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Health aspects of partially defatted flaxseed, including effects on serum lipids, oxidative measures, and ex vivo androgen and progestin activity: a controlled crossover trial^1,2,3

Background: Currently there is considerable interest in the potential health benefits of oil seeds, such as soy and flaxseed, especially in relation to cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Objective: We therefore evaluated health aspects of partially defatted flaxseed in relation to serum lipids, indicators of oxidative stress, and ex vivo sex hormone activities.

Design: Twenty-nine hyperlipidemic subjects (22 men and 7 postmenopausal women) completed two 3-wk treatment periods in a randomized, crossover trial. Subjects were given muffins that contributed 20 g fiber/d from either flaxseed (50 g partially defatted flaxseed/d) or wheat bran (control) while they consumed self-selected National Cholesterol Education Program Step II diets. Both muffins had similar macronutrient profiles. Treatment phases were separated by 2 wk.

Results: Partially defatted flaxseed reduced total cholesterol (4.6 ± 1.2%; P = 0.001), LDL cholesterol (7.6 ± 1.8%; P < 0.001), apolipoprotein B (5.4 ± 1.4%; P = 0.001), and apolipoprotein A-I (5.8 ± 1.9%; P = 0.005), but had no effect on serum lipoprotein ratios at week 3 compared with the control. There were no significant effects on serum HDL cholesterol, serum protein carbonyl content, or ex vivo androgen or progestin activity after either treatment. Unexpectedly, serum protein thiol groups were significantly lower (10.8 ± 3.6%; P = 0.007) at week 3 after the flaxseed treatment than after the control, suggesting increased oxidation.

Conclusions: These data indicate that partially defatted flaxseed is effective in lowering LDL cholesterol. No effects on lipoprotein ratios, ex vivo serum androgen or progestin activity, or protein carbonyl content were observed. The significance of increased oxidation of protein thiol groups with flaxseed consumption requires further investigation.

Key Words: Flaxseed • soluble fiber • lignans • vegetable protein • -linolenic acid • serum cholesterol • hyperlipidemia • androgen • progestin • sex hormone activity • protein carbonyl content • protein thiol groups • protein thiol oxidation • cardiovascular disease • cancer • oxidative stress • antioxidants • humans • functional foods

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