Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. 4 weeks of daily consumption of 9 grams of flaxseed oil reduced inflammation in 18 non-smoking men.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, are the first and third leading causes of death for both men and women in the United States. They account for 1 in 3 of all U.S. deaths and are expected to cost our healthcare system $473 billion in 2009. If all major types of cardiovascular disease were eliminated, U.S. life expectancy would increase by nearly 7 years (1).
One of the processes thought to accelerate the onset of atherosclerosis is the damage of fats in our body (called “lipid peroxidation”) through oxidative stress and free radicals (2). The damage of fats like arachidonic acid (AA) results in the formation of F2-isoprostanes (3) shown to be elevated in both animals and humans exposed to high levels of oxidative stress (2). Research has shown that taking fish oil can help lower F2-isoprostane urine levels by as much as 27%, thereby limiting oxidative damage to cells (4).
Now a new study (5) has suggested that flaxseed, a source of plant-based omega-3 fats. may benefit heart health by managing levels of F2-isoprostanes. In the study, thirty-six nonsmoking men aged 20–65 years were given 9 grams per day of either flaxseed oil or placebo (olive oil) for 4 weeks. The researchers collected both urine and blood samples before and after the study to measure for F2-isoprostanes.
To the researchers surprise, F2-phytoprostane levels in the flaxseed group did not differ significantly compared to the placebo group in either the blood (5% lower – 1.72 vs 1.81 nanomoles/L) or the urine (2.5% higher – 10.30 vs. 10.04 nmol/L). What was significantly increased in the flaxseed group, however, was the blood level of F1-phytoprostane (23% higher – 5.7 vs 4.4 nmol/L).
F1-phytoprostanes are found in all plants and are in high concentrations in plant pollens (7), and may benefit health through its effect on the immune system. A 2005 study found F1-phytoprostanes to play an important in inflammation health, specifically by maintaining healthy levels of an inflammatory protein called interleukin-12 (8) that is involved the immune system and allergic reactions.
For the researchers, “The possibility exists that increased [flaxseed] intake may [decrease] inflammatory responses by forming F1-phytoprostanes” and that “Further studies are required to study the bioavailability and physiological effects of the F1-phytoprostanes.”
Source: Barden, Anne E., et al. “Flaxseed oil supplementation increases plasma F1-phytoprostanes in healthy men.” The Journal of nutrition 139.10 (2009): 1890-1895.
© 2009 American Society for Nutrition.
* Abstractors note: Olive oil cannot be assumed to be inert, and including another placebo could have been helpful.
Posted November 10, 2009
References:
- Cardiovascular Disease at a Glance” posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- Niki E, Yoshida Y, Saito Y, Noguchi N. Lipid peroxidation: mechanisms, inhibition and biological effects. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005;338:668–76.
- Jahn U, Galano JM, Durand T. Beyond prostaglandins: chemistry and biology of cyclic oxygenated metabolites from polyunsaturated fatty acids. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2008;47:5894–955.
- Mori TA. Effect of v 3 fatty acids on oxidative stress in humans: GCMS measurement of urinary F-isoprostane excretion. Redox Rep. 2000;5: 45–
- Barden AE. Flaxseed Oil Supplementation Increases Plasma F1-Phytoprostanes in Healthy Men. J Nutr 2009; 139; 1890-1895.
- Bloedon LT. Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk. Nutr Rev. 2004 Jan;62(1):18-27.
- Imbusch R, Mueller MJ. Formation of isoprostane F-l like compounds (phytoprostanes F from a -l inolenic acid in plants. Free Radic Biol Med. 2000;28:720–6.
- Traidl-Hoff mann C, Mariani V, Hochrein H, Karg K, Wagner H, Ring J, Mueller MJ, Jakob T, Behrendt H. Pollen-associated phytoprostanes inhibit dendritic cell interleukin- 12 production and augment T-helper type 2 cell polarization . J Exp Med. 2005;201:62 7–35.
