Flaxseed for Health and Disease: Review of Clinical Trials

Background: Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) is an oil-based seed which contains high amounts of alpha-linoleic acid, linoleic acid, lignans, fiber and many other bioactive components which is suggested for healthier life. Nowadays flaxseed is known as a remarkable functional food with different health benefits for humans and protects against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity and altogether metabolic syndrome.

Objectives and methods: To review the bioactive components of flaxseed and their potential health effects, PubMed and Scopus were searched from commencement to July 2019. Keywords including: 'flaxseed', 'Linum usitatissimum', 'metabolic syndrome', 'obesity', 'inflammation', 'insulin resistance', 'diabetes', 'hyperlipidemia' and 'menopause' were searched in the databases with varying combinations.

Conclusions: Consumption of flaxseed in different forms has valuable effect and protects against cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation and some other complications. Flaxseed can serve as a promising candidate for management of metabolic syndrome to control blood lipid levels, fasting blood sugar, insulin resistance, body weight, waist circumference, body mass and blood pressure.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Flaxseed; Inflammation; Linum usitatissimum; Menopause.; Metabolic syndrome.