Flaxseed, called linseed in some countries, is a good source of dietary fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and lignans. Each of these components may contribute to the health effects of eating flaxseed, but flaxseed oil contains no fiber and very little lignan.‡
Studies have shown that flaxseed oil has potential heart and cardiovascular benefits through supporting healthy blood pressure levels an supporting the elasticity of blood vessels.‡
Flaxseed oil may also support a healthy digestive system through promoting regularity, treating constipation, and reducing diarrhea.‡
Studies have also shown that flaxseed oil supports healthy levels of inflammation as determined through a reduction of C-reactive protein, an inflammation marker.‡
Although it is not suitable for cooking, flaxseed oil (unlike fish oil) can be used in salads. Some doctors recommend that people use 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of flaxseed oil per day as a supplement in salads or on vegetables to ensure a supply of essential fatty acids. Some conversion of alpha linolenic acid (ALA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) does occur, and this conversion can be increased by restricting the intake of other vegetable oils.
For those who wish to replace fish oil with flaxseed oil, research suggests taking up to ten times as much ALA as EPA. Typically, this means 7.2 grams of flaxseed oil equals 1 gram of fish oil. However, even if taken in such high amounts, flaxseed oil may not have the same effects
as fish oil. But, flaxseed oil will not cause a fishy-smelling burp (a possible side effect of fish oil).‡
Warning: If you are pregnant or lactating woman, have any health conditions, or are taking any medication, make sure to consult your healthcare provider prior to use.
‡ These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Hanif Palla A, Gilani AH. Dual effectiveness of Flaxseed in constipation and diarrhea: Possible mechanism. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Jul 1;169:60-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.03.064. Epub 2015 Apr 15. PMID: 25889554.
Amjad S, Ahmad N, Afreen A, Ashraf S, Ahmed Z. Efficacy of Flaxseed and Fish Oils on Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis. J Pak Med Assoc. 2022 Jan;72(1):22-26. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.02-290. PMID: 35099432.
Kaithwas G, Majumdar DK. Effect of L. usitatissimum (Flaxseed/Linseed) Fixed Oil against Distinct Phases of Inflammation. ISRN Inflamm. 2013 Feb 17;2013:735158. doi: 10.1155/2013/735158. PMID: 24049663; PMCID: PMC3767321.
Balk EM, Lichtenstein AH, Chung M et al. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on serum markers of cardiovascular disease risk: A systematic review. Atherosclerosis. 2006 Nov;189(1):19-30.
Angerer P, von Schacky C. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the cardiovascular system. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2000;11(1):57-63.
Goldberg RJ, Katz J. A meta-analysis of the analgesic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for inflammatory joint pain. Pain. 2007 Feb 28;
Goyal A, Sharma V, Upadhyay N, Gill S, Sihag M. Flax and flaxseed oil: an ancient medicine & modern functional food. J Food Sci Technol. 2014;51(9):1633-53. doi:10.1007/s13197-013-1247-9
Sacks FM, Lichtenstein AH, Wu JHY, et al. Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2017;136(3):e1-e23. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000510
Mahmudiono, T., Jasim, S. A., Karim, Y. S., Bokov, D. O., Abdelbasset, W. K., Akhmedov, K. S., Yasin, G., Thangavelu, L., Mustafa, Y. F., Shoukat, S., Najm, M. A. A., & Amraei, M. (2022). The effect of flaxseed oil consumtion on blood pressure among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Phytotherapy Research, 36( 10), 3766– 3773. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7566
Ren GY, Chen CY, Chen GC, Chen WG, Pan A, Pan CW, Zhang YH, Qin LQ, Chen LH. Effect of Flaxseed Intervention on Inflammatory Marker C-Reactive Protein: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2016 Mar 4;8(3):136. doi: 10.3390/nu8030136. PMID: 26959052; PMCID: PMC4808865.
Rahimlou M, Jahromi NB, Hasanyani N, Ahmadi AR. Effects of Flaxseed Interventions on Circulating Inflammatory Biomarkers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Adv Nutr. 2019 Nov 1;10(6):1108-1119. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmz048. PMID: 31115436; PMCID: PMC6855939.
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