Flaxseed

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Flaxseed

• Sara Hanson
• NUTR 547-Nutrition Update
• Summer 2006

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Learning Objectives

• Identify health claims for flaxseed
• List the main substance in Flaxseed which may
  decrease risks for CVD
• Describe the main interactions flaxseed may have
  with supplements
• Name the upper tolerable limit for flaxseed
  powder
• Describe the conclusion from the cardioprotective
  study

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Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil

• Health Claims
• Laxative
• Breast Cancer Prevention
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol and Triglycerides

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Flaxseed History (Linum usitatissimum)

• First cultivated 6000 BC in Eastern Turkey
• Plant fiber used to make linen cloth
• Throughout history
• Primarily used as a laxative.
• Linseed oil (flaxseed oil) used for drying agent
  in paint and varnish
• Ingredient in animal feed and fertilizer
• In 1999, sales for dietary use of flaxseed
  increased by 177 after reported health benefits

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Linum usitatissimum
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Composition

• Golden yellow to reddish brown flat seeds
• Whole seed, ground seed (powder or meal), or
  flaxseed oil
• Whole Flaxseed
• 41 FAT, 28 dietary fiber, 21 PRO, and 3 CHO
• Good source of magnesium, potassium, zinc, and B
  vitamins
• Soluble (25) and insoluble fiber (75)
• Flaxseed Oil
• 73 PUFA, 18 MUFA, 9 SFA
• Richest Source of Omega 3 fatty acid, ALA
• 55 of total fatty acids
• Richest source of phytoestrogen called lignans
• possible use in breast cancer prevention

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Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

• Refers to the class of diseases that involve the
  heart and/or blood vessels (arteries and veins)
• Technically refers to any disease that affects
  the cardiovascular system usually related to
  atherosclerosis
• HTN, stroke, CHD, rheumatic heart disease,
  congestive heart disease, etc

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CVD Prevalence

• The Leading cause of mortality in the U.S
• 61 Million Americans have CVD
• African American (40 men women)
• Caucasian (30 men, 27 women)
• Mexican American (29 men, 27 women)

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CVD and Flaxseed

• Incorporation of functional foods into the diet
  may reduce risk of CVD
• Nuts, fish, soy, flaxseed
• Functional foods are foods that have health
  benefits beyond the nutrients they contain 
• Flaxseed is considered a functional food
• Contains a-linolenic acid (ALA), soluble fiber,
  and lignans
• A-linolenic acid is the biologic precursor to ?-3
  fatty acids

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A-linolenic acid (ALA)

• ALA (C183 ?-3)
• ALA ? EPA (C205 ?-3) and ?DHA (C226 ?-3)
• EPA and DHA
• decrease platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction,
  and thrombosis
• Proven cardioprotective properties

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ALA ? EPA and DHA
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Food/Supplement Interactions

• Whole flaxseeds decrease absorption of vitamins
  and supplements by mouth
• Take one hour before or two hours after flaxseed
• Caution with mood altering herbs
• St Johns Wort, kava, valerian
• Caution with blood pressure lowering herbs or
  supplements
• black cohosh, calendula, California poppy,
  coleus, eucalyptus oil, ginger, tumeric
• Caution with other laxatives
• Aloe, black root, butternut bark, psyllium,
  dandelion
• Caution with other blood thinners
• Alfalfa, ginseng, black cohosh, ginger, green
  tea, licorice root, Vit E, Warfarin

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Dosage Recommendations

• Supplement available in liquid, capsule, or
  powder form
• 1 Tbsp oil daily 7 grams ALA, 2 grams linoleic
  acid
• ALA is generally regarded as safe in doses up to
  3 g/day
• Dont exceed 45g for Flaxseed powder
• laxative effect
• Oil and Powder unstable and will degrade
• Add to hot foods after cooking
• must be refrigerated (prevent O2 light)

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Flaxseed Oil Increases the Plasma Concentrations
of Cardioprotective (n-3) FattyAcids in Humans
The Journal of Nutrition (2006) 83

• Objective
• Study the effect of flaxseed oil in increasing
  n-3 fatty acids in minority group w/ chronic
  disease
• Study Design
• Randomized, double-blind placebo trial
• Subjects
• 56 patients (49 women, 7 men).
• 80 African American, 87 w/ mean age of 51yo,
  Mean BMI of 37.4
• 55 Hypertension, 12 Type 2 DM
• Excluded participants using MVI, antioxidants,
  and fish oil or (n-3) fatty acid supplements.

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Flaxseed Oil Increases the Plasma Concentrations
of Cardioprotective (n-3) FattyAcids in
HumansThe Journal of Nutrition (2006) 83

• Methods
• Intervention Group 3.0g ALA/d (5.2g Flaxseed
  Oil) Capsules
• Control Group 5.2 g/d olive oil/d as capsules
• Both instructed to follow AHA diet
• Outcomes Measured
• Plasma Fatty Acid Levels were measured at 12 and
  26 weeks
• Pills counted to check compliance

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Flaxseed Oil Increases the Plasma Concentrations
of Cardioprotective (n-3) FattyAcids in Humans
The Journal of Nutrition (2006) 83

• Results
• Intervention Group
• Plasma ALA conc. increased by 70
• Plasma EPA increased by 60
• Plasma DPA increased by 34
• (n-6)(n-3) ratio decreased significantly
• Control Group
• ALA unaffected
• EPA and DPA not significant
• (n-6)(n-3) ratio not significant

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Results From 0-26 Weeks Intervention (Flax) vs.
Placebo (Olive)
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Flaxseed Oil Increases the Plasma Concentrations
of Cardioprotective (n-3) FattyAcids in
HumansThe Journal of Nutrition (2006) 83

• Discussion and Conclusion
• Plasma EPA levels can be increased by providing
  dietary sources of precursor, ALA at a reasonable
  dose of ALA (3g/d)
• Diets that are rich in nuts, cereals, oils, and
  fortified breads may achieve 2-3g of ALA without
  using dietary supplements

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The effect of Flaxseed supplementation in
processed foods on serum fatty acids Euro.
Journal of Clinical Nut. (2002) 56

• Objective
• Study the effects of flaxseed as part of daily
  diet on serum lipids and fatty acids
• Study Design
• Randomized, double-blind, cross-over study
• Subjects
• 83 people (62 women w/ mean age of 42.6y, 18 men
  w/ mean age of 45.6 y)
• 22 smokers

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The effect of Flaxseed supplementation in
processed foods on serum fatty acids Euro.
Journal of Clinical Nut. (2002) 56

• Methods
• Test food prepared by major Finnish Food Company,
  served to employees at lunch
• Intervention Group - Flaxseed supplemented meals
  (Diet A). Ground Flaxseed (1.3 g/100g) and
  flaxseed oil (5 g/100g).
• Control Group - No Flaxseed (Diet B)

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The effect of Flaxseed supplementation in
processed foods on serum fatty acids Euro.
Journal of Clinical Nut. (2002) 56

• Results
• Intervention Group
• ALA, EPA, DPA significantly increased in serum
  lipids
• Serum enterolactone significantly increased
• Control Group
• Not significant

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The effect of Flaxseed supplementation in
processed foods on serum fatty acids Euro.
Journal of Clinical Nut. (2002) 56

• Results and Discussion
• The flaxseed supplemented test food significantly
  increased ALA, EPA, and DPA in serum lipids
• The amount of ALA in flaxseed oil is greater than
  any other vegetable oil with processed foods
  generally low in PUFAs.
• Flaxseed oil helped increased ratio between n-3
  and n-6 fatty acids. May reduce risk of Cancer
  and CHD

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Summary

• It is unclear whether there is any benefit from
  flaxseed for CVD
• Studies have been small with flaws in their
  designs
• The use of plant based ?-3 fatty acid, ALA may be
  an important alternative for providing optimal
  EPA and DHA concentrations and as a alternative
  to fish