| Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of ischemic heart disease. It is a chronic disease preceded by endothelial cell dysfunction and triggered by certain risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish have been shown to reduce atherogenesis and improve vascular function in the presence of hypercholesterolemia. Flaxseed is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and lignans, which are reported to possess anti-atherogenic properties. It is unclear, however, if dietary supplementation with flaxseed would exhibit the same effect as fish oils. We hypothesized that daily dietary supplementation with flaxseed would preserve vascular function and reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation in the presence of hypercholesterolemia. We examined the effects of dietary flaxseed supplementation on aortic function and plaque formation in male New Zealand White rabbits +/- a high cholesterol diet. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
