Key Findings:
Bread made with partially defatted ground flaxseed was tested for the ability of the lignan fraction to reduce climacteric symptoms and endometrial thickness of postmenopausal patients. Flaxseed did not reduce total- and LDL-C, this did not occur in the present intervention. In both groups (control included wheat bran), a significant reduction in the number of hot flashes and in the KMI, in relation to the beginning of the treatment did occur, but no difference was found at the end of the flaxseed treatment. The use of subjective measures may have impacted the data as the subjects documented number of hot flashes and other symptoms. The use of wheat bran as part of the placebo diet may have blunted measureable effects of flaxseed on symptoms.
ABSTRACT:
Our objective in this work was to test the effects of daily intake of bread produced with partially defatted ground flaxseed on the climacteric symptoms and endometrial thickness of postmenopausal women. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was performed with 38 women who had been postmenopausal for 1–10 y and consumed 2 slices of bread containing 25 g of flaxseed (46 mg lignans) or wheat bran (1 mg lignans; control) every day for 12 consecutive weeks. The outcome variables were the daily number of hot flashes, the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI), and endometrial thickness. The plasma lipid profile (total cholesterol and HDL, LDL, and VLDL cholesterol fractions and triglycerides) and the hormones estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and free thyroxine also were measured. Food intake was evaluated by means of 2 24-h recalls, before and after the treatment. Twenty patients in the study group and 18 in the control group completed the study. The general characteristics did not differ between the 2 groups at the start of the study. Both had significant, but similar, reductions in hot flashes and KMI after 3 mo of treatment. Moreover, endometrial thickness was not affected in either group. Our findings clearly show that although flaxseed is safe, its consumption at this level (46 mg lignans/d) is no more effective than placebo for reducing hot flashes and KMI. (Author’s abstract)