Certified organic cold pressed FLAXSEED OIL 52% ALA

Flaxseed, also known as linseed in some countries, is a good source of dietary fibre, fatty acids and lignans. Its oil is rich in essential fatty acids, Omega-3, 6 and 9, which are important for maintaining optimum health. They have anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, anti-arrhythmic, hypolipidemic and vasodilatory properties. These beneficial effects have been shown in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, renal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that is found abundantly in flaxseed oil. It desaturates and elongates in the human body to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and by itself may have beneficial effects in health and in the control of chronic diseases.

Short term intervention studies have shown that diets rich in polyunsaturated fats have hypotensive properties. Long term effects of dietary fat on blood pressure have been studied in 399 free-living male subjects. The result showed an increase in ALA was associated with a decrease in systolic, diastolic and composite mean arterial blood pressure. Hence dietary manipulation with omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful in the prevention of hypertension.

A blind study was done by Singer P et al to determine the effects of essential fatty acids on blood pressure, serum lipids, lipoproteins and the formation of eicosanoid precursors in patients with mild essential hypertension. Forty-four male patients with mild hypertension were allocated to put on diets supplemented with flaxseed oil.

The subjects ingesting the flaxseed oil-rich diet showed an increase of ALA in serum lipids. In addition to total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio, serum triglycerides and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity were significantly depressed. Hence flaxseed oil that is rich in Alpha-linolenic acid has cholesterol-lowering effect.

This hypocholesterolemic effect has been confirmed by another Canadian research which was studied in eight normolipidic men. The flaxseed oil diet was effective in lowering total and lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein concentrations in plasma, indicating that dietary ALA was hypocholesterolemic. Therefore flaxseed oil may have beneficial effects for those with high cholesterol and cardiovascular problems such as heart disease.

A study on ALA intake reduces the risk of coronary heart disease was reviewed Mozaffarian D. ALA may reduce cardiovascular risk through a variety of biologic mechanisms, including platelet function, inflammation, endothelial cell function, arterial compliance and arrhythmia. Observational studies suggest that ALA intake reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease. Presently the evidence favours recommendations for modest dietary consumption of ALA for the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease.

Animal studies have shown that diet enriched with omega-3 fatty acid, especially ALA was preventing ventricular fibrillation, the chief mechanism of cardiac death. It was also demonstrated that ALA was the main fatty acid lowering platelet aggregation, an important step in thrombosis, such as non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke.

A study was done to assess the effect of flaxseed oil diet in the rat renal ablation model. Renal ALA and EPA were increased in the flaxseed oil group, and the total omega-3 fatty acids increased twofold to threefold. It was shown that dietary flaxseed oil attenuated the decline in renal function and reduced glomerular injury with favourable effects on blood pressure, plasma lipids and urinary prostaglandins.

Study of ALA in lupus nephritis patients was performed after it was found beneficial in lupus mouse. Patients were given various amount of flaxseed daily sequentially for four week intervals. Compliance, disease activity, plasma lipids, PAF-induced platelet aggregation, renal function and serum immunology were assessed.

There was a significant increase of serum ALA which indicated good compliance. Total and LDL cholesterol and blood viscosity were significantly reduced. PAF-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited. It was concluded that flaxseed was well tolerated and conferred benefit in terms of renal function as well as inflammatory and atherogenic mechanisms important in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.

In an Indian perspective, dietary fats are required to meet nutritional needs and prevent the risk of atherosclerosis. Long term high intake of ALA reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. Metabolic studies were conducted in Indian subjects to investigate the effects of using ALA rich oils on plasma lipids, essential fatty acid status and platelet aggregation. The results showed ALA produced anti-atherogenic effects. Regular consumption of plant foods which are good sources of ALA can contribute to improving omega-3 status.

Omega-3 fatty acids are known to influence inflammatory responses in the body. However its effects on structures such as the intestinal tract were barely understood. A pilot study was conducted into the effects of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency on rat intestinal structure and microbe populations. Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, control and experimental. The rats in control group were given feeds containing ALA from age 9-11 weeks until 38-40 weeks.

The plasma phospholipids of the control group contained greater total omega-3 fatty acid. It was found that increased proportions of haemolytic bacteria in ileum and increased numbers of total bacteria and lactic acid bacteria in the caecum of the experimental group. It was established that omega-3 fatty acid deficiency does affect rat intestinal structure and microbe populations. Results suggest that a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acid can lead to increased cell proliferation, inflammation and microbe overgrowth in the normal intestinal tract.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been extensively studied in the brain. ALA deficiency was demonstrated to alter the structure and function of membranes by altering the course of brain development, perturbing the composition and physiochemical properties of brain cell membranes, neurones, oligodendrosytes and astrocytes. This leads to physiochemical modifications, induces biochemical and physiological perturbations and results in neurosensory and behavioural upset.

Recent results have shown that dietary ALA deficiency induces marked abnormalities in certain cerebral structures, as the frontal cortex and pituitary gland are severely affected. And ALA deficiency also decreases the perception of pleasures, by slightly altering the efficacy of sensory organs and by affecting certain cerebral structures.

A French study investigated the relation between the dietary ALA deficiency and a simple form of learning, habituation, in mice. The results suggest that habituation occurs more slowly in mice fed a diet deficient in ALA. Hence, it is important to supplement ALA during the period of learning especially in children.

Animal studies report a possible protective role for ALA against breast cancer. Fristsche KL and Johnston PV studied the effect of dietary omega-3 fatty acid on mammary tumour growth and metastasis. Weanling female mice were fed flaxseed oil diet for 3-8 weeks prior to receiving injections of mammary tumour cell types. Tumour growth was assessed by monitoring mean tumour diameter and weight upon removal.

Feeding flaxseed oil reduced the growth of mammary tumours, enhanced incorporation of omega-3 fatty acids into tumours and reduced tumour prostaglandin E production. The result suggested an inhibitory effect of dietary linolenic acid on mammary tumour growth and metastasis.

Another study determined whether supplementation with flaxseed oil beginning 13 weeks after carcinogen administration would reduce the size of established mammary tumours and appearance of new tumours in rats. Flaxseed oil is found more effective at the stage when tumours have already been established.

A Norway research found out that deficiency of ALA has been observed in patients with skin problems. The clinical symptoms include hemorrhagic dermatitis, hemorrhagic folliculitis, skin atrophy and scaly dermatitis. Supplementation of Omega-3 fatty acid normalized these symptoms. Hence, this essential fatty acid has an important role in the maintenance of the skin.

In vitro experiments using cultured murine melanoma cells showed that melanin production was inhibited most effectively by ALA, followed by linoleic acid and oleic acid, which are fatty acids found in flaxseed oil.

ALA was studied to evaluate its effects on ultraviolet-induced hyperpigmentation of the skin of brownish guinea pigs. The result showed ALA accelerated the turnover of the stratum corneum, which plays an important role in the removal of melanin pigment from the epidermis. Therefore, flaxseed oil containing ALA has pigment-lightening effects.

A Japanese research examined the effect of ALA on histamine release in basophilic leukaemia (RBL-2H3) cells. It was found that the content of histamine in ALA-treated cells was remarkably lower than that of untreated cells. Accordingly, the net and percentage of histamine release stimulated by antigen was also markedly decreased in the ALA-treated cells. Results suggest that the anti-allergic effect of ALA may be caused by the decrease in histamine content or by inhibition of the release of chemical mediator resulting from the changes in the fatty acid composition. Hence this essential omega-3 fatty acid may be beneficial for allergy reactions such as hayfever, hives, asthma and sinusitis.

The association between intake of omega-3 fatty acid and risk of community-acquired pneumonia (lung infection) was examined in 38,378 US male health professionals aged 44-79 years. Their medical and lifestyle information were updated through questionnaires and blinded medical record review of chest radiographs were used to determine pneumonia.

During 10 years of follow-up, there were 441 new cases of nonfatal pneumonia. Pneumonia risk was found to be reduced by 31% for every 1 gram/day increase in ALA intake. It was concluded that higher intakes of ALA may be reduce the risk of pneumonia.

Maternal essential fatty acid status declines during pregnancy. The effect of ALA supplementation during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal polyunsaturated fatty acid status and pregnancy outcome was studied in Netherland. Pregnant women were supplemented with ALA and Linoleic Acid (LA), the ultimate precursors of DHA and AA, from week 14 of gestation until delivery.

ALA and LA supplementation significantly increased EPA and DHA concentrations and lowered neonatal AA status. It is suggested that functional DHA status improves with ALA and LA supplementation. Therefore supplementing flaxseed oil may be beneficial for improving DHA status during pregnancy.

In summary, flaxseed oil is a rich source of ALA, omega-3 fatty acid that is readily absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream. It has hypotensive, anti-atherogenic, hypocholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and pigment-lightening properties. A deficiency in ALA may induce problems in intestines, brain, nerve and skin. ALA may improve DHA status during pregnancy and play an important role on learning. It also has been shown to reduce the growth of tumours and the risk of coronary heart disease and pneumonia.