Abstract
Background: Data on the effect of supplementation of flaxseed as a rich source of omega-3 on the glycemic indices are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to summarize the evidences from the clinical trials to identify the effectiveness of flaxseed and its products on glycemic indices. A complete search on the PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar databases was carried out by April 2017 to select clinical trials by examining the effect of flaxseed and its products on glycemic indices. Quality of studies was evaluated using jadad score and Meta-analysis was done. Main Findings: The results of this meta-analysis showed reducing fasting blood glucose, HOMA-IR index and increases the QUICK Index (p <0.01). In addition, flaxseed lignin reduced the fasting blood glucose, increased the QUICKI index and the decreased HOMA-IR index (p <0.01). The results remain significant in fasting blood glucose for supplementation with whole flaxseed, in the QUICKI with the whole flaxseed and flaxseed oil, and in HOMA-IR only with whole flaxseed (p<0.05). These studies suggest that flaxseed and its products improve glycemic indices, but this effect depends on the type of supplement.
Link to Full Text