DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am 72 years old and have prostate cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides and diabetes.
In October, my local paper had an article that wrote there was an increased risk of prostate cancer in men who ate flax seeds. It recommended that men eat fish or omega oils instead. It also said that we could completely stay away from flaxseed oil and flaxseed oil pills.
For the past seven years I have been using flaxseed oil and flaxseed oil pills. I consume 2000 mg daily. My doctors have never told me there was a problem with my usage of the supplement. My PSA has varied from 4.9 to 6.9. I would like to know your opinion of this.
DEAR READER:
This is a complex issue. Not many studies have been done to determine the benefits of flaxseed.
The article you read may have been reporting on the results of several medical studies that showed a possible link between prostate cancer and alpha-linolenic acid (which is present in flaxseed). More studies are needed before an answer can be given because another study involving men with prostate cancer showed that flaxseed supplements did not increase PSA levels.
The Mayo Clinic recommends that men with or at risk for prostate cancer avoid flaxseed and alpha-linolenic acid supplements.
That being said, there are other reasons you may want to discontinue your flaxseed oil regimen. Flaxseed is omega-3 fatty acid which can be beneficial for most patients. But you have diabetes. Some studies have shown that omega-3’s can actually increase blood sugar levels. You also mention a high triglyceride level. While I often recommend flaxseed oil and omega-3 to aid cholesterol reduction, this may not be appropriate for individuals with elevated triglyceride levels as it may actually increase the level.
Flaxseed is not without side effects. Some individuals may develop allergic reactions. It can also have laxative effects and in overdose can lead to a build-up of blood levels of the toxic chemical cyanide. Rarely, if whole flaxseeds are not taken correctly or too much is taken, it can lead to bowel obstruction or even a total stoppage of intestinal movement. Flaxseed oil is only the alpha-linolenic acid of the flaxseed and may not have all the potential benefits and side effects of the whole seed.
I suggest you speak to your physician about your consumption of flaxseed oil. He or she can give you information more specific to your situation. While flaxseed and its derivatives may have health benefits, more research needs to be done.
For readers who would like to learn more about flaxseed, I recommend you go check out the article on the Mayo Clinic’s website. It can be found at http://www.MayoClinic.com/health/flaxseed/NS_patient-flaxseed.
To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “The Prostate Gland”, “Living with Diabetes”, “Hypertension”, and “Understanding Cholesterol”. Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 per report to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
About Dr. Gott