Flaxseed Significantly Lowers Blood Pressure

WINNIPEGAdding flaxseed to the diet of patients with hypertension helps significantly lower blood pressure and may help reduce their incidence of heart attack and stroke by 50%, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association 2012 Scientific Sessions.

Researchers at St. Boniface Hospital studied 110 hypertensive patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is strongly associated with high blood pressure. They sought to determine if adding 30 grams of milled flaxseed each day for six months would lower blood pressure, and compared their findings to a similar group of people who added a placebo to their diets. The flaxseed was provided by Glanbia Nutritionals.

In the flaxseed group, systolic blood pressure dropped an average 15 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure fell an average 8 mm Hg. In the placebo group, systolic blood pressure increased slightly while diastolic blood pressure remained steady. The flaxseed group had notable increases in a healthy type of fatty acid, alpha linolenic acid, and a potent antioxidant called enterolactone. The placebo group had no such changes.

These anti-hypertensive effects of flaxseed are amongs the most potent ever observed," said Dr. Grant Pierce, leader of the study and Executive Director of Research at St. Boniface Hospital. The change in blood pressure from flaxseed could result in about a 50% reduction of strokes and 30% less heart attacks."