title: Lignan content of the flaxseed influences its biological effects in healthy men and women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) as well as lignan components of flaxseed (FLX) can have beneficial effects. In this 6-week-long, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the effects of FLX lignans on cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven subjects (13 men and 24 women, age: 54±7 years, body mass index [BMI]: 29.7±1 kg/m2) consumed nutrition bars with similar macronutrient contents. The fatty acid composition and the lignan contents of the bars differed significantly. Two FLX bars both contained 3.0 g of alpha linolenic acid (ALA: 18:3 n-3) but different amount of lignans (0.15 g vs. 0.41 g).
  
  
  RESULTS
  High-lignan FLX decreased total cholesterol (C) by 12% (p=0.044), LDL-C by 15% (p=0.022), and oxidized (Ox)-LDL by 25% (p=0.035). Regular FLX tended to increase Ox-LDL by 13% (p=0.051). The difference between the effects of high-lignan vs. regular lignan FLX on Ox-LDL was highly significant (p=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-lignan FLX has the unique property of decreasing Ox-LDL, which is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of California at Davis, Davis, California, USA.
authors.forename: Rogelio U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Almario
authors.forename: Sidika E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Karakas
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D017705:Lignans / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013024:Soybean Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; C493410:FABP4 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D017705:Lignans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D013024:Soybean Oil