The Health Benefits of Flaxseed Oil

by | Nov 12, 2024 | Fats and Oils - General

Written by Harold Oster, MD. Flaxseed oil, used for centuries as a medicine, contains omega-3 fatty acids and several bioactive compounds, giving it significant health benefits.

Flaxseed oil, also called linseed oil, has been used for household tasks and medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. It has a high concentration of a-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid responsible for many of flaxseed oil’s metabolic effects1. In humans, ALA is converted to the more active omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Other compounds in flaxseed oil, including tocopherols, carotenoids, phytosterols, flavonoids, and polyphenols, possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate flaxseed’s benefits for chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other conditions.

Flaxseed’s Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects

Chronic inflammation and the oxidative stress that follows can lead to the onset of numerous conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, neurological disease, and cancer2. Flaxseed oil, by scavenging free radicals, decreases oxidative stress. In addition, by raising levels of various prostaglandins and inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines, ALA has a significant anti-inflammatory effect1.

Flaxseed’s Benefits on Cardiovascular Disease

Flaxseed oil was found to improve serum lipids in a meta-analysis of controlled studies, decreasing total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides3. Also, flaxseed oil may reduce small, dense LDL cholesterol, a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease4. Much of the lipid benefit of flaxseed is thought to be due to the favorable effects of a-linolenic acid, but the oil’s other components may play a role. In addition to its effect on cholesterol, flaxseed oil reduces the risk of cardiac dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction5.

Flaxseed Oil and Hypertension

Hypertension is a significant risk factor for heart disease, renal disease, and stroke. A systematic review suggests that flaxseed oil and other flaxseed products may lower blood pressure, though some studies have shown no benefit. Flaxseed may lower blood pressure through its anti-inflammatory effect, which causes systemic vasodilation6.

Flaxseed Oil and Diabetes

Animal studies have shown that flaxseed may improve diabetes control by decreasing inflammation and improving the gut microbiome7. In humans, flaxseed oil may have a small benefit on diabetes control, but consuming whole flaxseeds has more of an effect8.

Flaxseed Oil and Cancer

In an in vitro study, the lipid component of flaxseed oil was shown to have inhibitory effects on cells from breast cancer, cervical cancer, leukemia, and melanoma. In the same study, the oil did not affect non-cancer cells9. Results of human studies have been inconclusive, but there is some evidence of the benefit of flaxseed and its components on breast cancer10.

Flaxseed Oil and Other Conditions

Animal studies suggest a benefit of flaxseed oil on bone loss and osteoporosis. The mechanism appears to be due to the oil’s anti-inflammatory properties11. Flaxseed supplementation also decreases platelet aggregation. This, in turn, may reduce the risk of heart disease12. Though studies on memory in humans are sparse, flaxseed oil seems to improve verbal fluency in older adults13. By decreasing inflammation, oral supplementation with flaxseed oil may reduce the symptoms of dry eye14.

Flaxseed is generally safe. Since it can affect blood sugar, blood pressure, and platelet aggregation and might interact with various medications15, it is recommended that patients discuss the regular use of flaxseed oil with their physician.

Harold Oster, MD graduated from medical school in Miami, Florida in 1992 and moved to Minnesota in 2004. After more than 25 years of practicing Internal Medicine, he recently retired. Dr. Oster is especially interested in nutrition, weight management, and disease prevention. Visit his website at haroldoster.com.

References:

  1. Al-Madhagy S, Ashmawy NS, Mamdouh A, Eldahshan OA, Farag MA. A comprehensive review of the health benefits of flaxseed oil in relation to its chemical composition and comparison with other omega-3-rich oils. European journal of medical research. Jul 18 2023;28(1):240. doi:10.1186/s40001-023-01203-6
  2. Nigam M, Mishra AP, Deb VK, et al. Evaluation of the association of chronic inflammation and cancer: Insights and implications. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. Aug 2023;164:115015. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115015
  3. Sadat Masjedi M, Mohammadi Pour P, Shokoohinia Y, Asgary S. Effects of Flaxseed on Blood Lipids in Healthy and Dyslipidemic Subjects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Curr Probl Cardiol. Jul 2022;47(7):100931. doi:10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2021.100931
  4. Kawakami Y, Yamanaka-Okumura H, Naniwa-Kuroki Y, Sakuma M, Taketani Y, Takeda E. Flaxseed oil intake reduces serum small dense low-density lipoprotein concentrations in Japanese men: a randomized, double blind, crossover study. Nutr J. Apr 21 2015;14:39. doi:10.1186/s12937-015-0023-2
  5. Parikh M, Kura B, O’Hara KA, et al. Cardioprotective Effects of Dietary Flaxseed Post-Infarction Are Associated with Changes in MicroRNA Expression. Biomolecules. Sep 8 2020;10(9)doi:10.3390/biom10091297
  6. Khalesi S, Irwin C, Schubert M. Flaxseed consumption may reduce blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. J Nutr. Apr 2015;145(4):758-65. doi:10.3945/jn.114.205302
  7. Zhu L, Sha L, Li K, et al. Dietary flaxseed oil rich in omega-3 suppresses severity of type 2 diabetes mellitus via anti-inflammation and modulating gut microbiota in rats. Lipids Health Dis. Feb 7 2020;19(1):20. doi:10.1186/s12944-019-1167-4
  8. Villarreal-Renteria AI, Herrera-Echauri DD, Rodríguez-Rocha NP, et al. Effect of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) supplementation on glycemic control and insulin resistance in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. Nov 2022;70:102852. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102852
  9. Buckner AL, Buckner CA, Montaut S, Lafrenie RM. Treatment with flaxseed oil induces apoptosis in cultured malignant cells. Heliyon. Aug 2019;5(8):e02251. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02251
  10. Mason JK, Thompson LU. Flaxseed and its lignan and oil components: can they play a role in reducing the risk of and improving the treatment of breast cancer? Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme. Jun 2014;39(6):663-78. doi:10.1139/apnm-2013-0420
  11. Batool I, Altemimi AB, Munir S, et al. Exploring Flaxseed’s potential in enhancing bone health: Unveiling osteo-protective properties. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. 2024:101018.
  12. Akrami A, Makiabadi E, Askarpour M, et al. A Comparative Study of the Effect of Flaxseed Oil and Sunflower Oil on the Coagulation Score, Selected Oxidative and Inflammatory Parameters in Metabolic Syndrome Patients. Clin Nutr Res. Jan 2020;9(1):63-72. doi:10.7762/cnr.2020.9.1.63
  13. Ogawa T, Sawane K, Ookoshi K, Kawashima R. Supplementation with Flaxseed Oil Rich in Alpha-Linolenic Acid Improves Verbal Fluency in Healthy Older Adults. Nutrients. Mar 21 2023;15(6)doi:10.3390/nu15061499
  14. Hyon J-Y, Han S-B. The protective effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids against dry eye disease: a literature review. Applied Sciences. 2021;11(10):4519.
  15. Basch E, Bent S, Collins J, et al. Flax and flaxseed oil (Linum usitatissimum): a review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. J Soc Integr Oncol. Summer 2007;5(3):92-105. doi:10.2310/7200.2007.005

 

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