Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract; Linseed Oil
(in 1,567 products)

Potential Risk Index®:

ISCE InhaleISCE SwallowISCE ContactISCE Environment
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About:

Functions:
1. Dietary / Nutritional Supplement - Vitamins, minerals, proteins, fatty acids or probiotics that improves nutritional intake
2. Insecticide / Pesticide - Kills or inhibits unwanted organisms
Both flaxseed oil and linseed oil come from the same flax plant. Cold-pressing the seeds of the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum) where heat and chemicals are not used will yield Flaxseed Oil. The extraction of oils from the flax plant via other chemical solvents will yield Linseed Oil. Flaxseed oil is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3 fatty acid) which the body converts to docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. Flaxseed oil is similar to fish oil and is also used as a dietary supplement. Linseed oil is commonly used industrially as a paint-thinner and wood varnish. [1]
Recent Findings:
Composition/Background
Flaxseed oil contains palmitic acid (C16 fatty acids), stearic acid (C18 fatty acids), oleic acid (C18 omega-9 fatty acids), linoleic acid (C18 omega-6 fatty acids), and alpha-linolenic acid (C18 omega-3 fatty acids). With the most abundant being alpha-linolenic acid. [2] Flaxseed oil is also naturally high in antioxidants like “tocopherols and beta-carotene”. [3] However, “traditional flaxseed oil gets easily oxidized after being extracted and purified”. [3]
In traditional Indian medicine, Ayurveda, it is used as a panacea for many ailments: “According to Ayurveda, flaxseed has properties like Madhura (balances the skin pH), Picchaila (lubricous) Balya (improves tensile strength or elasticity of the skin), Grahi (improves moisture holding capacity of skin), Tvagdoshahrit (removes skin blemishes), Vranahrit(wound healing) and useful in Vata (skin) disorders including dryness, undernourishment, lack of luster/glow”. [3]
Beneficial Effects on Skin
In an experiment conducted on 26 human volunteers, capsules of flaxseed oil and safflower oil were given. [4] Flaxseed oil shows decreased skin irritation via diminished inflammatory response and also showed “significant decreases in TEWL (transepidermal water loss) were found, by 21% after 6 and 31% after 12 weeks”. Additionally, “skin hydration was increased in the flaxseed oil group: 7% after 6 weeks, 39% after 12 weeks.” [4] Topical application of flaxseed oil wasn't as effective and was "associated with low availability of protective agents (in the flaxseed oil) in the skin cells, especially within the deeper skin layers.” [4]
Beneficial Effects on Hypercholesterol, Hepatotoxicity and Human Breast Tumors
Flaxseed oil when blended with high-oleic canola oil, can be “cardioprotective due to its lipid-lowering effects”. [5] It also has a protective effect on cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity “due to its intrinsic biochemical/antioxidant properties”. [6] Flaxseed oil has been shown to inhibit the growth of human breast tumors, where the hypothesized mechanism of action is “via downregulation of growth-factor mediated pathway, likely through its ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) content”. [7]
UV-B Protection
In an experiment conducted on SPF hairless mice, derived from Skh mice, alpha-linolenic acid from flaxseed oil works when consumed, though not when applied topically. [8]
Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic and Antipyretic Effects
In an experiment conducted on Wistar albino rats via oral, intramuscular and intraperitoneal routes (with oral being least effective) of flaxseed oil, anti-inflammatory, analgesic (reduces pain), and antipyretic (reduces fever) effects were noted. [9] It is hypothesized that the mechanism of action is by “inhibiting prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), histamine and bradykinin”. [9]
Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA)
The topical application of linseed oil on 82 patients based on the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale showed that “Linseed oil turned out to have significant effects on reducing pain and symptoms of patients with knee OA as compared to the placebo group.” [10] Where “knee-related quality of life in the linseed group significantly improved after the study compared with the placebo group.” and it was hypothesized that the “anti-inflammatory effect of linseed oil may be attributed to its inhibitory activity on prostaglandin E2, histamine, leukotriene B4, and bradykinin release.” [10]
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The topical application of flaxseed oil gel on 49 patients based on the Boston Carpel Tunnel Questionnaire showed with 99.9% certainty that flaxseed oil gel is more effective in the improvement of symptoms compared to using a hand splint. [11]
Anti-arthritic Effects
In an experiment conducted on Wistar albino rats with complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis showed that the injection of linseed oil resulted in visibly decreased swelling. [12]
Overall, most of the beneficial effects of flaxseed/linseed oil stem predominantly from the properties of alpha-linolenic acid (C18 omega-3 fatty acids). Most of the health benefits are also derived from its anti-inflammatory properties, leading to other aspects such as analgesic and antipyretic effects. The most effective routes of administration to obtain the full beneficial effects of flaxseed oil is via injection, then oral consumption followed by topical application.
Scientific References:
1. Subcritical extraction of flaxseed oil with n-propane: Composition and purity. (Food Chem., 188, 452–458. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.05.033)
2. Flax and flaxseed oil: an ancient medicine & modern functional food. (J. Food Sci. Technol., 51(9), 1633–1653. doi:10.1007/s13197-013-1247-9)
3. Supplementation of Flaxseed Oil Diminishes Skin Sensitivity and Improves Skin Barrier Function and Condition. (Skin Pharmacol. Physiol., 24(2), 67–74. doi:10.1159/00032144)
4. High-oleic rapeseed (canola) and flaxseed oils modulate serum lipids and inflammatory biomarkers in hypercholesterolaemic subjects. (Br. J. Nutr., 105(03), 417–427. doi:10.1017/s0007114510003697)
5. Studies on the protective effect of flaxseed oil on cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity. (Hum. Exp. Toxicol., 31(4), 364–375. doi:10.1177/096032711143250)
6. Flaxseed oil reduces the growth of human breast tumors (MCF-7) at high levels of circulating estrogen. (Mol. Nutr. Food Res., 54(10), 1414–1421. doi:10.1002/mnfr.200900521)
7. Dietary, but not Topical, Alpha-linolenic Acid Suppresses UVB-induced Skin Injury in Hairless Mice when Compared with Linoleic Acid. (Photochem. Photobiol., 76(6), 657–663. doi:10.1562/0031-8655(2002)0760657dbntal2.0.co2)
8. Antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of Linum usitatissimum L.(flaxseed/linseed) fixed oil. (Indian J. Exp. Biol. 2011; 49:932-938.)
9. Efficacy of topical Linum usitatissimum L. (flaxseed) oil in knee osteoarthritis: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. (Complement. Ther. Clin. Pract., 31, 302–307. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.03.003)
10. Topical Gel From Flax Seed Oil Compared With Hand Splint in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. (J. Evid.-Based Complement. Alternat. Med., 22(3), 462–467. doi:10.1177/2156587216677822)
11. Linseed Oil: An Investigation of its Antiarthritic Activity in Experimental Models. (Phytother. Res., 26(2), 246–252. doi:10.1002/ptr.3535)

Potential Health Concerns For:

1. Weight Gain (PubMed ID:23409006)

Potential Health Benefits For:

1. Breast Neoplasms (PubMed ID:21138602)
2. Heart Diseases (PubMed ID:28209094)
3. Hypertension (PubMed ID:3905217)

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