Do Health Promoting Compounds of Flaxseed Attenuate Weight Gain Via Modulation of Obesity Gene Expression?

Diet-induced obesity (DIO) has been shown to increase DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) expression and DNMTs binding at obesity-associated genes. Natural compounds have the potential to reverse obesity-associated gene expression via the regulation of DNA methylation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of health promoting compounds of flaxseed on DNMTs and obesity-associated gene expression and weight gain. Sixty C57BL/6J male mice were randomly assigned into one of the following diet groups and fed for eight weeks: 45% kcal fat; 45% kcal fat+10% whole flaxseed; 45% kcal fat+6% defatted flaxseed; 45% kcal fat+4% flaxseed oil; and 16% kcal fat. DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b, leptin, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α expressions in adipose and muscle tissues were determined by real-time PCR. The health promoting compounds of flaxseed affected selected gene expression and attenuated weight gain. Further research is needed to identify the specific mechanisms modulating leptin or PPAR-α expression during DIO development.