Effect of flaxseed on serum lipid profile and expression of NPC1L1, ABCG5 and ABCG8 genes in the intestine of diabetic rat

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of flaxseed on gene expression of intestinal transporters: Niemann-Pick C1 like 1 (NPC1L1), ATP-cassette binding proteins G5 (ABCG5) and G8 (ABCG8). Animals were randomly divided into 3 groups 8 rats in each group: group1; normal diet, group2; diabetic rats, and group3; diabetic rats + 4% (w/w) flaxseed. After one-month rats were sacrificed, blood was collected; lipid profiles were determined enzymatically, and mRNA levels were determined by RT-PCR. Compared to diabetic rats, flaxseed significantly decreased total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and atherogenic index (all P<0.05). Intestinal NPC1L1 mRNA was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in flaxseed group treatment compared with diabetic animals. Intestinal ABCG5 and ABCG8 mRNAs were significantly increased (P<0.001) in flaxseed group treatment compared with diabetic animals. In conclusion, flaxseed significantly reduced lipid profile and atherogenic index, as compared with the diabetic group. Flaxseed treatment also led to down-regulation of NPC1L1 mRNA and up-regulation of ABCG5 and ABCG8 mRNAs in the intestine of rats.