Flaxseed Nutrition Report – more good news!
Flaxseed’s positive consumer image is largely attributable to its high ALA-Omega-3 content (20% by weight), but consumers are also catching on to its high concentrations of lignans, antioxidants, fiber and protein and very low glycemic value. New nutritional and medical research highlights the positive contributions of flaxseed to a wide variety of human lifestyle and medical conditions. Even if food and supplement companies cannot advertise the beneficial connections between the consumption of certain foods or nutrients and specific disease states, many consumers read synopses of the medical and nutritional literature and draw their own conclusions. So, it is always worthwhile to stay on top of the literature.
Here are three recent studies of interest:
• ALA Omega-3 and cardiovascular health
ALA, or “alpha-linolenic acid” is the vegetarian form of Omega-3 found in a variety of plants, seeds and, especially, flaxseed. The following study posits a mechanism whereby to explain an observed regression of atherosclerotic plaque:
“Alpha-linolenic acid increases cholesterol efflux in macrophage-derived foam cells by decreasing stearoyl CoA desaturase I expression: evidence for a farnesoid-X-receptor mechanism of action”, Zhang, J.; Kris-Etherton, P.M; Thompson, J.T.; Hannon, D.B.; Gillies, P.J. and Vanden Heuvel, J.P.; J. Nutr. Biochem. (publ. online June 07, 2011)
An abstract of the journal paper can be found here: http://www.jnutbio.com/article/S0955-2863(11)00058-1/abstract
• Lignans and health
The following study builds on breakthrough research of the phytonutrient benefits of flaxseed lignans. Lignans are antioxidants-carbohydrate complexes that exist in high concentrations (approx. 1.0%) in flaxseed. The most common lignan found in flaxseed is called SDG (seicoisolariciresinol diglucoside, since you asked). When ingested, SDG converts into phytoestrogenic compounds called enterolactones.
“Serum Enterolactone and Prognosis of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer”
Buck, K; Vrieting, A.; Zalneddin, A., Susan Becker, S.; Husing, A., Rudolf Kaaks, R.; Linseisen, J; Dieter Flesch-Janys, D.; Chang-Claude, J.; J. Clin. Oncology, Oct. 1, 2011, 3730-3738
A popular press summary of this research and its implications can be found here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2037255/Breast-cancer-Eating-flaxseeds-reduce-risk-dying-40-cent.html
• Flaxseed and the war on obesity
Flaxseed as a food for dietary control? Flaxseed contains 28% Total Dietary Fiber (TDF), about 8% of which is a highly soluble, mucilaginous blend of pectins and arabinoxylans. The following study references the hunger-satisfying (i.e., satiety) properties of flaxseed and asks whether flaxseed fiber also helps block the post-meal uptake of fat into the bloodstream.
“Flaxseed dietary fibers suppress postprandial lipemia and appetite sensation in young men”, Kristensen, M.; Savorani, F.; Christensen, S.; Engelsen, S.B.; Bugel, S.; Toubro, S.; Tetens, I.; Astrup, A., in press - published online in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases (2011).
An abstract for the technical paper can be found here: http://www.nmcd-journal.com/article/S0939-4753(11)00071-8/abstract
