Evaluation of attenuative potential of flaxseeds in high-calorie, high-fat, and fructose-induced metabolic syndrome indicators in Wistar rats without dietary reversal

The study investigates the effects of flaxseed extract on high-calorie, high-fat, and fructose-fed metabolic syndrome parameters in male Wistar rats without diet reversal, encouraged by increasing western diet-induced obesity-associated metabolic syndrome incidence and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of flaxseeds. Fifty-six male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (n = 8/group); the first group (normal controls) received a normal diet, and the second group (flaxseed controls) received a normal diet and flaxseed extract (1.0 g/kg body weight/day) orally for 16 weeks. The third group (metabolic syndrome controls) received a high-calorie, high-fat diet and fructose for 16 weeks, with induction observed at 8 weeks. The fourth and fifth groups received a high-calorie, high-fat diet and fructose for 16 weeks with flaxseed extract initiated after 8 weeks with doses of 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg body weight/ day (post-exposure groups). The sixth and seventh groups received a high-calorie, high-fat diet and fructose with flaxseed extract doses of 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg body weight/day for 16 weeks (co-exposure groups). High-dose flaxseed extract reduces body weight, blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides (TAGs), uric acid, and total oxidant status while increasing high-density lipoprotein. Liver histopathology indicates that high-dose flaxseed extract co-exposure protects against fructose-induced hepatic steatosis. Thus, without dietary alterations, flaxseeds lower blood sugar, cholesterol, TAG and improve hepatic steatosis, attenuating metabolic syndrome markers induced by high-calorie, high-fat, and fructose diets.