed that dietary flaxseed significantly decreased ( P < 0.05) tumor multiplicity and size in the small intestine and colon as compared to control, corn-treated groups. Intestine, colon, and serum samples of corn-treated groups showed higher levels of ω -6 fatty acids, whereas the flaxseed treated groups exhibited higher levels of ω -3 fatty acids. Lignans were detected in the serum, intestine, and colon samples for flaxseed meal group. COX-1 and COX-2 expression in the colon samples from the flaxseed meal group were significantly lower ( P < 0.05) as compared to the corn meal group. Dietary flaxseed may be chemopreventive for intestinal tumor development in Apc ^Min mice possibly by increasing ω -3 fatty acid levels, lignans, and decreasing COX-1 and COX-2 levels.

Notes

^a Significantly lower (P < 0.05) in flaxseed meal group than corn meal group.

^b Significantly lower (P < 0.05) in flaxseed oil than corn oil group.

^a Data represent mean derived from at least 5 samples.

^a Data represent mean derived from at least five samples.

^b Significantly higher in corn meal group than flaxseed meal group (P < 0.05).

^c Significantly higher in corn oil group than flaxseed oil group (P < 0.05).

^d Significantly higher in flaxseed meal group than corn meal group (P < 0.05).

^e Significantly higher in flaxseed oil group than corn oil group (P < 0.05).

^a Data represent mean derived from at least 5 samples.

^b Significantly higher in corn meal group than flaxseed meal group (P < 0.05).

^c Significantly higher in corn oil group than flaxseed oil group (P < 0.05).

^d Significantly higher in flaxseed meal group than corn meal group (P < 0.05).

^e Significantly higher in flaxseed oil group than corn oil group (P < 0.05).

^a Data represent mean derived from at least 5 samples.

^b Significantly higher in corn meal group than flaxseed meal group (P < 0.05).

^c Significantly higher in flaxseed meal group than corn meal group (P < 0.05).

^d Significantly higher in flaxseed oil group than corn oil group (P < 0.05).

^a Significantly lower (P < 0.05) in flaxseed meal group than corn meal group.

^b Significantly lower (P < 0.05) in flaxseed oil than corn oil group.

^a Abbreviations are as follows: EL, enterolactone; ED, enterodiol. Data represent mean derived from at least 5 samples.