Dietary flaxseed oil improved western-type diet-induced atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein-E knockout mice

•Flaxseed oil (FO) improved atherosclerosis (AS) in apolipoprotein-E knockout mice.•Lipid metabolism regulation may be one of mechanisms by which FO prevented AS.•Alleviated effect of FO on AS was associated with oxidative stress reduction.•FO protected against AS by inhibiting system inflammation response.