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Review
. 2023 Jul 18;28(1):240.
doi: 10.1186/s40001-023-01203-6.

A comprehensive review of the health benefits of flaxseed oil in relation to its chemical composition and comparison with other omega-3-rich oils

Somaia Al-Madhagy #  1 , Naglaa S Ashmawy #  2 , Ayat Mamdouh  3 , Omayma A Eldahshan  4   5 , Mohamed A Farag  6
Affiliations
Review

A comprehensive review of the health benefits of flaxseed oil in relation to its chemical composition and comparison with other omega-3-rich oils

Somaia Al-Madhagy et al. Eur J Med Res. .

Abstract

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L) is an ancient perennial plant species regarded as a multipurpose plant owing to its richness in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) including α-linolenic acid (ALA). The extensive biochemical analysis of flaxseed resulted in the identification of its bioactive, i.e., lignans with potential application in the improvement of human health. Flaxseed oil, fibers, and lignans exert potential health benefits including reduction of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, and autoimmune and neurological disorders that have led to the diversification of flaxseed plant applications. This comprehensive review focuses on flaxseed oil as the major product of flaxseed with emphasis on the interrelationship between its chemical composition and biological effects. Effects reviewed include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiulcer, anti-osteoporotic, cardioprotective, metabolic, and neuroprotective. This study provides an overview of flaxseed oil effects with the reported action mechanisms related to its phytochemical composition and in comparison, to other PUFA-rich oils. This study presents the most updated and comprehensive review summarizing flaxseed oil's health benefits for the treatment of various diseases.

Keywords: Analysis; Flaxseed oil; Health benefits; Lignans; Linum usitatissimum; Omega 3.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no competing interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Diagrammatic sketch showing factors affecting flaxseed antioxidant effect including; extraction method, extraction time, seed roasting and germination
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A Analysis of relevant keywords of flaxseed oil uses research during 2001–2022 from Scopus (collected on 20th October 2022). Irrelevant literature was removed by manual inspection and visualized using VOS viewer. B Pie chart showing paper retrieved by subject area by searching Scopus database for the term flaxseed and uses from 2000 till now
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
An outline showing the review theme and covered topics related to flaxseed oil biological effects and its chemical composition
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Diagrammatic sketch showing the anti-osteoporosis mechanisms of flaxseed oil and its components. Blue box; illustrates the trabecular part of bone, red box; shows the cortical part of bone. Upwards arrow indicates marker improvement. Downwards arrow indicates marker decrease. Red Phi symbol indicates no significant change in the osteoporosis marker
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Flaxseed oil therapeutic and health uses and the underlying mechanisms of action
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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