Flaxseed provides no benefit in easing hot flashes among breast cancer patients and postmenopausal women, according to a Mayo Clinic and North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) study. The randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 188 women between October and December 2009 and found no statistically significant difference in mean hot flash scores between women taking flaxseed and those taking a placebo. Preliminary data published in 2007 by Mayo Clinic investigators suggested consuming 40 grams of crushed flaxseed daily might help manage hot flashes.

The researchers presented their new findings during the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago.

“Hot flashes are a common symptom during the menopause transition or following breast cancer treatment,” says Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., of Mayo Clinic’s Breast Diagnostic Clinic and a researcher with NCCTG. “While our preliminary data from our 2007 pilot study showed a reduction in hot flashes associated with the consumption of ground flaxseed, our new study did not result in a significant decrease in hot flashes with eating flaxseed compared to placebo.”

Flaxseed plant

Dr. Pruthi says patients shouldn’t give up flaxseed if they enjoy it. Flaxseed may be beneficial for people who want to add fiber and bulk to their diet to manage constipation, she says. Dr. Pruthi says more research is needed to identify whether flaxseed has any other health benefits.

Other study investigators include Rui Qin, Ph.D., Heshan Liu, Charles Loprinzi, M.D. and Regis Professor of Breast Cancer Research, and Debra Barton, R.N., Ph.D., all of Mayo Clinic.

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Comments

While flaxseeds may not be effective for treating hot flashes, they are still one of the best plant sources of Omega 3 fatty acids.

Thanks for the new info about this. However there are many studies that contradict each other. This is not useful for common people. Best thing is to test it out on your own and see..

Flaxseed is a wonderful thing to diversify meals. We find also that the children have less stomach problems when they have flaxseeds available. Are we only to use the products that are well researched? We might need also to know all the health benefits of wheat before we eat bread?

Can I just say what an aid to find somebody who truly is aware of what they're talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring a problem to mind and make it important. Extra people need to learn this and understand this side of the story. I can't consider you're not more common since you undoubtedly have the gift.

My natural health store put me on 5,000mg per day of flaxseed capsules to help with my "Hot Flashes" and I did have a few weeks of relief. BUT now I am worse than ever. I was so excited thinking I had found the miracle cure, but it was short lived and so disappointing. So on with the search till the day it finally stops.

Flaxseed is greatly used as a quick constipation remedies but relieving hot flashes I don't think its quite effective since a lot of reviews from women at menopausal stage is that it doesn't help.