Effects of brown and golden flaxseed on the lipid profile, glycemia, inflammatory biomarkers, blood pressure and body composition in overweight adolescents. Dietary Milled Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil Improve N-3 Fatty Acid Status and Do Not Affect Glycemic Control in Individuals with Well-Controlled Type 2 Diabetes Systemic inflammation and carotid diameter in obese patients: pilot comparative study with flaxseed powder and cassava powder. Effect of high-oleic canola and flaxseed oils on energy expenditure and body composition in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Flaxseed dietary fibers lower cholesterol and increase fecal fat excretion, but magnitude of effect depend on food type Infrequent Breakfast Consumption Is Associated with Higher Body Adiposity and Abdominal Obesity in Malaysian School-Aged Adolescents Effects of flaxseed consumption on systemic inflammation and serum lipid profile in hemodialysis patients with lipid abnormalities Effect of glucomannan supplementation on body weight in overweight and obese children: protocol of a randomised controlled trial Systemic Inflammation in Morbidly Obese Subjects: Response to Oral Supplementation with Alpha-Linolenic Acid Replacing sugary drinks with milk is inversely associated with weight gain among young obesity-predisposed children. Consumption of a functional oil rich in phytosterols and medium-chain triglyceride oil improves plasma lipid profiles in men. Adolescent beverage habits and changes in weight over time: findings from Project EAT. Dietary modulation of the gut microbiota – a randomised controlled trial in obese postmenopausal women Associations between flavored milk consumption and changes in weight and body composition over time: differences among normal and overweight children Flaxseed influences urinary lignan excretion in a dose-dependent manner in postmenopausal women. Effects of a Flaxseed-Derived Lignan Supplement in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Cross-Over Trial Potent Antihypertensive Action of Dietary Flaxseed in Hypertensive Patients Daily flaxseed consumption improves glycemic control in obese men and women with pre-diabetes: a randomized study. The relative bioavailability of enterolignans in humans is enhanced by milling and crushing of flaxseed. Effect of flaxseed oil on serum systemic and vascular inflammation markers and oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients: a randomized controlled trial Evaluation of flaxseed formulation as a potential therapeutic agent in mitigation of dyslipidemia A Systematic Review of the Effects of Exercise Interventions on Body Composition in HIV+ Adults Dietary factors in relation to weight change among men and women from two southeastern New England communities
BACKGROUND Flaxseed is a promising alternative to reduce the risk of diseases associated with body weight excess because it is rich in a-linolenic acid , lignans , and dietary fiber . Flaxseed ( Linum usitatissimum ) can be found in brown and golden varieties ; however , questions have arisen as to whether the variety may influence the health effects . OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to compare the effects of brown and golden flaxseeds on lipid profile , glycemia , blood pressure , inflammatory status , body weight , and body composition in overweight adolescents . METHODS Seventy-five overweight adolescents ( 33 boys , 42 girls ; age 13.7 ! 2.1 y ) , from Alegre-ES , Brazil , were r and omized to one of the three groups ( n ¼ 25 ) on a parallel , single-blind clinical trial . They received 28 g/d of brown flaxseed ( BF ) , golden flaxseed ( GF ) , or the equivalent amount of wheat bran ( Control , CG ) in different preparations at school from Monday to Friday for 11 wk . Blood pressure , anthropometric evaluation , and the analyses of blood total cholesterol , lipoproteins , glucose , and inflammatory markers were performed at the beginning and at the end of the intervention . The data were analyzed by ANCOVA at 5 % significance . RESULTS The groups who consumed brown and golden flaxseed showed significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure . Brown and golden flaxseed did not differentially affect plasma lipid responses , plasma glucose and inflammatory profile , although all groups ( BF , GF , and CG ) showed increased levels of TNF-a . CONCLUSIONS The adolescents consumed about half the daily amount provided , which may not have been sufficient to exert the health benefits of flaxseed reported in the literature , concerning the lipid profile , inflammation biomarkers and body composition Objective : To determine the effects of dietary consumption of milled flaxseed or flaxseed oil on glycemic control , n-3 fatty acid status , anthropometrics , and adipokines in individuals with type 2 diabetes . Design : Thirty-four participants were r and omized into a parallel , controlled trial . Subjects : The participants were adults with type 2 diabetes ( age 52.4 ± 1.5 years , body mass index 32.4 ± 1.0 kg/m2 , n = 17 men and 17 women ) . Interventions : Participants consumed a selection of bakery products containing no flax ( control group [ CTL ] , n = 9 ) , milled flaxseed ( FXS , n = 13 ; 32 g/d ) , or flaxseed oil ( FXO , n = 12 ; 13 g/d ) daily for 12 weeks . The FXS and FXO groups received equivalent amounts of alpha-linolenic acid ( ALA ; 7.4 g/day ) . Measures of Outcome : The primary outcome measures were fasting plasma hemoglobin A1c , glucose , insulin , and phospholipid fatty acid composition . The secondary outcome measures were fasting circulating leptin and adiponectin , as well as body weight , body mass index , and waist circumference . Dietary intake assessment and calculations for homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance and quantified insulin sensitivity check were also completed . Results : The FXS and FXO groups had increases in plasma phospholipid n-3 fatty acids ( ALA , eicosapentaenoic acid [ EPA ] , or decosapentaenoic acid [ DPA ] , but not docosahexaenoic acid ) , and the FXO group had more EPA and DPA in plasma phospholipids compared to the FXS group . All groups had similar caloric intakes ; however , the CTL group experienced a 4 % weight gain compared to baseline ( p < 0.05 ) , while both flax groups had constant body weights during the study period . All other parameters , including glycemic control , were unchanged by dietary treatment . Conclusions : Milled FXS and FXO intake does not affect glycemic control in adults with well-controlled type 2 diabetes . Possible prevention of weight gain by flax consumption warrants further investigation BACKGROUND Botanical omega-3 fatty acid ( alphalinolenic acid/ALA ) has been shown to alleviate the prothrombotic and proinflammatory profile of metabolic syndrome , however clinical protocol s are still scarce . Aim ing to focus an obese population , a pilot study was design ed . METHODS Morbidly obese c and i date s for bariatric surgery ( n = 29 , age 46.3 ± 5.2 years ) , 82.8 % females ( 24/29 ) , BMI 44.9 ± 5.2 kg/m² , with C-reactive protein/CRP > 5 mg/L were recruited . Twenty were r and omized and after exclusions , 16 were available for analysis . Flaxseed powder ( 60 g/day , 10 g ALA ) and isocaloric roasted cassava powder ( 60 g/day , fat-free ) were administered in a double-blind routine for 12 weeks . RESULTS During flaxseed consumption neutrophil count decreased and fibrinogen , complement C4 , prothrombin time and carotid diameter remained stable , whereas placebo ( cassava powder ) was associated with further elevation of those measurements . CONCLUSIONS Inflammatory and coagulatory markers tended to exhibit a better outlook in the flaxseed group . Also large-artery diameter stabilized whereas further increase was noticed in controls . These findings raise the hypothesis of a less deleterious cardiovascular course in seriously obese subjects receiving a flaxseed supplement OBJECTIVE The fatty acid profile of dietary fats may contribute to its channelling toward oxidation versus storage , influencing energy and weight balance . Our objective was to compare the effects of diets enriched with high-oleic canola oil ( HOCO ) , alone or blended with flaxseed oil ( FXCO ) , on energy expenditure , substrate utilization , and body composition versus a typical Western diet ( WD ) . MATERIAL S/ METHODS Using a r and omized crossover design , 34 hypercholesterolemic subjects ( n=22 females ) consumed 3 controlled diets for 28 days containing ~49 % energy from carbohydrate , 14 % energy from protein , and 37 % energy from fat , of which 70 % of fat was provided by HOCO rich in oleic acid , FXCO rich in alpha-linolenic acid , or WD rich in saturated fat . Indirect calorimetry measured energy expenditure and substrate oxidation . Body composition was analyzed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry . RESULT After 28 days , resting and postpr and ial energy expenditure and substrate oxidation were not different after consumption of the HOCO or FXCO diets compared with a typical Western diet . No significant changes in body composition measures were observed between diets . However , the and roid-to-gynoid ratio tended to increase ( P=.055 ) after the FXCO diet compared with the HOCO diet . CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that substituting a typical Western dietary fatty acid profile with HOCO or FXCO does not significantly modulate energy expenditure , substrate oxidation or body composition in hypercholesterolemic males and females Background Dietary fibers have been proposed to play a role in cardiovascular risk as well as body weight management . Flaxseeds are a good source of dietary fibers , and a large proportion of these are water-soluble viscous fibers . Method Here , we examine the effect of flaxseed dietary fibers in different food matrices on blood lipids and fecal excretion of fat and energy in a double-blind r and omized crossover study with 17 subjects . Three different 7-d diets were tested : a low-fiber control diet ( Control ) , a diet with flaxseed fiber drink ( 3/day ) ( Flax drink ) , and a diet with flaxseed fiber bread ( 3/day ) ( Flax bread ) . Total fat and energy excretion was measured in feces , blood sample s were collected before and after each period , and appetite sensation registered 3 times daily before main meals . Results Compared to control , Flax drink lowered fasting total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol by 12 and 15 % , respectively , ( p < 0.01 ) , whereas Flax bread only produced a reduction of 7 and 9 % , respectively ( p < 0.05 ) . Fecal fat and energy excretion increased by 50 and 23 % with Flax drink consumption compared to control ( p < 0.05 ) , but only fecal fat excretion was increased with Flax bread compared to control ( p < 0.05 ) . Conclusion Both Flax drink and Flax bread result ed in decreased plasma total and LDL-cholesterol and increased fat excretion , but the food matrix and /or processing may be of importance . Viscous flaxseed dietary fibers may be a useful tool for lowering blood cholesterol and potentially play a role in energy balance . Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov : Unhealthy dietary pattern increases the risk of obesity and metabolic disorders in growing children and adolescents . However , the way the habitual pattern of breakfast consumption influences body composition and risk of obesity in adolescents is not well defined . Thus , the aim of the present study was to assess any associations between breakfast consumption practice s and body composition profiles in 236 apparently healthy adolescents aged 12 to 19 years . A self-administered question naire on dietary behaviour and lifestyle practice s and a dietary food frequency question naire were used . Body composition and adiposity indices were determined using st and ard anthropometric measurement protocol s and dual energy χ-ray absorptiometry ( DXA ) .  Mean age of the participants was 15.3±1.9 years . The majority of participants ( 71.2 % ) fell in the normal body mass index ( BMI ) ranges . Breakfast consumption patterns showed that only half of the participants ( 50 % ) were consuming breakfast daily . Gender-specific multivariate analyses ( ANCOVA ) showed that in both boys and girls , those eating breakfast at least 5 times a week had significantly lower body weight , body mass index ( BMI ) , BMI z-scores , waist circumference , body fat mass and percent body fat ( % BF ) compared to infrequent breakfast eaters , after adjustment for age , household income , pubertal status , eating-out and snacking practice s , daily energy intakes , and daily physical activity levels . The present findings indicate that infrequent breakfast consumption is associated with higher body adiposity and abdominal obesity . Therefore , daily breakfast consumption with healthy food choices should be encouraged in growing children and adolescents to prevent adiposity during these critical years of growth Inflammation and lipid abnormalities are two important risk factors for cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis ( HD ) patients . The present study was design ed to investigate the effects of flaxseed consumption on systemic inflammation and serum lipid profile in HD patients with lipid abnormalities . This was an unblinded , r and omized clinical trial . Thirty HD patients with dyslipidemia ( triglyceride > 200 mg/dL and /or high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol ( HDL‐C ) < 40 mg/dL ) were r and omly assigned to either a flaxseed or control group . Patients in the flaxseed group received 40 g/day ground flaxseed for 8 weeks , whereas patients in the control group received their usual diet , without any flaxseed . At baseline and at the end of week 8 , 7 mL of blood was collected after a 12‐ to 14‐hour fast and serum concentrations of triglyceride , total cholesterol , low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol ( LDL‐C ) , HDL‐C , and C‐reactive protein ( CRP ) were measured . Serum concentrations of triglyceride ( P < 0.01 ) , total cholesterol ( P < 0.01 ) , LDL‐C ( P < 0.01 ) , and CRP ( P < 0.05 ) decreased significantly in the flaxseed group at the end of week 8 compared with baseline , whereas serum HDL‐C showed a significant increase ( P < 0.01 ) . These changes in the flaxseed group were significant in comparison with the control group . The study indicates that flaxseed consumption improves lipid abnormalities and reduces systemic inflammation in HD patients with lipid abnormalities Introduction Glucomannan ( GNN ) , a water-soluble dietary fibre derived from the plant Amorphophallus konjac , is marketed for weight reduction . The exact mechanisms by which GNN might exert its actions are unclear . However , it has been shown that GNN slows gastric emptying by forming a viscous gel of large volume , which increases the feeling of satiety . Current evidence on the effectiveness of GNN for weight reduction is sparse , and well- design ed trials performed in children are needed to assess the efficacy of this modality . We aim to systematic ally evaluate the efficacy of GNN consumption for the management of children who are overweight or obese . Methods and analysis Children aged 6–17 years who are overweight or obese ( based on the WHO growth criteria ) will be r and omly assigned to receive GNN or placebo ( maltodextrin ) ( both at a dose of 3 g/day ) for 3 months and will be followed-up for 3 months . Before the intervention , all children will receive dietetic advice , and they will be encouraged to engage in physical activity . The primary outcome measure will be the body mass index-for-age z-score difference between the groups at the end of the intervention . Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Medical University of Warsaw . The findings of this trial will be su bmi tted to a peer- review ed journal ( paediatric , nutrition or gastroenterology ) . Abstract s will be su bmi tted to relevant national and international conferences . Trial registration number NCT02280772 Background Morbidly obese patients frequently display asymptomatic chronic activation of acute phase response , with potentially adverse metabolic and cardiovascular consequences . Nutritional preparations to improve this phenomenon have rarely been administered . Aim ing to investigate the supplementation of flaxseed flour , a source of omega-3 fatty acids , a prospect i ve r and omized double-blind cross-over study was design ed . Methods Outpatient obese subjects ( n = 41 ) were clinical ly and biochemically screened , and results for 24 r and omized subjects are shown . Age was 40.8 ± 11.6 years ( 83.3 % females ) and body mass index ( BMI ) was 47.1 ± 7.2 kg/m2 . Flaxseed flour ( Farinha de Linhaca Dourada LinoLive , Cisbra , Brazil ) in the amount of 30 g/day ( 5 g of alpha-linolenic acid – omega-3 ) and an equal mass of placebo ( manioc flour ) were administered for 2 weeks each . Variables included general biochemical investigation , white blood cell count ( WBC ) , C-reactive protein ( CRP ) , serum amyloid A ( SAA ) and fibronectin . Results No intolerance was registered . Body weight and general biochemical indices remained stable . Initial CRP and SAA were elevated ( 13.7 ± 9.9 and 17.4 ± 8.0 ) . WBC ( 8100 ± 2100/mm3 ) and fibronectin ( 463.2 ± 61.3 mg/dL ) were acceptable but in the upper normal range . Corresponding findings after supplementation of flaxseed were 10.6 ± 6.2 mg/L , 14.3 ± 9.2 mg/L , 7300 ± 1800/mm3 and 412.8 ± 38.6 respectively ( P < 0.05 ) . No change during the control period regarding baseline occurred when placebo was r and omized to be given first ; however , when it followed omega-3 supplementation , CRP and SAA recovered , whereas WBC and fibronection remained depressed during those 2 weeks ( 7500 ± 2100/mm3 and 393.2 ± 75.8 mg/dL , P < 0.05 ) . Conclusions 1 ) Various inflammatory markers were elevated in the studied population , although not necessarily exceeding the normal range ; 2 ) Significant reduction could be demonstrated ; 3 ) Some persistent effects of flaxseed supplement 2 weeks after discontinuation were observed The aim of the present study was to examine the associations of sugary drink consumption and its substitution with alternative beverages with body weight gain  among young children predisposed to future weight gain . Secondary analysis of the Healthy Start Study , a 1·5-year r and omised controlled trial design ed to prevent overweight among Danish children aged 2 - 6 years ( n 366 ) , was carried out . Multivariate linear regression models were used to investigate the associations of beverage consumption with change in body weight ( Δweight ) or BMI ( Δ BMI ) z-score . Substitution models were used to extrapolate the influence of replacing sugary drinks with alternative beverages ( water , milk and diet drinks ) on Δweight or Δ BMI z-score .  Sugary drink intake at baseline and substitution of sugary drinks with milk were associated with both Δweight and Δ BMI z-score . Every 100 g/d increase in sugary drink intake was associated with 0·10 kg and 0·06 unit increases in body weight ( P=0·048 ) and BMI z-score ( P=0·04 ) , respectively . Substitution of 100 g/d sugary drinks with 100 g/d milk was inversely associated with Δweight ( β=-0·16 kg ; P=0·045 ) and Δ BMI z-score ( β=-0·07 units ; P=0·04 ) . The results of this study suggest that sugary drink consumption was associated with body weight gain  among young children with high predisposition for future overweight . In line with the current recommendations , sugary drinks , whether high in added or natural sugar , should be discouraged to help prevent childhood obesity . Milk may be a good alternative to sugary drinks with regard to weight management among young obesity-predisposed children Medium-chain triglycerides ( MCT ) have been proposed as weight-lowering agents , although there is some concern regarding their hyperlipidemic effect . This study evaluates the effects of a combination of MCT oil , phytosterols and flaxseed oil [ functional oil ( FctO ) ] on plasma lipid concentrations and LDL particle size .  Twenty-four healthy overweight men ( body mass index 28.2 + /- 0.4 kg/m(2 ) ) consumed controlled diets design ed to maintain weight for two periods of 29 d each . Diets contained 40 % of energy as fat , 75 % of which was added fat , either FctO or olive oil ( OL ) .  Body composition and blood sample s were analyzed at the baseline and the endpoint of each period . Total cholesterol concentration decreased 12.5 % ( -0.68 mmol/L ; P < 0.05 ) when subjects consumed FctO and 4.7 % when they consumed OL . Similarly , FctO consumption lowered LDL cholesterol concentrations by 13.9 % , whereas OL consumption did not . There was no difference in absolute change in LDL-cholesterol between FctO and OL consumption . Peak LDL particle size was greater in those who consumed FctO than in those who consumed OL ( P < 0.05 ) , with no effect of diet on proportion of large , medium or small particles . We conclude that those who consume a diet containing FctO have a better lipid profile than those who consume a diet rich in OL , which also leads to a larger lipoprotein particle size .  Functional oil consumption can therefore help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease BACKGROUND Obesity in adolescence has been increasing in the past several decades . Beverage habits among adolescents include increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and decreased consumption of milk . OBJECTIVE This study aim ed to examine the association between beverage consumption and 5-y body weight change  in 2294 adolescents . DESIGN Project EAT ( Eating Among Teens ) is a 5-y longitudinal study of eating patterns among adolescents . Surveys were completed in 1998 - 1999 ( time 1 ) and in 2003 - 2004 ( time 2 ) . Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association between beverage consumption at time 2 and change in body mass index from time 1 to time 2 , with adjustments for age , socioeconomic status , race , cohort , physical activity , sedentary behavior , coffee , tea , time 1 body mass index , and beverage variables . RESULTS In prospect i ve analyses , consumption of beverages was not associated with weight gain , except for consumption of low-calorie soft drinks ( positive association , P = 0.002 ) and white milk ( inverse association , P = 0.03 ) , but these associations did not appear to be a monotonic linear dose-response relation . The positive association with low-calorie soft drinks was no longer present after adjustment for dieting and parental weight-related concerns , which suggests that the use of low-calorie soft drinks is a marker for more general dietary behaviors and weight concerns . CONCLUSIONS We showed no association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption , juice consumption , and adolescent weight gain over a 5-y period . A direct association between diet beverages and weight gain appeared to be explained by dieting practice s. Adolescents who consumed little or no white milk gained significantly more weight than their peers who consumed white milk . Future research that examines beverage habits and weight among adolescents should address portion sizes , adolescent maturation , and dieting behaviors The gut microbiota has been implicated in obesity and its progression towards metabolic disease . Dietary interventions that target the gut microbiota have been suggested to improve metabolic health . The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of interventions with Lactobacillus paracasei F19 or flaxseed mucilage on the gut microbiota and metabolic risk markers in obesity . A total of fifty-eight obese postmenopausal women were r and omised to a single-blinded , parallel-group intervention of 6-week duration , with a daily intake of either L. paracasei F19 ( 9·4 × 1010 colony-forming units ) , flaxseed mucilage ( 10 g ) or placebo . Quantitative metagenomic analysis of faecal DNA was performed to identify the changes in the gut microbiota . Diet-induced changes in metabolic markers were explored using adjusted linear regression models . The intake of flaxseed mucilage over 6 weeks led to a reduction in serum C-peptide and insulin release during an oral glucose tolerance test ( P < 0·05 ) and improved insulin sensitivity measured by Matsuda index ( P < 0·05 ) . Comparison of gut microbiota composition at baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention with flaxseed mucilage  showed alterations in abundance of thirty-three metagenomic species ( P < 0·01 ) , including decreased relative abundance of eight Faecalibacterium species . These changes in the microbiota could not explain the effect of flaxseed mucilage on insulin sensitivity . The intake of L. paracasei F19 did not modulate metabolic markers compared with placebo . In conclusion , flaxseed mucilage  improves insulin sensitivity and alters the gut microbiota ; however , the improvement in insulin sensitivity was not mediated by the observed changes in relative abundance of bacterial species Background / objectives : Few studies have investigated the associations between flavored milk consumption and  body composition in children . We aim ed to examine the prospect i ve relationships between flavored milk consumption and body fat . Subjects/ methods : Subjects included 2270 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children .  Flavored milk consumption at age 10 years was assessed using dietary records ; consumption was dichotomized as consumers and non-consumers . Percent body fat was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at 11 and 13 years . Body weight at 11 and 13 years was included as a secondary outcome . Associations were also examined in a subset of plausible reporters to evaluate the influence of dietary reporting errors . There was an effect of interaction between flavored milk and baseline weight on body fat ( P-interaction < 0.02 ) . Results : In plausible reporters , overweight/obese children who consumed flavored milk had less favorable changes in body fat compared with non-consumers ( adjusted means : −0.16 % , 95 % CI : −3.8 , 3.5 vs −3.4 % , 95 % CI : −6.5 , −0.42 , P=0.02 ) . Similar associations with body weight were observed . The adjusted mean percent body fat for overweight/obese girls who consumed flavored milk was greater at age 13 compared with 11 years ( 39.7 % , 95 % CI : 32 , 47 vs 38.3 % , 95 % CI : 32 , 44 ) . The mean percent body fat for overweight/obese boys was similar between consumers and non-consumer is at 13 years ( 30.4 % , 95 % CI : 20 , 41 vs 30.1 % , 95 % CI : 21 , 40 ) . Conclusions : Overweight/obese children who consumed flavored milk had less favorable changes in body composition over time . Although more research is needed , discouraging flavored milk consumption may be one beneficial strategy to address childhood obesity Dietary estrogens , such as lignans , are similar in structure to endogenous sex steroid hormones and may act in vivo to alter hormone metabolism and subsequent cancer risk . The objective of this study was to examine the effect of dietary intake of a lignan-rich plant food ( flaxseed ) on urinary lignan excretion in postmenopausal women . This r and omized , cross-over trial consisted of three 7-week feeding periods during which 31 healthy postmenopausal women , ages 52 - 82 years , consumed their habitual diets plus 0 , 5 , or 10 grams of ground flaxseed per day . Urine sample s collected for 2 consecutive days during the last week of each feeding period were analyzed for lignan content ( enterodiol , enterolactone , and matairesinol ) by isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry . Compared with the 0-gram flaxseed diet , consumption of 5 or 10 grams of flaxseed significantly increased excretion of enterodiol by 1,009 and 2,867 nmol/day , respectively ; significantly increased excretion of enterolactone by 21,242 and 52,826 nmol/day , respectively ; and significantly increased excretion of total lignans ( enterodiol + enterolactone + matairesinol ) by 24,333 and 60,640 nmol/day , respectively . Excretion of matairesinol was not significantly altered by flaxseed consumption . Consumption of flax , a significant source of dietary estrogens , in addition to their habitual diets increased excretion of enterodiol and enterolactone , but not matairesinol , in a dose-dependent manner in this group of postmenopausal women .  Urinary excretion of lignan metabolites is a dose-dependent biomarker of flaxseed intake within the context of a habitual diet Background Flaxseed consumption has been shown to improve blood lipids in humans and flaxseed-derived lignan has been shown to enhance glycemic control in animals . The study aim ed to investigate the effect of a flaxseed-derived lignan supplement on glycemic control , lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients . Methodology /Principal Findings This was a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled , cross-over trial and it was conducted between April and December 2006 in Shanghai , China . Seventy-three type 2 diabetic patients with mild hypercholesterolemia were enrolled into the study . Patients were r and omized to supplementation with flaxseed-derived lignan capsules ( 360 mg lignan per day ) or placebo for 12 weeks , separated by an 8-week wash-out period . HbA1c , lipid profiles , insulin resistance index and inflammatory factors were measured . Sixty-eight completed the study and were included in the analyses . The lignan supplement significantly improved glycemic control as measured by HbA1c ( -0.10±0.65 % vs. 0.09±0.52 % , P = 0.001 ) compared to placebo ; however , no significant changes were observed in fasting glucose and insulin concentrations , insulin resistance and blood lipid profiles . Urinary excretion of lignan metabolites ( enterodiol and enterolactone ) was significantly higher after the lignan supplement intervention compared to baseline ( 14.2±18.1 vs. 1.2±2.4 µg/mL , P<0.001 ) . Data also suggested minimal competition between lignan and isoflavones for bioavailability when measured by the excretion concentrations . Conclusions / Significance Daily lignan supplementation result ed in modest , yet statistically significant improvements in glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients without apparently affecting fasting glucose , lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity . Further studies are needed to vali date these findings and explore the efficacy of lignans on type 2 diabetes . Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov Flaxseed contains & ohgr;-3 fatty acids , lignans , and fiber that together may provide benefits to patients with cardiovascular disease . Animal work identified that patients with peripheral artery disease may particularly benefit from dietary supplementation with flaxseed .  Hypertension is commonly associated with peripheral artery disease . The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of daily ingestion of flaxseed on systolic ( SBP ) and diastolic blood pressure ( DBP ) in peripheral artery disease patients . In this prospect i ve , double-blinded , placebo-controlled , r and omized trial , patients ( 110 in total ) ingested a variety of foods that contained 30 g of milled flaxseed or placebo each day over 6 months . Plasma levels of the & ohgr;-3 fatty acid & agr;-linolenic acid and enterolignans increased 2- to 50-fold in the flaxseed-fed group but did not increase significantly in the placebo group . Patient body weights were not significantly different between the 2 groups at any time . SBP was ≈10 mm Hg lower , and DBP was ≈7 mm Hg lower in the flaxseed group compared with placebo after 6 months . Patients who entered the trial with  a SBP ≥140 mm Hg at baseline obtained a significant reduction of 15 mm Hg in SBP and 7 mm Hg in DBP  from flaxseed ingestion . The antihypertensive effect was achieved selectively in hypertensive patients . Circulating & agr;-linolenic acid levels correlated with SBP and DBP , and lignan levels correlated with changes in DBP . In summary , flaxseed induced one of the most potent antihypertensive effects achieved by a dietary intervention The study hypothesis was that fasting glucose , insulin , fructosamine , C-reactive protein , and interleukin-6 decrease and adiponectin increases with daily flaxseed consumption in overweight or obese individuals with pre-diabetes . In this r and omized , cross-over study overweight or obese men and postmenopausal women ( n = 25 ) with pre-diabetes consumed 0 , 13 , or 26 g ground flaxseed for 12 weeks . Glucose , insulin , homeostatic model assessment ( HOMA-IR ) , and normalized percent of α-linolenic fatty acid ( ALA ) were significantly different by treatment ( multiple analysis of variance , P = .036 , P = .013 , P = .008 , P = .024 respectively ) . Paired t tests showed glucose decreased on the 13 g intervention compared to the 0 g period [ 13 g = -2.10 ± 1.66 mg/L ( mean ± SEM ) , 0 g = 9.22 ± 4.44 mg/L , P = .036 ] . Insulin decreased on the 13 g intervention but not the 26 g ( P = .021 ) and 0 g ( P = .013 ) periods ( 13 g = -2.12 ± 1.00 mU/L , 26 g = 0.67 ± 0.84 mU/L , 0 g = 1.20 ± 1.16 mU/L ) . HOMA-IR decreased on the 13 g period but not on the 26 g ( P = .012 ) and 0 g ( P = .008 ) periods ( 13 g = -0.71 ± 0.31 , 26 g = 0.27 ± 0.24 , 0 g = 0.51 ± 0.35 ) . The α-linolenic fatty acid decrease for the 0 g period was different than the 13 g ( P = .024 ) and 26 g ( P = .000 ) periods ( 13 g = 0.20 ± 0.04 , 26 g = 0.35 ± 0.07 , 0 g = -0.01 ± 0.07 ) . Fructosamine , high sensitivity C-reactive protein , adiponectin , and high-sensitivity interleukin-6 had no significant  differences . Flaxseed intake  decreased glucose and insulin and improved insulin sensitivity as part of a habitual diet in overweight or obese individuals with pre-diabetes Flaxseed is one of the richest sources of lignans and is increasingly used in food products or as a supplement . Plant lignans can be converted by intestinal bacteria into the so-called enterolignans , enterodiol and enterolactone . For a proper evaluation of potential health effects of enterolignans , information on their bioavailability is essential . The aim of this study was to investigate whether crushing and milling of flaxseed enhances the bioavailability of enterolignans in plasma . In a r and omized , crossover study , 12 healthy subjects supplemented their diet with 0.3 g whole , crushed , or ground flaxseed/(kg body weight . d ) . Each subject consumed flaxseed for 10 successive days separated by 11-d run-in/wash-out periods , in which the subjects consumed a diet poor in lignans . Blood sample s were collected at the end of each run-in/wash-out period , and at the end of each supplement period . Plasma enterodiol and enterolactone were measured using LC-MS-MS . The mean relative bioavailability of enterolignans from whole compared with ground flaxseed was 28 % ( P < or = 0.01 ) , whereas that of crushed compared with ground flaxseed was 43 % ( P < or = 0.01 ) . Crushing and milling of flaxseed substantially improve the bioavailability of the enterolignans Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of flaxseed oil consumption on serum systemic and vascular inflammation markers , and oxidative stress in hemodialysis ( HD ) patients . Methods In this r and omized , double-blind , clinical trial , 34 HD patients were r and omly assigned to either the flaxseed oil or the control group . The patients in the flaxseed oil group received 6 g/day flaxseed oil for 8 week , whereas the control group received 6 g/day medium-chain triglycerides ( MCT ) oil . At baseline and the end of week 8 , serum concentrations of high-sensitive C-reactive protein ( hs-CRP ) , soluble intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 ( sICAM-1 ) , soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule type 1 ( sVCAM-1 ) , sE-selectin , and malondialdehyde ( MDA ) were measured after a 12- to 14-h fast . Results Serum hs-CRP , a systemic inflammation marker , and sVCAM-1 , a vascular inflammation marker , reduced significantly in the flaxseed oil group at the end of week 8 compared to baseline ( P < 0.05 ) , and the reductions were significant in comparison with the MCT oil group ( P < 0.05 ) . There were no significant differences between the two groups in mean changes in serum sICAM-1 , sE-selectin , and MDA . Conclusion This study indicates that daily consumption of 6 g flaxseed oil reduces serum hs-CRP and sVCAM-1 , which are two risk factors for CVD . Therefore , the inclusion of flaxseed oil in the usual diet of HD patients can be considered as a strategy for reducing CVD risk factors Background : Cardiovascular diseases ( CVDs ) are an increasing health problem all over the world . The search for natural hypolipidemic agents that can be used besides the synthetic drugs is still in its experimental stage . Plant seeds , particularly flaxseed ( Linum usitatissimum ) , which is a rich source of n-3 fatty acids , lignans and phenolic compounds , have also received increasing attention for their potential role in preventing lipid disorders . The present study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic potential of flaxseeds in dyslipidemia . Methods : The study included 50 dyslipidemic subjects selected by purposive r and om sampling and were divided into two groups , a control and an experimental group . Both the groups were prescribed similar dietary guidelines . Subjects in the experimental group received 30 g of roasted flaxseed powder for 3 months . Anthropometric parameters , blood pressure , and blood lipid profile were estimated before the study and after completion of the study . Results : Flaxseed supplementation result ed in a remarkable improvement in anthropometric measurements , blood pressure , and lipid profile in the experimental group . Body weight and body mass index ( BMI ) of the experimental group were significantly reduced ( p < 0.01 ) . A lowering of systolic and diastolic blood pressure ( p < 0.05 ) was also recorded in the dyslipidemic subjects . Concomitantly , a highly significant reduction ( p < 0.01 ) in total cholesterol , triglycerides , low density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( LDL-C ) , and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( VLDL-C ) levels , with simultaneous elevation ( p < 0.01 ) in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( HDL-C ) levels was observed . Improvement in lipid levels result ed in reduction of atherogenic indices . Conclusions : The supplementation of roasted flaxseed powder for 3 months improved the BMI , blood pressure , and lipid profile of dyslipidemic subjects , thus exhibiting cardio protective effect Over the years , physical activity and exercise have been used to positively impact the health and quality of life of persons infected with HIV and , more recently , has been associated with a spectrum of body composition changes . The aim of this review was to examine the effects of various exercise interventions on body composition in HIV positive adults , using a search strategy of r and omized , controlled trials ( RCTs ) . A systematic review was performed by five independent review ers using a predetermined protocol adapted from previous research for assessing the articles for inclusion , the extracted data , and method ological quality . Eight RCTs involving 430 ( 26 % female ) HIV positive adults performing exercise a minimum of thrice weekly for at least six weeks were finally selected : Four were progressive resistance training ( PRT ) studies , three were aerobic training ( AT ) studies , and one involved yoga . In the PRT studies , there were significant increases in three anthropometric measures , namely , body mass , sum of skinfolds and sum of limb girths . In the AT studies , significant decreases were found in seven anthropometric measures , namely , body mass index , waist-hip ratio , body mass , triceps skinfold , waist circumference and sum of skinfolds . With yoga , the changes were non-significant . Exercise contributes to improved body composition and , when applied safely , appears to be beneficial for adults living with HIV/AIDS . However , these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the relatively few RCTs published to date . Future studies would benefit from increased attention to sample size , female participants , participant follow-up , complete statistical analysis and intention-to-treat analysis OBJECTIVE : Dietary factors , independent of total energy , may be important in promoting obesity . We examined prospect ively the relationship between baseline diet composition and weight gain among adult men and women from southeastern New Engl and . DESIGN : The prospect i ve association of nutrient consumption and weight change was examined in a r and omly selected cohort examined four years apart . SUBJECTS : Adults aged 18 through 64 years from two communities in Southeastern New Engl and were r and omly selected for the study after being interviewed in their homes . The present investigation is based on a subgroup of 465 individuals who completed a food-frequency question naire in 1986 or 1987 and were reinterviewed four years later . STATISTICAL ANALYSES : Multiple regression analyses were used to determine the association of weight change with different nutrients and food groups after adjusting for age , smoking status , baseline body mass index , physical activity level , and total energy . RESULTS : Total energy was positively associated with weight gain and age was inversely associated with weight gain . None of the nutrients or food groups were significantly related to weight gain . CONCLUSIONS : These findings indicate that weight gain increased with increasing baseline total energy intake , particularly in the young . Future research is required to determine ways of decreasing energy intake in younger individuals
Subgroup analyses showed that using whole flaxseed in doses ≥30 g d-1 , longer-term interventions ( ≥12 weeks ) and studies including participants with higher BMI ( ≥ 27 kg m-2 ) had positive effects on body composition  .
Whole flaxseed is a good choice for weight management particularly for weight reduction in overweight and obese participants
Flaxseed consumption may be inversely associated with obesity ; however , findings of available r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) are conflicting .
The present study aim ed to systematic ally review and analyse RCTs assessing the effects of flaxseed consumption on body weight and body composition .