Flaxseed powder and heart risk factors in people
What it found
In 50 people with high blood fats, taking 30 g of roasted flaxseed powder daily for 3 months improved body weight, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers.
The authors say it may help as a food-based add-on.
What they found
Studies in people
Body weight and BMI
In the flaxseed group, body weight fell by an average of 2.89% and BMI by 3.05%. The control group saw almost no change.
Blood pressure
Systolic blood pressure dropped by an average of 0.88% and diastolic by 1.91% in the flaxseed group. The control group showed little change.
Cholesterol and triglycerides
Total cholesterol fell by an average of 16.19% and triglycerides by 13.99% in the flaxseed group. LDL fell by 19.93% and VLDL by 17.94%.
HDL cholesterol
HDL cholesterol rose by an average of 4.94% in the flaxseed group. The authors note that higher HDL is linked to lower cardiovascular risk.
Atherogenic indices
Measures of heart risk based on blood fats improved significantly after 3 months of flaxseed powder. The control group also improved somewhat, but less than the flaxseed group.
Other findings
Tolerance and nutrients
The authors report that 30 g of roasted flaxseed powder daily was well tolerated. Each 30 g serving provided 171 kcal, 6.09 g protein, 1.44 g crude fiber, 30 mg lignan and 5.41 g ALA.
What the authors conclude
“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.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that supplementing with roasted flaxseed powder for 3 months improved BMI, blood pressure and lipid profile in dyslipidemic subjects, thus exhibiting a cardio protective effect.
- They say that nutritional supplementation with an appropriate dietary regimen can prove to be a very effective and convenient aid in the prevention of CVD in modern lifestyles.
- They note that adding flaxseed powder to the diet is feasible and well tolerated, and provides a good source of soluble fiber and ALA.
How it was done
The authors wanted to test whether flaxseed, a rich source of omega-3 fats, lignans and phenolic compounds, could help prevent lipid disorders. They note that natural options to use alongside synthetic drugs are still at an experimental stage.
They recruited 50 people aged 40 to 60 with dyslipidemia from hospitals and clinics in Greater Gwalior, split into a control group and an experimental group of 25 each. Both groups got the same dietary guidelines, but the experimental group ate 30 g of roasted flaxseed powder daily with meals for 3 months. Body measurements, blood pressure and blood fats were checked before and after.
What it can’t tell you
- The control group was not given any supplement, so the authors say the placebo effect of flaxseed cannot be excluded.
- The study lasted only 3 months, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
- The study was in people with dyslipidemia, so results may not apply to everyone.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Government Kamla Raja Girls PG Autonomous College, India
The paper
- Title
- Evaluation of flaxseed formulation as a potential therapeutic agent in mitigation of dyslipidemia
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Saxena S, Katare C (2014). Evaluation of flaxseed formulation as a potential therapeutic agent in mitigation of dyslipidemia. Biomedical journal. doi:10.4103/2319-4170.126447Free full textPubMed 25163498DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error