Posted: Dec 5, 07
4:24am
I take organic flaxseed oil with lignans every morning. It really helps.
Here's an article that backs it up.
Effects of Flaxseed on Lipids and Bone Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women
Lucas E, Wild R, Hammond L, Khalil D, Juma S, Daggy B, Stoecker B, Arjmandi B. Flaxseed improves lipid profile without altering biomarkers of bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinolgy & Metabolism. 2002;87(4):1527-1532.
This three month study examined the effects of flaxseed supplementation on lipids and bone metabolism in post menopausal women. Flaxseed is the richest food source of lignans, a type of phytoestrogen and is being incorporated into human diets because of its health benefits. It has been reported that phytoestrogens reduce serum cholesterol. Lignans may also have estrogenic and/or anti-estrogenic and antioxidant properties. Due to the structural similarities between lignans and estrogen, the authors postulate that flaxseed may play a role in maintaining skeletal health. Estrogen is efficacious at preventing bone loss.
Thirty-six postmenopausal women (< 65 years) not on hormone replacement therapy or any prescription medications known to influence lipid or bone metabolism completed this randomized, controlled, double-blind parallel study. Subjects consumed 40 g of either ground whole flaxseed or wheat-based control regimen daily for three months. All subjects were provided with 1,000 mg elemental calcium plus 400 IU vitamin D for daily consumption. Food questionnaires and physical and gynecological examinations were conducted at the beginning and upon completion of the study. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, levels of sex hormones, and markers of bone metabolism were assessed.
Both groups had similar dietary intakes before and after the study. Consumption of flaxseed, but not wheat-based regimen, for three months resulted in a significant decrease (6%) in both serum total and non-HDL cholesterol concentrations. Flaxseed, but not wheat-based regimen, reduced serum levels of apolipoprotein A-1 and apolipoprotein B—markers of heart disease risk. This finding suggests a cardioprotective effect. There were no significant changes in measures of bone metabolism. Neither flaxseed nor wheat-based regimen produced estrogenic effects.
In this study, LDL-cholesterol was lowered by 4.7%, whereas in a previous study it was reduced by 14.7%. The authors believe that feeding subjects whole ground flaxseed, rather than incorporating it into baked goods, may have contributed to the difference. It is not clear whether all constituents of flaxseed that influence lipid metabolism are bioavailable when flaxseed is consumed in the raw form. However, this requires further investigation.
The findings of this study suggest that flaxseed consumption by postmenopausal women is effective in reducing known risk factors of coronary heart disease. Flaxseed did not exert any estrogenic properties and had no role in maintaining skeletal health.
—Heather S. Oliff, Ph.D.
American Botanical Association
