IJCS | Volume 31, Nº2, March / April 2018

121 1. Xavier HT, Izar MC, Faria Neto JR, Assad MH, Rocha VZ, Sposito AC, et al; Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia. [V Brazilian Guidelines on Dyslipidemias and Prevention of Atherosclerosis]. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2013;101(4 Suppl 1):1-20. doi: 105935/abc20135010. 2. Castro PS, Oliveira FL. Prevention of atherosclerosis and drug treatment of high-risk lipid abnormalities in children and adolescents. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2009;85(1):6-14. doi:10.2223/JPED.1852. 3. Schoenhagen P, Tuzcu EM. Atherosclerosis imaging in progression/ regression trials: surrogate marker or direct window into the atherosclerotic disease process? Arq Bras Cardiol. 2008;91(6):385-98. PMID: 19142366. 4. Bloedon LT, Szapary PO. Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk. Nutr Rev. 2004;62(1):18-27. PMID: 14995053. 5. Kasote DM. Flaxseed phenolics as natural antioxidants. Int Food Res J. 2013;20(1):27-34. 6. Prasad K. Flaxseed and cardiovascular health. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2009;54(5):369-77. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0b013e3181af04e5. 7. Padilha PC, Pinheiro RL. O papel dos alimentos funcionais na prevenção e controle do câncer de mama. Rev Bras Cancerol. 2004;50(3):251-60. 8. Prim CR, Baroncini LA, Précoma LB, Caron PH, Winter G, Poletti MO, et al. Effects of linseed consumption for a short period of time on lipid profile and atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits fed a hypercholesterolaemic diet. Br J Nutr. 2012;107(5):660-4. doi: 10.1017/ S0007114511003539. 9. Précoma DB, Noronha L, Moura AV, Yamada AS, Knopfholz J, Dusilek CL, et al. Vascular radiolesion as a deleterious effect of high-dose-rate intraarterial brachytherapy with samarium-153 in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2006;87(4):512-9. PMID: 17128322. 10. Alessi A, França Neto OR, Brofman PR, Camila Prim C, Noronha L, Kuenzer RF, et al. Use of rosiglitazone before and after vascular injury in hypercholesterolemic rabbits: assessment of neointimal formation. Thromb J. 2008;6:12. doi: 10.1186/1477-9560-6-12. 11. Martins F, Campos SH, Pagan UL, Martinez PF, Okoshi K, Okoshi MP, et al. High-fat diet promotes cardiac remodeling in an experimental model of obesity. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2015;105(5):479-86. doi: 10.5935/abc.20150095. References Martins et al. Flaxseed ReducesTNF-α Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2018;31(2)114-122 Original Article Conclusion The results of this study are aligned with others in the literature and showed a decreased development of atherosclerosis in the group fed a functional diet. The results obtained in the flaxseed group showed significant changes in serum TG and decreased TNF- α levels on immunohistochemical analysis. These findings corroborate observations from previous studies that have shown flaxseed as having a strong tendency to act effectively in reducing TNF- α levels, thus preventing injury and development of atherosclerotic plaques in the intima of coronary arteries. However, several differences may arise when changes are made to the experiment or study protocol, so it we suggest that a larger number of studies should be conducted directly comparing these functional seeds. Acknowledgments We are thankful to Jasmine Alimentos Ltda. (Curitiba, PR, Brazil) for donating the flaxseed used in the study. We are alsograteful for themedical students (Pontifical Catholic Universityof Paraná) CarlosHumbertoGuilmanTanizawa, BrunoCarnevalli,AlexandredaSilvaPhaco Jr., andEduardo Hubbe Buss for their assistance in feeding the animals. Author contributions Conception and design of the research: Martins MLS, Lima ABR, Champoski AF, Précoma L, Precoma DB. Acquisitionof data:MartinsMLS, LimaABR, TanizawaC. Analysis and interpretation of the data: Martins MLS, Champoski AF, Pereira PC, Martins F, Precoma DB. Statistical analysis: Martins MLS, Campelo P. Obtaining financing: Martins MLS, Lima ABR, Pereira PC. Writing of the manuscript: Martins MLS, Martins F. Critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content: Martins MLS, Lima ABR, Martins F, Campelo P, Souza LCG. Supervision / as the major investigador: Precoma DB. Potential Conflict of Interest No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported. Sources of Funding There were no external funding sources for this study. Study Association This article is part of the thesis of master submitted by Maynara Leonardi Schuh Martins, from Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná. Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná under the protocol number 720-2012. All the procedures in this study were in accordance with the 1975 Helsinki Declaration, updated in 2013. Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.