Cited by 264Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular HealthFatty Acid Research and HealthNatural Products and Biological Research

Meta-analysis of the effects of flaxseed interventions on blood lipids

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Pan, An, Yu, Danxia, Demark-Wahnefried, Wendy, Franco, Oscar H, Lin, Xu·2009·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Abstract

Background Several clinical trials have investigated the effects of flaxseed and flaxseed-derived products (flaxseed oil or lignans) on blood lipids; however, the findings have been inconsistent.Objective We aimed to identify and quantify the effectiveness of flaxseed and its derivatives on blood lipid profiles.Design A comprehensive literature search was performed on the basis of English reports of randomized controlled trials of flaxseed or its derivatives on lipid profiles in adults, which were published from January 1990 to October 2008. Attempts also were made to access unpublished data. Study quality was assessed by using the Jadad score, and a meta-analysis was conducted.Results Twenty-eight studies were included. Flaxseed interventions reduced total and LDL cholesterol by 0.10 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.20, 0.00 mmol/L) and 0.08 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.16, 0.00 mmol/L), respectively; significant reductions were observed with whole flaxseed (-0.21 and -0.16 mmol/L, respectively) and lignan (-0.28 and -0.16 mmol/L, respectively) supplements but not with flaxseed oil. The cholesterol-lowering effects were more apparent in females (particularly postmenopausal women), individuals with high initial cholesterol concentrations, and studies with higher Jadad scores. No significant changes were found in the concentrations of HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.Conclusions Flaxseed significantly reduced circulating total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, but the changes were dependent on the type of intervention, sex, and initial lipid profiles of the subjects. Further studies are needed to determine the efficiency of flaxseed on lipid profiles in men and premenopausal women and to explore its potential benefits on other cardiometabolic risk factors and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

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Crossref · 10.3945/ajcn.2009.27469

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Authors
Pan, A., Yu, D., Demark-Wahnefried, W., Franco, O. H., & Lin, X.
Affiliations
Unilever (United Kingdom) (GB)
Venue
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-08
Volume
90
Issue
2
Pages
288-297
ISSN
0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2117685492
Cited by
264
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 9
FWCI
2.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Cancer Institute (R01CA085740)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Natural Products and Biological Research
Keywords
flaxseed, linseed oil, lignans, serum lipids, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, cholesterol-lowering effect, sex differences, postmenopausal women, cardiovascular disease prevention, dietary supplements
MeSH terms
Anticholesteremic Agents, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cholesterol, Female, Humans, Hypercholesterolemia, Linseed Oil, Cholesterol, HDL, Cholesterol, LDL, Male, Seeds, Triglycerides, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome, Lignans, Flax, Lipid Metabolism

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