LINSEED OIL as antioxidant: is it Science Fraud?

In studies of laboratory animals, flaxseed has shown both estrogen-like and anti-estrogenic effects. Although one small pilot study of breast-feeding women showed no adverse effects in infants whose breast-feeding mothers took flaxseed oil, pregnant and breast-feeding women are not advised to use flaxseed or flaxseed oil. Potentially, the unpredictable estrogenic or anti-estrogenic effects may affect developing fetuses and infants. In addition, the possible effects of flaxseed or flaxseed oil on young children have not been studied, so they are not recommended for children under 12 years of age.
Women with hormone-dependent conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or cancers of the breast, ovaries, or uterus should not take flaxseed products due to possible estrogenic effects. Men with prostate cancer should also avoid taking flaxseed products.
Flaxseed can block the esophagus or parts of the intestinal tract. Therefore individuals who have had esophageal or intestinal blockages should not use flaxseed.

Precautions
Flaxseed must be taken with adequate quantities of water (about 8 ounces of water or other liquid for each tablespoon of flaxseed) to prevent gastrointestinal blockages.
 http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/HerbsCareful/0,3924,552063|Linseed%2Boil,00.html

Some people think that they can get all the benefits of flaxseed by taking flaxseed oil instead of freshly ground seed. With the many flaxseed oils now labeled "high lignan" or "ultra lignan," you might think they're right.

Buyer, Beware!


Some people think that they can get all the benefits of flaxseed by taking flaxseed oil instead of freshly ground seed. With the many flaxseed oils now labeled "high lignan" or "ultra lignan," you might think they're right.

Unfortunately, they are very wrong. A new study from Optimal Research in San Diego, California found that flaxseed oils contain very little of the cancer-fighting lignans found in whole flaxseed - even those claimed to be "high lignan" oils! Lignans are naturally present in the seed's outer shell, not in the refined oils - so freshly ground flaxseed is still the best way to get lignans into your diet.

Why the misleading labels?

Medical studies on both animals and humans have used ground flaxseed as well to successfully tread certain cancers. In response to this and related medical news, several manufacturers of flaxseed oil have begun adding seed particles back in the oils to give them trace of the lignan content found in whole flaxseed, and these companies are subsequently advertising the new products as lignan-rich oils. The miniscule amount of lignans added may turn out to be less than consumers would expect from reading the labels and ads.


Big claims, very little value!



The labels may say that the flaxseed oils are "high lignan," but if you read the fine print, you'll see that these claims are usually with a percentage of "particulates" rather than lignans. Optimal Research Labs researcher and author of the Flaxseed Revolution, Michael Bennit, PharmD. reported that in his study of these so called high lignans oils, "lignans were found only in very small percentages in these particulates, and the particulates weren't found throughout the oils. They were located only in a small layer of sludge stuck to the bottom of the bottles."


TOXIC EFFECTS OF LINSEED OIL

CONTRAINDICATIONS, PRECAUTIONS, ADVERSE REACTIONS
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Women who are pregnant should not use supplemental flaxseed oil or flaxseed because of the theoretical possibility that these lignan-containing substances might induce menstruation.
PRECAUTIONS
Infants, young children, and nursing mothers should avoid supplemental flaxseed oil. Because of possible antithrombotic activity, those with hemophilia and those taking warfarin should be cautious about the use of supplemental flaxseed oil or flaxseed. Flaxseed oil intake should be halted in those having surgical procedures.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Flaxseed oil may cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea.
INTERACTIONS
With Drugs
Interactions may occur between flaxseed oil-ALA and its metabolites and warfarin, aspirin and NSAIDs. Such interactions, if they were to occur, might be manifested by nosebleeds and increased susceptibility to bruising. If this does occur, consideration should be given to lowering or stopping intake.
With Nutritional Supplements
Interactions may occur if flaxseed oil is used with other nutritional supplements, such as fish oils, which have antithrombotic activity.
With Herbs

Interactions may occur between ALA and its metabolites with such herbs as garlic (Allium sativa) and ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba). Such interactions might be manifested by nosebleeds and easy bruising.
Potassium Levels
If flaxseed or flaxseed oil is used in high doses or for prolonged periods of time, reduced potassium levels in the body may result. Low potassium levels can result in muscle weakness and potentially dangerous changes in heart rhythm.
LINSEED OIL CAUSE CANCER

See the articles of very high impact-]

Braden LM, Carroll KK. Dietary polyunsaturated fat in relation to mammary carcinogenesis in rats. Lipids 1986;21:285–8.
De Stefani E, Deneo-Pellegrini H, Mendilaharsu M, Ronco A. Essential fatty acids and breast cancer; a case-control study in Uruguay. Int J Cancer 1998;76:491–4.
Bougnoix P. Alpha-linolenic acid content of adipose breast tissue: a host determinant of the risk of early metastasis in breast cancer. Br J Cancer 1994;70:330–40.
Pandalai PK, Pilat MJ, Yamazaki K, et al. The effects of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on in vitro prostate cancer growth. Anticancer Res 1996;16:815–20.
Giovannucci E, Rimm EB, Colditz GA, et al. A prospective study of dietary fat and risk of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993;85:1571–9.














Sources
 http://www.lignanhealth.com/
 http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/research/flax.htm