Linum usitatissimum (flaxseed) diet supplementation has a minor impact on lipid profile in menopausal women: a 1-year randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Dodin S^1,2, Lemay A¹, Jacques H^2,3, Légaré F¹, Asselin G¹, Forest JC¹, Masse B⁴

¹Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Biochemistry, and Family Medicine, Research Center, St-François d’Assise Hospital (CHUQ), Laval University, 10 rue de l’Espinay, Quebec, G1L 3L5, Canada

²Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Laval University, 2440 Hochelaga, Quebec, G1K 7P4, Canada

³Department of Food and Nutrition Sciences, Laval University, Quebec, G1K 7P4, Canada

⁴Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, 98109, USA

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Linum usitatissimum (flaxseed) supplementation on lipid profile in healthy menopausal women.

Materials and methods

In a randomised, double-blind clinical trial, 199 menopausal women were randomly assigned to consume 40 g daily of L. usitatissimum (n = 101), a lignan-rich food, or wheatgerm placebo (n = 98) for 12 months. At baseline and at each visit (months 3, 6, 9 and 12) serum levels of lipids and lipoprotein fractions and anthropometric measures were evaluated.

Results

Among the 199 women followed for 1 year, a total of 179 women were available for the ITT. L. usitatissimum supplementation reduced serum total (P = 0.012) and HDL-C (P = 0.031) concentrations compared with the placebo arm, whereas reduction in LDL-C levels was significantly borderline (P = 0.086). There was no difference in fasting serum triglyceride and glucose levels between the two arms. In the L. usitatissimum arm, significant reductions in weight (P = 0.016) and body mass index (P = 0.036) were observed compared with the placebo. There were no changes in statistical significance after adjustments for age, weight and body mass index.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that 1 year of incorporation of L. usitatissimum in the diet produces a favourable but not clinically significant effect on blood cholesterol in menopausal women.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Flax Council of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

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