QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 139/10/1890    most recent jn.109.108316v1 Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Barden, A. E. Articles by Mori, T. A. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Barden, A. E. Articles by Mori, T. A.

---

Nutrition and Disease

Flaxseed Oil Supplementation Increases Plasma F₁-Phytoprostanes in Healthy Men^1,2

³ University of Western Australia, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Royal Perth Hospital, 6001, Western Australia, Australia; ⁴ Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron UMR CNRS 5247, Université Montpellier I, Université Montpellier II, Montpellier 34093, France; and ⁵ University of Wuerzburg, Biocenter, Wuerzburg 97082, Germany

Supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been reported to reduce lipid peroxidation products formed from arachidonic acid (F₂-isoprostanes) in healthy humans, as well as in those under oxidative stress. -Linolenic acid (ALA) is a precursor to EPA and DHA; however, its conversion in humans is thought to be inefficient. ALA can also undergo free radical oxidation, forming compounds known as F₁-phytoprostanes, which are found in all plants and are in high concentrations in plant pollens. In this study, we examined the effect of ALA supplementation on plasma and urine F₁-phytoprostane and F₂-isoprostane concentrations in men. Thirty-six nonsmoking men, aged 20–65 y, were recruited from the general population and randomly allocated to consume 9 g/d of either flaxseed oil (62% ALA, 5.4 g/d) or olive oil (placebo) for 4 wk in a parallel design. At baseline and after 4 wk of supplementation, blood samples and a 24-h urine sample were collected for measurement of plasma and urinary F₁-phytoprostanes and F₂-isoprostanes and plasma fatty acids. Compared with the olive oil group, plasma phospholipid ALA was greater (P < 0.0001), as were F₁-phytoprostanes in plasma (P = 0.049) and urine (P = 0.06) in the flaxseed oil group after 4 wk supplementation. Flaxseed oil did not affect plasma or urinary F₂-isoprostanes. The greater plasma F₁-phytoprostane concentration in the flaxseed oil group most likely resulted from the increased plasma concentration of the ALA substrate and/or the F₁-phytoprostane content of the flaxseed oil. Future studies are needed to determine the physiological importance of increased plasma and urine F₁-phytoprostanes and their relevance to heart disease prevention.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: anne.barden{at}uwa.edu.au.

Manuscript received 9 April 2009. Initial review completed 5 May 2009. Revision accepted 21 July 2009.

Published online 12 August 2009.