NUTRI-NET CANADA

FLAXSEED
Health Benefits and Functionality
Kelley C. Fitzpatrick
Director of Health
FLAX COUNCIL OF CANADA
Consumers are interested in
“Positive Nutrition”
• The trend is no longer just to remove “bad”
ingredients
• Whole products recognized as rich in
nutrients and phytochemicals with inherent
natural properties
• Flaxseed offers omega 3 fatty acids,
vegetarian protein, fibre and antioxidants….
and more ….
Flaxseed
(Linseed)
(Linaza)
Canada = about 50% of the global trade
• The richest source
of plant based
omega 3 alphalinolenic acid ALA
• Excellent source of
protein
• Rich source of
lignans
(phytoestrogens)
and other
antioxidants
• Rich in dietary fiber
Current and Recommended
Fatty Acid Intakes
Fatty Acid
Current Intakes
(% Energy)
Recommended
Intakes (%En)
Total Fat
30-35%
25-35%
SFA
13%
<7%
MUFA
13-14%
<20%
PUFA
<7%
<10%
omega-3 ALA
< 0.7% (1.3 g/d)
1.5%
EPA+DHA
0.1-0.2 g/d
250 - 500 mg/d
omega-6 LA
8 – 10 %
< 6%
n-6:n-3
10:1 (up to 25:1)
4:1
2.6%
<1%
Trans fat
Kris-Etherton PM 1999, Allison DB et al. 1999, Kris Etherton et al. 2000
Summary of Recommendations for
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake, AHA 2008
Population
Recommendation
Patients without documented
coronary heart disease (CHD)
Eat a variety of (preferably fatty) fish
at least twice a week. Include oils and
foods rich in alpha-linolenic acid
(flaxseed, canola and soybean oils;
flaxseed and walnuts).
Patients with documented Coronary
Heart Disease (CHD)
Consume about 1 g of EPA+DHA per
day, preferably from fatty
fish. EPA+DHA in capsule form could
be considered in consultation with the
physician.
Patients who need to lower
triglycerides
2 to 4 grams of EPA+DHA per day
provided as capsules under a
physician’s care.
The Evolution of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty
Acids
% of En from fatty acids
Hunter-gatherer Food processing
50
n-6:n-3 =
20:1
n-6/n-3 =
1:1
40
n-3
30
n-6
20
saturated
10
total fat
0
-40,000 -10,000 1800
1900
2000
Time (year)
AP Simopolous et al., 2001
Total Fat
42%
Polyunsaturated Fatty acids
Alpha linolenic Acid 57%
(C18: 3n-3)
Linoleic Acid
(C18:2n-6)
16%
n6:n3 = 0:0.3
Saturates
9%
Altern Med Rev 2009
ALA Conversion to EPA and
DHA
In vivo conversion of dietary ALA is
influenced by:
1. The absolute amounts of LA or ALA
in the diet and/or
2. The omega 6 LA to
Omega 3 ALA ratio
Prospective Cohort Studies of
ALA Intakes and CHD Risk
Study
Subjects
Intakes of ALA
RR (95% CI or P value)
MRFIT
Dolecek et al., 1992
6,250 men
Quintile extremes
↓ 40% (P < 0.04)
Health Professionals
Ascherio et al., 1996
43,757 men
↑ 1% Energy
↓ 59% (20-79%)
Finland ATBC
Pietinen et al., 1997
21,930 male
smokers
Quintile extremes
No significant association
Nurses Health
Hu et al., 1999
76,283 women
1.36 vs. 0.71 g/d
↓ 45% (6-68%)
Zutphen Elderly Study
Oomen et al., 2001
677 older men
Tertile extremes
No significant association
Iowa Women’s Health
Folsom et al., 2004
41,836 women
1.21 vs. 0.96 g/d
↓ 15% (P trend 0.01)
Health Professionals
Mozaffarian et al., 2005
45,722 men
↑ 1 g/d
↓ 16% (0-29%)
↓ 47% (17-66%) for low
seafood eaters
ALA intakes of 0.53 to 2.8 g/d in both prospective cohort studies
and clinical trials to reduce the risk of CHD events
Table adapted from: Mozaffarian et al., Altern Ther Health Med 2005;11:24-30
Alpha Linolenic Acid &
Endothelial Dysfunction
Measurements
Inflammation
Arachidonic Acid (AA),
PGI2, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α,
CRP, VCAM-1, ICAM-1,
E-Selectin, fibrinogen,
Serum Amyloid A (SAA)
Studies
Results
Sekine et al., 2007
↓ vascular AA levels,
↑PGI2 formation
Zhao et al., 2007
↓ IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α
production, 75%
Wendland et al., 2006
↓ fibrinogen levels
Lopez-Garcia et al., 2004
↓ CRP, IL-6, E-Selectin
Zhao et al., 2004
↓ CRP, VCAM-1, ICAM1, E-Selectin
Rallidis et al., 2004
↓ VCAM-1
Bemelmans et al., 2004
↓ CRP
Rallidis et al., 2003
↓ CRP, SAA, IL-6
ALA importance for Non fish eaters
Every 1g/day ALA intake – 47% lower risk
of CHD risk for low seafood eaters (<100
mg of EPA+DHA/day)
Health Professional Follow-up Study
-- 45,722 men
Circulation. 2005;111:157-164
ALA – Take Home Messages
1. Reductions of Omega 6 and increases
in Omega 3 are critical to health
2. ALA is converted to EPA and
somewhat to DHA
- dependent on a number of factors
Barcelo-Coblijn, G, Murphy EJ. 2009. Prog. Lipid Res.
3. ALA is of particular importance in
sectors of the population that do not
eat fatty fish
4. ALA has benefits = anti-arrhythmic,
anti-thrombotic and antiinflammatory properties
Phytoestrogens
Lignans
 Converted by bacteria into mammalian
lignans
 Hormone-like Properties
 Structurally similar to several sex
hormones
 Can compete with estrogen in
premenopausal (anti-cancer) and
substitute for estrogen in postmenopausal
conditions (hot flashes, bone health)
 Reduce prostate cancer (testosterone)
Adolph, JL et al. 2010. Br. J. Nutr. 103, 929–938
Antioxidants
Lignans
per 100 g
1.0 g
(75-800 x
higher than other plants)
Phenolic Acids
1.0 g
Phytic Acid
0.3 g
Flavonoids
55 mg
Tocopherols*
3.7 mg
* Primarily gamma-tocopherol
Perez-Jimenez, et al. 2010. Eur. J Clin. Nutr. 64, S112.
Stability of Milled Seed
Fibre
~ 2.4 g / T
•
•
•
Reduces blood glucose levels
Increases satiation
Reduces Glycemic Index
Naran et al. 2008. Plant Physio. 148. 132–141.
Wu, et al. 2010. J. Nutr. 140: 1937–1942.
• 18 young men; double-blind randomized crossover
design.
• Test meals were served after an overnight fast.
• Control; low-mucilage - 2.4 g or high-mucilage - 3.4g
• Appetite suppression; increased ratings of satiety and
fullness
• Weight reduction benefits
Kristensen et al. 2011. Nutr Met Cardio Dis.
Health Canada, Health Claim submission
1. Ground flaxseed helps reduce/lower
cholesterol
2. Ground flaxseed helps reduce/lower
cholesterol, (which is) a risk factor for
heart disease.
The "daily amount" of 30 g of ground flaxseed is
based on the evidence available concerning the
amount shown to have a serum cholesterol lowering
effect in adults and thus, helps reduce the risk of
cardiovascular disease in adults.
•
Now with Omega-3
ALA To help
Support a Healthy
Heart
Good source of
Omega-3 ALA - now
with 130mg per
serving which is 10%
of the daily value for
ALA (1.3g)
Structure/Function Claims
Other Examples
ALA Omega-3 from flaxseed
supports cardiovascular health
ALA Omega-3 from
flaxseed
supports
overall health
Visit www.flaxcouncil.ca