I’m currently watching a lot of television as a new addition to the family is feeding every two hours. Babies are amazing little things. Their tiny feet and hands and innocent little pursed lips and occasional open eyes distract from the time warp one enters. They have the uncanny ability to blur the distinction between waking and sleeping or even days of the week. We’ve literally been living in cycles of two hours with no distinction between day and night. Needless to say, I turn to the television on some of my watches.
I became interested in a Bravo Network show the other night called “Top Chef” as one of the panel of “judges” or “experts” in cooking and food claimed that flaxseed was effective at reducing cholesterol in humans and foods with flaxseed were good for those wishing to lower their cholesterol. I paused and scratched my head. Maybe I had missed something?
Flaxseed is rich in fiber if taken whole and if crushed into an oil, is very high in Alpha Linolenic Acid, an 18 carbon Omega-3 fatty acid. Flaxseed oil is also called “linseed” oil and has been used in industrial and commercial processes for ages. As an aside, flaxseed oil is also rich in monounsaturated fatty acid as well as the saturated fatty acid palmitic acid.
The question comes down to an examination of the scientific evidence that an 18 carbon Omega-3 fatty acid (alpha linolenic acid or ALA) will lower cholesterol on its own (that is no dietary changes other than adding the fat supplement have been made). Flaxseeds are high in fiber and impart a fiber load with the consequent cardioprotective properties of any dietary fiber if eaten whole and chewed; however, for most foods, whole flaxseed is not consumed in significant amounts and flaxseed oil or flaxseed supplements with ALA are what the Top Chef is referring to.
A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition (2006 Nov;136(11):2844-8) did a very slick experiment with double blinding and lots of daily ALA in the test supplements.
What they found was as follows: Lipoprotein levels were no different between groups, LDL, HDL and total cholesterol was unchanged after 26 weeks. In their words,
“In conclusion, ALA does not decrease CVD risk by altering lipoprotein particle size or plasma lipoprotein concentrations.”
I became interested in a Bravo Network show the other night called “Top Chef” as one of the panel of “judges” or “experts” in cooking and food claimed that flaxseed was effective at reducing cholesterol in humans and foods with flaxseed were good for those wishing to lower their cholesterol. I paused and scratched my head. Maybe I had missed something?
Flaxseed is rich in fiber if taken whole and if crushed into an oil, is very high in Alpha Linolenic Acid, an 18 carbon Omega-3 fatty acid. Flaxseed oil is also called “linseed” oil and has been used in industrial and commercial processes for ages. As an aside, flaxseed oil is also rich in monounsaturated fatty acid as well as the saturated fatty acid palmitic acid.
The question comes down to an examination of the scientific evidence that an 18 carbon Omega-3 fatty acid (alpha linolenic acid or ALA) will lower cholesterol on its own (that is no dietary changes other than adding the fat supplement have been made). Flaxseeds are high in fiber and impart a fiber load with the consequent cardioprotective properties of any dietary fiber if eaten whole and chewed; however, for most foods, whole flaxseed is not consumed in significant amounts and flaxseed oil or flaxseed supplements with ALA are what the Top Chef is referring to.
A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition (2006 Nov;136(11):2844-8) did a very slick experiment with double blinding and lots of daily ALA in the test supplements.
What they found was as follows: Lipoprotein levels were no different between groups, LDL, HDL and total cholesterol was unchanged after 26 weeks. In their words,
“In conclusion, ALA does not decrease CVD risk by altering lipoprotein particle size or plasma lipoprotein concentrations.”
So be careful what your Top Chef tells you!
2 comments:
Congratulations on the new arrival!
In India, linseed oil is also used as a kind of enema in children. As a physician, I am sure you have an informed view on that :-) Sounds awful but apparently works.
Thanks, we're living from one feeding to the next, but . . . it's a wonderful experience. Linseed oil is indeed a laxative but there are better alternatives.
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