IJCS | Volume 31, Nº2, March / April 2018

DOI: 10.5935/2359-4802.20180002 114 International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2018;31(2)114-122 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Mailing Address: Maynara Leonardi Schuh Martins Rua Prof. Sebastião Paraná 762. Vila Izabel. Curitiba. Postal Code 80320-070, Novo Mundo, Curitiba, Paraná, PR – Brazil. E-mail: may.schuh@hotmail.com; fernando.ecoatividade@hotmail.com Decrease in the Inflammatory Marker TNF-α after Consumption of Flaxseed by Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits Maynara Leonardi Schuh Martins, 1 Aniely Bacelar Rocco de Lima, 1 Ana Flavia Champoski, 1 Pamela Cristiani Pereira, 1 Fernando Martins, 2 Carlos Tanizawa, 1 Leonardo Précoma, 1 Patrícia Campelo, 1 Luiz César Guarita-Souza, 1 Dalton Bertolim Précoma 1 Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUC-PR), 1 Paraná, PR; Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), 2 Mato Grosso do Sul, MS – Brazil Manuscript received February 27, 2017; revised manuscript June 22, 2017; accepted July 07, 2017. Abstract Background: Functional foods such as flaxseed have been commonly consumed to prevent atherosclerosis. Objectives: To assess the effects of flaxseed in atherogenesis in rabbits consuming a high-cholesterol diet. Methods: Thirty male albino rabbits were randomized to three groups based on a 12-week dietary treatment: control group (G1), standard diet; high-cholesterol diet (G2), standard diet plus 0.25% cholesterol from lyophilized eggs; and high-cholesterol plus flaxseed (G3), similar diet as G2 plus flaxseed. Biochemical (total cholesterol [TC], high-density lipoprotein [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], and triglycerides) and immunohistochemical (intercellular adhesion molecule 1 [ICAM-1] and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF- α ]) analyses were performed in all groups. P values < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results: At 12 weeks, serum TC levels increased significantly in G2 and G3 compared with G1. Serum LDL-C levels were higher in group G2, and the increase in group G3 was approximately six times lower than that in G2. HDL-C levels increased in all groups, with the highest increase observed in G2. Triglycerides levels in G3 decreased by ~70% and differed significantly in G1 and G3 (p = 0.034) and G2 and G3 (p = 0.015). ICAM-1 levels increased only in aortic segment 4 in G3. TNF- α levels in G3 were similar to those in the control group, while the levels in G2 were greater than twice as those in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The group fedwith a functional diet (flaxseed) showed decreased development of atherosclerosis, reduced serum triglycerides levels, and lower TNF- α levels on immunohistochemistry. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2018;31(2)114-122) Keywords: Rabbits; Flax / seeds; Atherosclerosis / prevention & control; Diet, Atherogenic; Cholesterol, Diet; Obesity, Sedentary Lifestyle. Introduction Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease marked by endothelial dysfunction affecting the intimal layer of medium- and large-caliber arteries. 1 This process occurs slowly over the course of decades and has the potential of evolving into more advanced lesions, which may rupture and trigger thrombus formation, potentially leading to acute myocardial infarction and death. 2 Several factors are implicated in the etiology of atherosclerosis, including persistent elevation of atherogenic serum lipoproteins (such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]), which are associated with lifestyle factors such as poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity, as well as deposition of these lipoproteins in the inner tunica. 2,3 Many food products with functional/nutraceutical properties have been studied with the aim of preventing the development of atherosclerotic plaques and promote positive cardiovascular effects. These products contain dietary fibers, phytosterols, omega-3 fatty acids,