When cold pressed and extracted without the use of solvents, flaxseed oil is safe for human consumption and can be used for cooking. Recently, flaxseed oil has seen a rise in popularity in the health food industry for its high concentration of alpha-linolenic acid, which is a polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acid. Farmers now feed flaxseed to chickens to produce eggs high in Omega-3.

Flaxseed oil has been purported to be useful in curing everything from attention deficit hyper activity disorder (ADHD) to prostate cancer. Scientifically, research does suggest that some disorders, such as ADHD and heart diseases that could result from deficiencies in key fatty acids, might be treated with flaxseed oil supplements, but there have been no conclusive studies specifically targeting the effect of flaxseed oil on ADHD or heart disease. In laboratory studies, flaxseed oil has been reported to lower blood cholesterol levels in animals. Human studies on cholesterol and flaxseed oil have been inconclusive.

The Mayo Clinic has given flaxseed oil a grade “C" rating for its potential to cure or alleviate symptoms of ADHD, high cholesterol, and menopause based on the most recent research. The “C" reflects the fact that most research in these areas has been inconclusive or too contradictory in nature to make a legitimate claim and that more studies are needed. The Mayo Clinic also lists other unstudied theoretical therapeutic uses for flaxseed and flaxseed oil to include abdominal pain, allergic reactions, bladder inflammation, bipolar disorder, burns, colon cancer, cough, depression, dry skin, eczema, enlarged prostate, melanoma, menstrual disorders, pimples, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, skin inflammation, sore throat, stomach upset, urinary tract infection, vision improvement, and weight loss among many other uses. Again, there is no hard evidence that flaxseed has any real effect on any of these health conditions.

Flaxseed oil should be kept refrigerated and stored in an opaque container protected from light and heat since both may cause a breakdown of its chemical components. One tablespoon of flaxseed oil contains seven grams of alpha-linolenic acid per fifteen milliliter tablespoon. It is available in capsule form generally containing 500 milligrams of alpha-linolenic acid per 1000 milligram capsule. Flaxseed oil can also be used as a topical solution.

While flaxseed oil appears to be safe for consumption based on historical use, some studies have suggested that it may cause mania or hypomania in bipolar disorder patients. Nausea, vomiting and abdominal irritation have been reported by some individuals taking flaxseed products. As with any dietary supplement, it is recommended that a physician or pharmacist be consulted before taking flaxseed oil. For more information on flaxseed oil, visit Flaxseed and flaxseed oil (Linum usitatissimum) - MayoClinic.com .

By: Christine Flanders