Flax Seed: A Natural Alternative to Statins?

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By E. Nelson (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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Adding to the uncertainty, a Greek study found a positive effect for a 12-week regimen of flax seed oil in men with abnormal lipoprotein metabolism, and a Brazilian study suggested a temporary benefit for flax seed flour fed to obese patients over a two-week period. But a study in Pennsylvania found no benefit for ground flax seed-containing baked products among men and women with high levels of cholesterol in their blood. Similarly, Colorado researchers found no significant changes in C-reactive protein and other inflammatory factors after an 8-week dietary intervention of flaxseed oil capsule in healthy but obese adults.

Why the seemingly contradictory results? Dramatically different patient groups with a range of different preconditions and trial lengths ranging from two weeks to one year might be valid explanations. So might something as simple as how flax seed is prepared. John Schutt, president of Great Plains Flax, explains that once flax seeds are ground or pressed, the seeds' essential oils can oxidize and quickly lose their health benefits. The solution, he says, can be as easy as grinding just enough seeds for weekly use and storing the remaining ground flax in an air-tight container in a freezer, ensuring that the seeds' essential oils remain relatively stable. Mr. Schutt also emphasized that unground whole seeds will pass through the digestive tract relatively undigested. Thus grinding the seed is critical if one wants to receive the full health benefits of flaxseed.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute already suggests adding flax seeds, walnuts and canola oil to daily meal plans. At the very least, the handful of small trials suggest that much more research is needed to explore the potential role of flax seed in preventing cardiovascular disease. Specifically, a properly controlled study that enrolls a significant number of older but healthy patients with elevated C-reactive protein levels, lasts months rather than weeks, includes a stable preparation of flax seed, and directly measures the effect on heart disease risk would provide a more definitive answer. To date, no such trial has yet been published.

In the meantime, Schutt has received dozens of anecdotal testimonials on his website about the cholesterol-lowering and heart-protecting benefits of flax seed. As a major cause of death and disability in the United States, he says, "heart disease will affect millions of people and cost billions in medical expenses for 2009 alone."

Whether those costs increase exponentially may depend not only on what researchers discover about preventive strategies within the next few years, but also on which preventive strategies they receive funding to actually study.

[ Nothing contained within this article is intended to be or is to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Remember that supplements such as flaxseed could potentially interfere with other ongoing medications or treatments. Be sure to talk with your health care provider about adding flax to your diet and any change in your current medical treatment should be first consulted with and approved by your physician or other health care professional. ]

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Eric Nelson is freelance writer, an editor at OpEdNews, and a spiritual progressive from Minnesota who has become more politically active. The reasons for this should be obvious to most; rising poverty, a broken health care system, and a growing (more...)

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