Effects of Flaxseed on Lipid Profile in Native American Postmenopausal Women

A large number of Native American postmenopausal women have one or more risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. This study was designed to investigate whether incorporation of 25 to 30 g of flaxseed per day, a rich source of lignans, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber for a period of 3 months into the diet of Native American postmenopausal women positively affect lipid and glucose profiles. Forty mild to moderately hypercholesterolemic and/or hyperglycemic Native American postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to the control (A), flaxseed (B) or flaxseed + additional fiber (C) groups. Both the flaxseed groups reduced total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by approximately 7% and 9%, respectively. However, flaxseed had no effect on blood glucose. The findings of this study indicate that daily consumption of flaxseed is beneficial in improving the lipid profiles of Native American postmenopausal women. Supported in part, by a grant from OCAST (Grant #HR03-070)Department of Nutritional Science