title: Flaxseed supplementation improved insulin resistance in obese glucose intolerant people: a randomized crossover design.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity leads to an increase in inflammation and insulin resistance. This study determined antioxidant activity of flaxseed and its role in inflammation and insulin resistance in obese glucose intolerant people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a randomized crossover design, nine obese glucose intolerant people consumed 40 g ground flaxseed or 40 g wheat bran daily for 12 weeks with a 4-week washout period. Plasma inflammation biomarkers (CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6), glucose, insulin, and thiobaribituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were measured before and after of each supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Flaxseed supplementation decreased TBARS (p = 0.0215) and HOMA-IR (p = 0.0382). Flaxseed or wheat bran supplementation did not change plasma inflammatory biomarkers. A positive relationship was found between TBARS and HOMA-IR (r = 0.62, p = 0.0003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study weakly support that decreased insulin resistance might have been secondary to antioxidant activity of flaxseed. However, the mechanism(s) of decreased insulin resistance by flaxseed should be further determined using flaxseed lignan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA. yeong.rhee@ndsu.edu
authors.forename: Yeong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Ardith
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunt
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax / Q000737:chemistry*; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000188:drug therapy; D038321:Glycemic Index / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D028321:Plant Preparations; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012646:Self Administration; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015850:Interleukin-6; D028321:Plant Preparations; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein