A couple of years ago, a U.S. study suggested that flaxseed consumption reduces hot flashes. Well, if this piece of information is to be believed, then it is not true. A Mayo Clinic and North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) study now claims that flaxseed fails to ease hot flashes among breast cancer patients and postmenopausal women.
The randomized, placebo-controlled study enrolled about 188 women between October and December 2009. No statistically significant difference in mean hot flash scores between women taking flaxseed and those taking a placebo was registered. Those on flaxseed had been eating 40 grams of crushed flaxseed daily to manage hot flashes.
Hot flashes may be a common symptom during the menopausetransition or after breast cancer treatment. However, flaxseed are known to add fiber and bulk to diet for handling constipation. Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., of Mayo Clinic’s Breast Diagnostic Clinic and a researcher with NCCTG and colleagues mention that further investigations can be undertaken to identify whether flaxseed has any other health benefits.
The study was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago.