ARS | Publication request: DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF DIETARY FLAXSEED PROTEIN AND SOY PROTEIN ON PLASMA TRIGLYCERIDE AND URIC ACID LEVELS IN ANIMAL MODELS

Submitted to: Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 22, 2002
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: In this study we report the effect of feeding diets containing either flaxseed meal or soy protein on lipid parameters and uric acid which are recognized independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. We used two animal models, F344 rats and SHR/N-cp rats. F344 rat is normolipidemic while SHR/N-cp rat is hyperlipidemic. We fed AIN 93 diet to all rats with different sources of protein. One group was fed 20% casein, second group 20% soy protein and third group 20% flaxseed meal. In both rat models we observed that flaxseed meal significantly decreased plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. The effect of soy protein on lipids was not as striking as that of flaxseed meal. Flaxseed meal also lowered uric acid in F344 rats and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in SHR/N-cp rats. Flaxseed meal also lowered uric acid in F344 rats and BUN in SHR/N-cp rats. These data are helpful to other scientists, nutritionists, dietitians, and food processing industry which process soybean and flaxseed.

Technical Abstract: The effect of dietary soy protein and flaxseed meal on metabolic parameters was studied in two animal models, F344 rats with normal lipid levels and obese SHR/N-cp rats with elevated levels of cholesterol and triglyceride. The rats were fed AIN 93 diet differing only in the source of protein. The rats were fed either 20% casein, 20% soy protein or 20% flaxseed meal. Plasma was analyzed for cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and total protein. In both strains of rats, flaxseed meal significantly decreased plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. The effect of soy protein on lipids was not as striking as that of flaxseed meal. Flaxseed meal also lowered uric acid in F344 rats and BUN in SHR/N-cp rats. Since cholesterol, triglyceride and uric acid are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disorders, our data show that both flaxseed meal and soy protein may have beneficial effects. Which chemical constituent(s) of flaxseed meal or soybean is (are) responsible for the beneficial effects need to be identified.