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Effect of flaxseed on menopausal symptoms. |
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Sandhya Pruthi and co-workers at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA, found that administration of flaxseed to women decreased the number of hot flashes and reduced abdominal swelling. This phase 2 pilot study investigated the tolerability and the effect of 6 weeks of flaxseed therapy on hot flash scores in menopausal women not taking estrogen therapy. A hot flash is an uncomfortable flash of intense warmth across much of the body that may be accompanied by sweating and skin reddening. The women received daily 40 g crushed flaxseed for a period of six weeks. The scientists found that flaxseed treatment reduced the number of hot flashes by 50% and the hot flash scores by 57%. They also found that flaxseed treatment improved mood, joint or muscle paint and chills. Although the result look very promising Sandhya Pruthi believes that more research in this field should be conducted, especially large clinical studies.
Another study conducted at the University of Sao Paulo was not able to show a favourable effect of flaxseed intake on the number of hot flushes [2]. Simbalista and co-workers tested the effects of daily intake of bread produced with flaxseed on the menopausal symptoms and endometrial thickness of postmenopausal women. They also measured plasma lipid profile and the hormones estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine. Both the control group and the flaxseed group showed significant, but similar, reductions in hot flashes and Kupperman Menopausal Index after 3 months of treatment. Other parameters were also not affected in either group. They concluded that flaxseed is safe at the used level (46 mg lignans/d), but is no more effective than placebo for reducing hot flashes and Kupperman Menopausal Index.
[1] Pilot evaluation of flaxseed for the management of hot flashes. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2007 Summer;5(3):106-12.
[2] Consumption of a flaxseed-rich food is not more effective than a placebo in alleviating the climacteric symptoms of postmenopausal women. J Nutr. 2010 Feb;140(2):293-7.
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