The effects of dietary flaxseed on cardiac arrhythmias and claudication in patients with peripheral arterial disease .

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are at increased risk for cardiovascular events, and higher susceptibility for cardiac arrhythmias may be involved. The objectives of this double-blinded randomized controlled FLAX-PAD trial were to determine whether daily consumption of a diet supplemented with 30 g of milled flaxseed (or placebo) over 1 year by PAD patients has effects on the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias and exercise capacity. Cardiac arrhythmias were assessed on a cardiac stress test and at rest.

Feasibility and Tolerability of Daily Pulse Consumption in Individuals with Peripheral Artery Disease.

The present study investigated the feasibility, tolerability, and adherence of daily consumption of whole pulses (dried beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas) by individuals with peripheral artery disease participating in an 8-week study. Study questionnaires and semi-structured interviews for 26 participants were used to determine prestudy pulse consumption and participants' experiences with respect to adherence, positive and negative effects, bowel routine, satiety, and enjoyment of the foods. Although the majority of participants rarely consumed pulses prior to the study, there was a high rate of adherence to daily consumption of the study foods for 8 weeks despite comments regarding study fatigue during the latter part of the study.

Dietary Flaxseed Reduces Central Aortic Blood Pressure Without Cardiac Involvement but Through Changes in Plasma Oxylipins.

Unlabelled: In the year-long FlaxPAD clinical trial (Flaxseed for Peripheral Artery Disease), dietary flaxseed generated a powerful reduction in brachial systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with peripheral artery disease. Oxylipins were implicated as potential mechanistic mediators. However, the ability of flaxseed to impact central aortic hypertension, arterial stiffness, or cardiac performance was not investigated.

Dietary flaxseed independently lowers circulating cholesterol and lowers it beyond the effects of cholesterol-lowering medications alone in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Background: Dietary flaxseed lowers cholesterol in healthy subjects with mild biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objective: The aim was to investigate the effects of dietary flaxseed on plasma cholesterol in a patient population with clinically significant CVD and in those administered cholesterol-lowering medications (CLMs), primarily statins.

Methods: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial examined the effects of a diet supplemented for 12 mo with foods that contained either 30 g of milled flaxseed [milled flaxseed treatment (FX) group; n = 58] or 30 g of whole wheat [placebo (PL) group; n = 52] in a patient population with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Potent antihypertensive action of dietary flaxseed in hypertensive patients.

Flaxseed contains ω-3 fatty acids, lignans, and fiber that together may provide benefits to patients with cardiovascular disease. Animal work identified that patients with peripheral artery disease may particularly benefit from dietary supplementation with flaxseed. Hypertension is commonly associated with peripheral artery disease.