Effects of a flaxseed mixture and plant oils rich in α-linolenic acid on the adenoma formation in multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min) mice

Flaxseed is a dietary source of possible chemopreventive compounds such as lignans and α-linolenic acid (ALA). To study the effects of a flaxseed mixture on adenoma formation in multiple intestinal neoplasia mice, the mice were fed a diet containing 2·7 % flaxseed, 4·5 % fibre and 3·7 % ALA. To elucidate the effect of oils of the mixture we also composed a diet without flaxseed but with the same oil composition. The median number of adenomas in the small intestine was fifty-four for the control group, and thirty-seven (P=0·023) and forty-two (P=0·095) for flaxseed and oil groups, respectively. Compared with controls (1·2 mm), the adenoma size was smaller in the flaxseed (0·9 mm; P=0·002) and oil (1·0 mm; P=0·012) groups. Both diets changed the proportions of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in the colonic mucosa. Membrane β-catenin and protein kinase C (PKC)-ζ levels were reduced in the adenoma v. mucosa (P