Maternal consumption of flaxseed during lactation affects weight and hemoglobin level of offspring in rats.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of maternal flaxseed consumption during lactation on the body weight, hematological indicators and visceral fat mass of male offspring in adulthood. METHODS Sixteen female Wistar rats were divided into two groups after giving birth. During lactation the control group (CG) was fed a casein-based diet and the flaxseed group (FG) was fed a casein-based diet containing 25% flaxseed. After weaning, male offspring were fed on commercial chow until adulthood and euthanized at 170 days for blood collection and visceral fat mass assessment. RESULTS Offspring of rats in the FG had lower body weight (FG = 42.69+/-3.06 g; CG = 47.31+/-4.72 g; p = 0.036) at weaning. At 170 days, lower hemoglobin levels were observed in the FG (FG = 12.30+/-1.28 g/dL; CG = 13.88+/-0.91 g/dL; p = 0.02). There was no statistically significant difference in visceral fat mass between groups. CONCLUSIONS Maternal consumption of a flaxseed-based diet during lactation resulted in lower body weight at weaning and lower hemoglobin levels in adulthood, when compared with the control group.