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Effects of Flaxseed on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Menopause

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Book cover Nutrition and Diet in Menopause

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

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Key Points

  • Both animal and human studies indicate that flaxseed may reduce CVD risk factors in ovarian hormone deficiency.

  • Most of the observed positive effect of flaxseed in postmenopausal women is on their ability to improve lipid profile.

  • Whole flaxseed seems to be more beneficial than its isolated components such as the lignan, secoisolariceresinol diglucoside (SDG), its oil, or fiber.

  • Results of clinical studies demonstrate that flaxseed can be a part of a heart healthy diet of postmenopausal women.

  • Further research is needed to understand the mechanism(s) by which flaxseed lowers CVD risk factors in ovarian hormone deficiency.

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Abbreviations

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

LDL:

Low-density lipoprotein

HDL:

High-density lipoprotein

HRT:

Hormone replacement therapy

SDG:

Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside

ALA:

α-Linolenic acid

sVCAM:

Soluble cell adhesion molecules

vWF:

von Willebrand factor

Ovx:

Ovariectomized

TG:

Triglycerides

WF:

Whole flaxseed

FO:

Flaxseed oil

Lp(a):

Lipoprotein (a)

CRP:

C-Reactive protein

EPA:

Eicosapentanoic acid

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutritional Sciences Department, Oklahoma State University, 301 Human Sciences, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Maureen Meister B.S.

  2. Nutritional Sciences Department, Oklahoma State University, 420 Human Sciences, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Brenda J. Smith Ph.D.

  3. Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise, Florida State University, 436A Sandels Building, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA

    Bahram H. Arjmandi Ph.D.

  4. Nutritional Sciences Department, Oklahoma State University, 422 Human Sciences, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Edralin A. Lucas Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Maureen Meister B.S.
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  2. Brenda J. Smith Ph.D.
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  3. Bahram H. Arjmandi Ph.D.
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  4. Edralin A. Lucas Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edralin A. Lucas Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social, College of Health and Social Care, Department of Midwifery, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, United Kingdom

    Caroline J. Hollins Martin

  2. Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public, Health, and School of Medicine, University of Arizona, Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, 85724-5155, Arizona, USA

    Ronald Ross Watson

  3. Dept. Nutrition & Dietetics, King's College, Stamford St. 150, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

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Meister, M., Smith, B.J., Arjmandi, B.H., Lucas, E.A. (2013). Effects of Flaxseed on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Menopause. In: Hollins Martin, C., Watson, R., Preedy, V. (eds) Nutrition and Diet in Menopause. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-373-2_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-373-2_15

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

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