The Effects of Flaxseed Consumption on Glycemic Control in Native American Postmenopausal Women with Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia

Glucose control in postmenopausal women is influenced by many factors, such as hormones,
lifestyle variables, and genetics. Limited data exist on the effect of whole flaxseed on glucose
status in postmenopausal Native American women. The aim of this study was to investigate the
glucose management effect of a flaxseed dietary intervention on postmenopausal Native
American women. In this study, 55 Native American postmenopausal women (aged 47-63
years) with borderline hyperglycemia (>100 and <126 mg/dL) and mild to moderate
hypercholestorolemia (≥200 to ≤380 mmol/L), who were not on hormone replacement therapy,
were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary regimens
(control, flaxseed, and flaxseed + fiber) for three months, receiving interventions in the form of
bread, muffins, and flaxseed powder. Despite daily consumption of flaxseed across diverse food
formats, no significant changes in glucose (p = 0.3, p = 0.2), insulin levels (p = 0.59, p = 0.9), or
HOMA-IR (p = 0.84, p = 0.66) were observed compared to their respective baseline values
within the flaxseed and flaxseed + fiber groups, respectively. Conversely, the control group
showed a significant rise in final glucose values from baseline (p = 0.01). However, the
incorporation of ground flaxseed into low-glycemic foods holds potential for beneficial effects
through maintaining glucose status among postmenopausal Native American women. This
research provides critical insights into the effects of flaxseed, emphasizing the need for
continued exploration to understand its role in supporting glucose management among
postmenopausal Native American women. Further exploration is required to investigate the
potential long-term impact and the use of flaxseed in managing glucose levels in this
demographic.