Changes in Serum Fatty Acids and Effects of Metabolic Syndrome Induced by Intermittent Flaxseed-oil Supplementation

Abstract

Recently, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes have been increasing rapidly1, and improvement of MetS has become a major concern. In Western countries, several studies have been done on the general effect of supplementation in reducing MetS risk factors2,3 and on supplementation of flaxseed-oil4 rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA). Flaxseed-oil is produced from flax seeds and contains 57% ALA5 which is a precursor of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)6-8. However, few studies have been concerned with the effect of flaxseed-oil supplementation on MetS. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in serum fatty acids and the effects on risk factors of MetS due to intermittent flaxseed-oil supplementation.