Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Whole flaxseed, but not oil, may cut cholesterol

Courtesy of Reuters Health

Adding whole flaxseed to your diet, but not flaxseed oil, may help lower your cholesterol levels.

The study, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, followed subjects who took about one tablespoon daily of whole flaxseed or flaxseed oil.

Total and LDL cholesterol reductions with whole flaxseed intake were stronger in women, particularly postmenopausal women, than men, and in people with higher cholesterol concentrations at the outset, the researchers note.

Lin's group also noted declines in total and LDL cholesterol, but not HDL cholesterol or triglycerides, associated with taking supplements of flaxseed lignans (about 430 milligrams on average), but no reductions associated with flaxseed oil supplements.

Bonnie - we found this compelling because we have always said that it is much more beneficial to take whole flaxseed (in pulverized form, of course) than the oil. This data seems to concur.

No comments: