LIPIDEMIC RESPONSES IN RATS FED FLAXSEED OIL AND MEAL

In a six-week study, diets prepared with full-fat flaxseed meal (FM), defatted-FM (restored to full-fat level with a hard fat or isolated fl axseed oil [FO]), or just FO were compared for their effect on blood l ipid levels. Hypercholesterolemic rats were used as the test model. FM greatly negated the adverse effect of hard fat (hydrogenated soybean oil) on serum total cholesterol (CH) and serum non high-density-lipopr otein CH. FM also accentuated the CH-lowering effect of isolated FO. L iver CH levels were quite elevated, especially in rats fed the diet no t containing FM. Liver lipid levels ranged between 16 and 31%. Serum t riglyceride levels were in the normal range and no lowering effect due to FM or FO was observed.