title: Effects of hempseed and flaxseed oils on the profile of serum lipids, serum total and lipoprotein lipid concentrations and haemostatic factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both hempseed oil (HO) and flaxseed oil (FO) contain high amounts of essential fatty acids (FAs); i.e. linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3), but almost in opposite ratios. An excessive intake of one essential FA over the other may interfere with the metabolism of the other while the metabolisms of LA and ALA compete for the same enzymes. It is not known whether there is a difference between n-3 and n-6 FA of plant origin in the effects on serum lipid profile.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of HO and FO on the profile of serum lipids and fasting concentrations of serum total and lipoprotein lipids, plasma glucose and insulin, and haemostatic factors in healthy humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen healthy volunteers participated in the study. A randomised, double-blind crossover design was used. The volunteers consumed HO and FO (30 ml/day) for 4 weeks each. The periods were separated by a 4-week washout period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HO period resulted in higher proportions of both LA and gamma-linolenic acid in serum cholesteryl esters (CE) and triglycerides (TG) as compared with the FO period (P < 0.001), whereas the FO period resulted in a higher proportion of ALA in both serum CE and TG as compared with the HO period (P < 0.001). The proportion of arachidonic acid in CE was lower after the FO period than after the HO period (P < 0.05). The HO period resulted in a lower total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio compared with the FO period (P = 0.065). No significant differences were found between the periods in measured values of fasting serum total or lipoprotein lipids, plasma glucose, insulin or hemostatic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effects of HO and FO on the profile of serum lipids differed significantly, with only minor effects on concentrations of fasting serum total or lipoprotein lipids, and no significant changes in concentrations of plasma glucose or insulin or in haemostatic factors.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland. ursula.schwab@uku.fi
authors.forename: Ursula S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Callaway
authors.forename: Arja T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Erkkilä
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gynther
authors.forename: Matti I J
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Uusitupa
authors.forename: Tomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Järvinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010938:Plant Oils; D014280:Triglycerides; D008043:Linseed Oil