Effect of flaxseed consumption on flow-mediated dilation and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with coronary artery disease: a randomized controlled trial.

Background/objective: Available data indicate a possible beneficial effect of flaxseed on cardiovascular disease, but limited studies have evaluated the effects of flaxseed on endothelial dysfunction and biomarkers of inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of flaxseed consumption on flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and inflammatory markers in CAD patients.

Subjects/method: In this randomized controlled parallel trial, 50 patients with CAD of both genders were randomly allocated to 12 weeks consumption of flaxseed (30 g/day) or usual care control. Before and after the intervention, changes in brachial FMD and plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukine-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured.

Results: Forty-four participants (aged 56.43 ± 8.21 years; BMI 26.65 ± 2.44 kg/m) completed the study. No significant weight change was observed in either group. Compared to control (n = 23), flaxseed consumption (n = 21) was associated with improved FMD (mean of change from baseline was 5.1 vs -0.55%; p = 0.001 for the flaxseed and control, respectively). When compared to control, flaxseed consumption was associated with reduced inflammatory markers (mean of change from baseline for hs-CRP was -1.18 and -0.3 mg/L, p = 0.003; for IL-6 was -7.65 and -0.77 pg/mL, p = 0.017; for TNF-α was -34.73 and -2.18 pg/mL p = 0.001 in flaxseed and control, respectively).

Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that by adding flaxseed to diet of CAD patients, it is possible to improve FMD and plasma levels of inflammatory markers.