Nutraceutical: Flaxseed

 

Indication: Cholesterol

 

Source: Experimental Biology Meeting, April 2010.

 

Research: Researchers studied the effects of flaxseed lignans in 90 men and women diagnosed with high cholesterol, but with no other underlying health conditions. The subjects were divided into three groups and randomly assigned to take zero grams of flaxseed lignans, 150 mg of flaxseed lignans and 300 mg of flaxseed lignans for three months.

 

Results: The results showed that consuming at least 150 mg of flaxseed lignans per day (about three tablespoons) decreased cholesterol in men, but not women, by just less than 10% over the three months that they were given the flaxseed. Researchers are puzzled as to why the lignans did not have the same effect on women in the study. They plan to study this further in upcoming trials.