Effect of Crushed Flaxseed Consumption on Cardiovascular Risk Indicators in Menopausal Women

Flaxseed is known for its numerous health benefits and is often used in the prevention and
treatment of civilizational diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of consuming
crushed flaxseed on cardiovascular risk in 51 menopausal women. The intervention lasted for 8
weeks, during which participants received a daily dose of 40 g of crushed flaxseed from two
varieties with differing lignan contents. Participants were divided into three subgroups based on
the variety of flaxseed consumed: (1) high-lignan group (HL), (2) low-lignan group (LL), and (3) control group (no flaxseed consumption). Biochemical blood parameters were measured using a
BiOLis 24i Premium automatic analyzer. Body composition was assessed using an InBody 720
device. In the lipid profile, we observed a significant increase in total cholesterol (T-C) and high-
density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, along with a significant decrease in low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in both the HL and LL groups. Triglyceride (TG) levels
exhibited no significant change, whereas high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels
were significantly reduced in both the HL (p < 0.01) and LL (p < 0.01) groups. Visceral fat area
(VFA) and percent body fat (PBF) showed a slight decreasing trend in the HL group, whereas in
the LL group, VFA showed a slight increase. Body mass index (BMI) remained stable across all
groups. These findings suggest that for the modulation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk
factors, the daily dosage, duration of consumption, form of intake, and the specific variety of
flaxseed (based on lignan content) are crucial factors.