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Effects of flaxseed oil supplementation on plasma adiponectin levels in dyslipidemic men

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Abstract

Background

Dietary alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) has been associated with reduced risk of development of atherosclerosis. Adiponectin is a hormone specifically secreted by adipocytes and considered to have anti-atherogenic properties.

Aim of the study

We examined the effect of increased dietary intake of ALA on plasma concentration of adiponectin.

Methods

Thirty-five non-diabetic, dyslipidemic men, 38–71 years old, were randomly allocated to take either 15 ml of flaxseed oil rich in ALA (8.1 g/day; n = 18), or 15 ml of safflower oil per day, containing the equivalent n-6 fatty acid (11.2 g/day linoleic acid, LA; n = 17) (control group). The intervention period lasted for 12 weeks.

Results

Plasma levels of adiponectin did not change after the increase in dietary intake of ALA in the flaxseed oil supplementation group, compared to the control group. No changes in body mass index, serum lipid concentrations, LDL density, or plasma TNF-α were found in the flaxseed oil versus the control group.

Conclusions

Dietary ALA has no effect on plasma adiponectin concentration in dyslipidemic men.

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported by the Greek Ministry of Development, General Secretariat for Research and Technology (grant 97EL-55) and Becel Institute/Unilever Bestfoods Greece.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece

    George K. Paschos, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos & Fotini N. Skopouli

  2. Unit of Human Nutrition, Dept. of Food Sciences and Technology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens, 11185, Greece

    Antonis Zampelas

  3. Dept. of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Stergios Katsiougiannis

  4. Centre for Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

    Bruce A. Griffin

  5. Dept. of Cardiology, Laiko Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Vasilios Votteas

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  1. George K. Paschos
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  2. Antonis Zampelas
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Correspondence to Antonis Zampelas.

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Paschos, G.K., Zampelas, A., Panagiotakos, D.B. et al. Effects of flaxseed oil supplementation on plasma adiponectin levels in dyslipidemic men. Eur J Nutr 46, 315–320 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-007-0668-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-007-0668-5

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