What is Flaxseed?Natural source of ALA,Omega-3 EFAs,lignans,benefits and utility uses...

Modern Reasearch of Flaxseed.

Flaxseed Extract INCI Name Linum Usitatissimum Extract Omega-3 Flaxseed Extract Flaxseed Ext Lignans Help Weight loss Drive away Edema photo picture image 1. Flaxseed improves lipid profile without altering biomarkers of bone metabolism in postmenopausal women.

The risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis drastically increases at the onset of menopause. Phytoestrogens have been suggested to inhibit bone loss and protect the cardiovascular system, in part by improving lipid profiles.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of flaxseed, a rich source of the phytoestrogens called lignans, on lipid metabolism and biomarkers of bone turnover in postmenopausal women.

Postmenopausal women who were not on hormone replacement therapy were assigned to one of two treatment groups in a double-blind randomized study. Women were asked to consume 40 g of either ground flaxseed or wheat-based comparative control regimen daily for 3 months. In addition, all subjects received 1,000 mg calcium and 400 IU vitamin D daily.

Flaxseed supplementation lowered (P < 0.05) both serum total cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 6%, whereas the comparative control regimen had no such effect.

Flaxseed regimen reduced serum levels of both low-density- and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol by 4.7% and triglyceride by 12.8%, albeit not statistically significant. Serum apolipoprotein A-1 and apolipoprotein B concentrations were significantly (P < 0.005) reduced by 6 and 7.5%, respectively, by the flaxseed regimen.

Markers of bone formation and resorption were not affected by either of the treatments.

The findings of this study indicate that flaxseed supplementation improves lipid profiles but has no effect on biomarkers of bone metabolism in postmenopausal women.

2.Dietary fibre: more than a matter of dietetics. II. Application in prevention and therapy]

A nutrition rich in fibre has a preventive effect against constipation, colon diverticulosis, carcinoma of the large bowel and stomach, type 2-diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. In case of constipation, diverticulosis and diabetes this effect solely depends on dietary fibre. Regarding carcinomas and cardiovascular diseases, so far unknown factors integrated in or associated with fibre-rich food may also contribute to the preventive effect. Therapy with dietary fibre is indicated for constipation, colon diverticulosis, diarrhea, diabetes, and hypercholesterinemia. The individual dietary fibres differ substance-specifically. Food-integrated dietary fibre such as whole-grain bread, vegetables and fruit have their place in prevention. Dietary fibre preparations such as wheat bran, flax seed or sugar-beet fibre are useful in the treatment of constipation, colon diverticulosis and adiposity. Oat bran is preferentially used in hypercholesterinemia. Purified dietary fibres such as cellulose, guar, psyllium, and beta-glucan have an anti-diabetic, all viscous fibres an anti-lipaemic effect. The therapeutic dosages of dietary fibre preparations are 20-40 g/day and of purified fibres substances 10-20 g/day respectively.

3.The effect of flax seed cultivars with differing content of alpha-linolenic acid and lignans on responses to mental stress.

Phytoestrogens offer a possible alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Flax seed contains large quantities of a phytoestrogen precursor, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), as well as large quantities of alpha-linolenic acid; these factors may be protective against vascular disease. We have previously shown that the rise in blood pressure during mental stress is a strong predictor of atherosclerosis progression.

Methods: 35 postmenopausal women with vascular disease, 62 +/- 8 years of age, were treated in a random-sequence double-blind Latin square crossover study comparing three strains of flax seed: Flanders (low in lignan and high in alpha-linolenic acid), Linola 989 (high in lignan and low in alpha-linolenic acid) and AC Linora (intermediate in both lignan and alpha-linolenic acid). RESULTS: Compared to the pre-treatment baseline diet, all three strains of flax significantly reduced blood pressure during mental stress induced by a frustrating cognitive task (Stroop color-word interference task) (p = 0.004). Linola 989, the strain highest in lignan and lowest in alpha-linolenic acid, was associated with the least increase in peripheral resistance during stress, the greatest reduction in plasma cortisol during stress and the smallest increase in plasma fibrinogen during mental stress.

Conclusion: Flax phytoestrogens ameliorate certain responses to stress and thus may afford protection against atherosclerosis; this hypothesis should be tested in clinical trials.

4.Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet.

It has been estimated that 30-40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by lifestyle and dietary measures alone. Obesity, nutrient sparse foods such as concentrated sugars and refined flour products that contribute to impaired glucose metabolism (which leads to diabetes), low fiber intake, consumption of red meat, and imbalance of omega 3 and omega 6 fats all contribute to excess cancer risk. Intake of flax seed, especially its lignan fraction, and abundant portions of fruits and vegetables will lower cancer risk. Allium and cruciferous vegetables are especially beneficial, with broccoli sprouts being the densest source of sulforophane.

Protective elements in a cancer prevention diet include selenium, folic acid, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, chlorophyll, and antioxidants such as the carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin). Ascorbic acid has limited benefits orally, but could be very beneficial intravenously. Supplementary use of oral digestive enzymes and probiotics also has merit as anticancer dietary measures. When a diet is compiled according to the guidelines here it is likely that there would be at least a 60-70 percent decrease in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers, and even a 40-50 percent decrease in lung cancer, along with similar reductions in cancers at other sites. Such a diet would be conducive to preventing cancer and would favor recovery from cancer as well.

5.Dietary flax seed in prevention of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis.

Oxygen free radicals (OFRs) have been implicated in the development of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis.

Flax seed is the richest source of omega-3 fatty acid and lignans. omega-3 Fatty acid suppresses the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and of OFRs by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) and monocytes. Lignans possess anti-platelet activating factor (PAF) activity and are antioxidant. PAF, IL-1, TNF and LTB4 are known to stimulate PMNLs to produce OFRs.

Flaxseed would, therefore, reduce the levels of OFRs and hence would prevent the development of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis. The effects of dietary flax seed on a high cholesterol diet induced atherosclerosis, lipid profile and OFR-producing activity of PMNLs (PMNL-CL) were investigated in rabbits.

The rabbits were divided into 4 groups: group I, control; group II, flax seed diet (7.5 g/kg daily, orally); group III, 1% cholesterol diet; and group IV, same as group III but received flax seed (7.5 g/kg daily, orally). Blood samples were collected before and after 4 and 8 weeks on their respective diets for biochemical measurements and aortae were removed at the end of 8 weeks for estimation of atherosclerotic changes.

The high cholesterol diet increased the serum level of total cholesterol (TC) and PMNL-CL without altering the levels of serum triglycerides (TG). These changes were associated with a marked development of atherosclerosis in the aorta. Flax seed reduced the development of aortic atherosclerosis by 46% and reduced the PMNL-CL without significantly lowering the serum cholesterol. Flax seed in normocholesterolemic rabbits increased serum total cholesterol and decreased PMNL-CL without significantly affecting the serum TG. Modest dietary flax seed supplementation is effective in reducing hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis markedly without lowering serum cholesterol. Its effectiveness against hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis could be due to suppression of enhanced production of OFRs by PMNLs in hypercholesterolemia.

Dietary flax seed supplementation could, therefore, prevent hypercholesterolemia-related heart attack and strokes.

6.Medicinal virtues:

The seed is emollient, digesting and ripening, and is frequently put into fomentations and cataplasms for use against inflammations and tumours. Cold-drawn linseed oil is of great service in all diseases of the chest and lungs, such as pleurisies, peripneumonia, coughs, asthrna and consumption. It likewise helps the colic and stone, both taken at the mouth and given in elysters. The oil, by expression, is the only officinal preparation.

7.Modern uses:

An important article in modern botanic practice. Its use goes back to earliest times. Flax seeds were found in Egyptian tombs. The seeds are soothing and laxative, because of the oil and rnucilage that they contain. In bronchitis a poultice is made from the powdered seeds, to which a little mustard can be added. For boils powdered Lobelia seed is added instead.

The infusion of the seeds- i Oz (28 9) to I Pt (568 ml) of boiling water is taken in doses of 2 fl oz (56 ml) for inflammatory bowel disease, such as colitis, and urinary tract inflammation, such as cystitis. Linseed oil can be applied to burns and scalds. It is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids.
Flaxseed Extract INCI Name Linum Usitatissimum Extract Omega-3 Flaxseed Extract Flaxseed Ext Lignans Help Weight loss Drive away Edema photo picture image

8.The Facts on Flax: A New Addition to Good Health:

Because of its link to good health, flaxseed is fast becoming a new food in many diets. Bakers and commercial food companies use flaxseed as a unique ingredient in everything from yeast breads, to bagels and cookie mixes. Not only do muffins and breads baked with flax taste great, but studies also find that these foods provide health benefits. Flaxseed adds a pleasant flavor to many basic foods, but its unique blend of goodness also packs a strong nutritious punch.

Flaxseed is rich in dietary fiber and alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fat which may protect against heart disease and cancer. Flaxseed also provides a plentiful supply of lignans - cancer blocking components, which animal studies show reduce the formation of tumors. Recent scientific reports point out that flaxseed can have a positive influence on everything from blood cholesterol levels to laxation, from cancer to diseases of the heart, and immune systems such as arthritis and lupus.

Part of the reason fats and oils have earned such a bad reputation in recent years is because people eat too much fat, particularly too much saturated fat. Saturated fats raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk for heart disease.

Although about 42% of flaxseed is oil, very little of that fat is saturated. More than 70% of the fat in flaxseed is of the healthy polyunsaturated type. In fact, a unique feature of the polyunsaturated fats in flaxseed is the high ratio of alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fat) to linoleic (an omega-6 fat). Nutritionists consider alpha-linolenic and linoleic fatty acids as essential because the body cannot manufacture them from any other substance. That means you must eat them as part of your diet.

Another positive aspect of flaxseed is that it contains both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber rather than large amounts of one type of fiber. Studies show that the soluble fiber in flaxseed can lower your blood cholesterol levels while the insoluble fiber, like that in wheat bran, is helpful for regulating bowel movements and preventing constipation.

Flaxseed is also one of the richest sources of lignans in the plant kingdom, providing up to 800 times more plant lignans than most other food found in vegetarian diets. Lignans are phytoestrogens - compounds which have been shown in laboratory animals to help protect against certain kinds of cancers, particularly cancers of the breast and colon. Research with animals suggests flaxseed, with its high lignan content, may be capable of blocking the action of certain substances that can contribute to the formation of tumors. Long-term studies of the effects of flaxseed in women with breast cancer are now underway.

Lignans and alpha-linolenic acid found in flaxseed help regulate the immune system. Because these components help prevent the formation of compounds that cause inflammation, flaxseed may be useful in the nutritional management of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and lupus in which the immune system becomes overstimulated.

Add flaxseed to your baked goods for a pleasant nutty taste. Flaxseed not only adds flavor, but also extra texture and good nutrition to your breads and other home-baked goodies. You can also use flaxseed as a substitute for some or all of the oil or shortening called for in a recipe. Cooks recommend a 3 to 1 substitution ratio. For example, 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed added to a recipe can replace 1 tablespoon of the butter, margarine or cooking oil. When flaxseed is used instead of oil, baked goods tend to brown more rapidly. Flaxseed mixed with water can also replace an egg in selected recipes like pancakes, muffins and cookies. Each egg in the recipe would be equivalent to 1 tablespoons of ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. Test a recipe first to determine if it meets your expectations.

Reference:

1.What is Flaxseed?Natural source of ALA,Omega-3 EFAs,lignans,benefits and utility uses...

last edit date:5th,Mar.2010.

Available Product

Name:Flaxseed Extract
Serie No:R078.
Specifications:10:1 TLC.
INCI Name:LINUM USITATISSIMUM EXTRACT
EINECS/ELINCS No.:N/A
CAS:N/A
Chem/IUPAC Name:Linum Usitatissimum Extract is an extract of the seeds of the linseed,Linum usitatissimum,Linaceae

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