Background Few studies have been done on the effect of flaxseed-oil supplementation on metabolic syndrome (MetS) components from the viewpoint of serum fatty acids.
Methods A12-month longitudinal study was conducted from November 2009 to December 2010. Study participants were 4 male and 6 female workers (aged 48.1±10.4 yrs.), who visited a clinic for a health check-up. They were assigned to intermittent flaxseed-oil supplementation (α-linolenic acid 2.14g/day) for 2-month periods; from baseline to 2 months and from 6 to 8 months with no supplementation for each subsequent 4-month period. Optimization of their total energy intake(1,800±150 kcal/day) based on individual clinical status and physical activity (2.5 Ex/day) was maintained until 12 months. Clinical data and dietary intake variables were analyzed at baseline, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 months.
Results Two months after baseline, serum docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) had significantly increased (p <0.05). After 6 months, 4 months after the end of the initial supplementation, arachidonic acid (AA) had significantly increased (p <0.01). After 8 months, there was a significant increase in DHA similar to the one at 2 months (p <0.01). After 12 months, there was a significant increase in AA similar to the one at 6 months (p <0.01). Among MetS criteria, BW, BMI, systolic BP (p <0.01 each) and diastolic BP (p <0.05) had significantly decreased after 2 months of flaxseed-oil supplementation. HbA1c had significantly decreased after 8 months (p <0.01). Dietary energy intake was maintained at the same level as at 2 months after baseline.
Conclusion This study showed that intermittent flaxseed-oil supplementation brought about increases in serum DHA levels as well as effects in MetS risk factors.
