Effect of dietary flaxseed oil on the prognosis of acute anterior cruciate ligament rupture: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: This study aimed to explore whether dietary flaxseed oil has effects on acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture prognosis after surgical reconstruction.

Methods: Patients with primary acute ACL rupture diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and clinical examination were recruited at Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University and randomized to either the placebo group or the flaxseed oil group by computer-generated random numbers. Patients in the placebo group took six corn oil capsules daily, while patients in the flaxseed oil group took six flaxseed oil capsules daily. The outcomes were evaluated by specific scales.

Results: Compared to the placebo group, the flaxseed oil group showed significantly higher International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score (P = 0.007) and total Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (P = 0.0003) after two-year administration. Patients treated with flaxseed oil exhibited a significantly higher rate of return to sporting level before injury (P = 0.04) and a lower rate of occurrence of giving way (P = 0.04) than those in the placebo group. Patients with flaxseed oil showed significantly less severe adverse events on index knee (P = 0.047).

Conclusion: The administration of dietary flaxseed oil enhanced the prognosis of acute ACL rupture.