Diabetes is a complication which occurring during gestation might substantially influence the development of offspring during fetal life and postnatally. Flaxseed is a source of omega-3, that the appropriate supply during gestation and lactation are determinant for a suitable perinatal growth and development. The present study aimed to assess beneficial effects of the use of flaxseed flour during pregnancy and lactation on body development from birth to weaning of offspring from diabetic mothers. Methods: twelve rats from a total of eighteen were induced to diabetes by high-fat diet during four weeks, also receiving one lower dose of streptozotocin. After confirmation of diabetes (glucose>300mg/dL), they were mated and when pregnancy was confirmed, they were divided in 3 groups: high-fat group (HFG), high-fat flaxseed flour group (HFFFG) and control group (CG), receiving high-fat diet, high-fat diet added flaxseed flour and control diet, respectively. They were fed this way during whole gestation and lactation. The body development of offspring was measured weekly since the first day after birth until weaning. Results: At birth, the average body mass of offspring from diabetics mothers who received only high-fat diet was 23,6% lighter than body mass of offspring from non-diabetics mothers (p<0,05), while the animals from diabetic mothers who consumed flaxseed flour during pregnancy and lactation showed the same body mass than the control group. During all experiment HFFFG group showed decreased body mass (about 20%, p<0,05) in comparison with control group. Conclusion: The treatment with flaxseed flour was capable of avoiding lower birth weight in offspring from diabetic mothers. However, the consumption of flaxseed flour by mothers during lactation yielded decrease offspring weight at weaning.

La diabetes es una complicación que ocurre durante la gestación puede influir sustancialmente el desarrollo de las crías durante la vida fetal y postnatal. La linaza es una fuente de ácidos grasos omega-3, que la oferta apropiado durante la gestación y lactancia son determinantes para un adecuados crecimiento y desarrollo perinatal. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar los efectos beneficiosos del uso de la harina de linaza durante el embarazo y la lactancia en el desarrollo corporal desde el nacimiento hasta el destete de las crías de madres diabéticas. Métodos: Los doce ratas, de un total de dieciocho fueron inducidas a la diabetes con dieta alta en grasas durante cuatro semanas también recibir una dosis reducida de estreptozotocina. Después de la confirmación de la diabetes (glucosa> 300mg/dL), que fueron apareadas y cuando se confirmó el embarazo, fueron divididos en 3 grupos: grupo de alto contenido de grasa (HFG), grupo de alto contenido de grasa con harina de linaza (HFFFG) y grupo control (GC ), recibiendo la dieta alta en grasas, dieta alta en grasa añadida harina de linaza y dieta control, respectivamente. Fueron alimentados de esta manera durante toda la gestación y la lactancia. El el desarrollo corporal de las crías se midió semanalmente desde el primer día después de su nacimiento hasta el destete. Resultados: En el nacimiento, la masa corporal medio de las crías de madres diabéticas que recibieron sólo la dieta rica en grasas era 23,6% más ligero que la masa corporal de las crías de los no diabéticos madres (p <0,05), mientras que los animales de la diabetes madres que consumieron la harina linaza durante el embarazo y la lactancia mostraron la misma masa corporal que el grupo control. Durante todo el grupo HFFFG experimento mostró masa corporal disminuido (20%, p <0,05) en comparación con el grupo control. Conclusión: El tratamiento con harina linaza fue capaz de evitar bajo peso al nacer en los hijos de madres diabéticas. Sin embargo, el consumo de harina de linaza por las madres durante la lactancia cedió disminuir el peso crías al destete.

A linhaça (Linum usitatissimum) é uma semente oleaginosa que tem sido estudada por seus efeitos benéficos à saúde. É considerada um alimento funcional, pelo fato de ser uma fonte natural de fitoquímicos, e por conter o ácido graxo α-linolênico (C18:3 n-3), que pode ser metabolicamente convertido nos ácidos docosaexahenóico (C22:6 n-3) e eicosapentaenóico (C20:5 n-3), sendo o primeiro essencial para o desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso central. Durante o crescimento do cérebro, há uma grande incorporação do ácido docosaexahenóico, que tem papel importante na formação de suas membranas celulares. Diante disto, esta comunicação visa a abordar os prováveis mecanismos pelos quais o ácido docosaexahenóico, proveniente do ácido α-linolênico presente abundantemente na semente de linhaça, interfere na formação da bainha de mielina, assim como relatar a técnica mais adequada para visualização desta bainha.

Flaxseed is an oily seed that has been studied for its beneficial health effects. It is considered a functional food because it is a natural source of phytochemicals and contain the fatty acid α-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) that can be metabolically converted into docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 n-3). The former is essential for the development of the central nervous system. During brain growth, there is a great incorporation of docosahexaenoic acid which plays in important role in the formation of cell membranes. This communication intended to address the likely mechanisms by which docosahexaenoic acid originating from α-linolenic acid, present in abundance in flaxseed, interferes in the formation of the myelin sheath and report the best method to see this structure.

The protein quality ofaflaxseed diet was evaluated by biological methods. Forty-eight recently weaned male Wis-tar rats with 21 days oflife and average weight of 42 g were randomly divided in 4 groups (n=12) and werefed, respectively, with a diet based onflaxseed added with casein (flaxseed group), casein alone (control group), casein with bigger concentration ofoil andfibers to be compared to the flaxseed diet (modified control group) and a diet free ofprotein (non protein group). Animal weight,food and protein consumption were registered every other day to obtain the valúes for the Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), Food Efflciency Ratio and Net Protein Ratio (NPR). At the end ofthe experiment, the nutritional valué ofthe flaxseed diet was inside the reference valúes for protein quality; however, it was not equivalent to the casein diet.

La calidad proteica de una dieta a base de linaza fue evaluada por medio de métodos biológicos. Fueron usados 48 Rattus norvegicus, Wistar, machos, con 21 días de vida, recién destetadas y con peso promedio de 42g. Los animales fueron divididos en 4 grupos (n=12) que recibieron, respectivamente, dieta a base de linaza adicionada de caseína, caseína, caseína con mayor concentración de aceite y fibras para equipararse a la dieta de linaza y dieta libre de proteína. Cada dos días fueron registrados el peso animal, el consumo de alimento y de proteína para aplicación de los métodos de evaluación biológica Razón de Eficiencia Proteica (PER), Coeficiente de Eficiencia Alimentaria (CEA) y Razón Proteica Neta (NPR). Al final del experimento, el valor nutricional de la dieta de linaza estuvo dentro de los valores de referencia de calidad proteica, pero no fue equivalente al de la dieta a base de caseína.