Key Findings:
This group of investigators are the leaders in the assessment of dietary flaxseed to lower blood pressure and attenuate the morbidity and mortality associated with hypertension. Their work has shown efficacy of milled flaxseed to lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure more significantly than most anti-hypertensive drugs and without the side effects. This paper reviews the effects of ALA, lignans and fiber in flaxseed on blood pressure lowering.
ABSTRACT:
Hypertension is the single largest risk factor attributed to mortality in the world. Medications are the primary treatment for hypertension; however, adherence to drug regimens is low (~50 %). Low adherence may be a contributing factor leading to uncontrolled blood pressure in patients. An effective alternative or complement to medications in managing hypertension is through lifestyle modifications. Adopting a healthy diet is a valuable strategy. A recent, randomized controlled year-long trial observed impressive reductions in blood pressure in patients with hypertension consuming flaxseed daily. Therefore, attention has been garnered for flaxseed as a potentially valuable strategy for the management of hypertension. This review will highlight the recent data for flaxseed and its extracts in blood pressure regulation in both animal models and clinical trials. Insight into the proposed anti-hypertensive mechanism of flaxseed and the implications of flaxseed as a potential global anti-hypertensive therapy will be discussed. (Authors Abstract)
Link to Full Text