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FLAX FACTS FLAX REDUCES…
Tags: acute heart attack, alpha linolenic acid, blood levels, cell adhesion molecule, cell adhesion molecules, cohort study, coronary arteries, diane h morris, dr diane, flax, health study, heart attacks, intercellular adhesion molecule, lignans, molecule type, nurses health, omega 3 fatty acid, phytoestrogens, selectin, unstable angina,Pages: 2
Language: english
Created: Tue Dec 6 16:24:21 2005
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FLAX FACTS
FLAX REDUCES INFLAMMATION LEADING TO
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
by Dr. Diane H. Morris
Clinical Importance of Cell
SUMMARY Adhesion Molecules
The findings of one large cohort study the Nurses' Health
Study and two clinical studies suggest that diets rich in flax
Cell adhesion molecules include E-selectin, vascular
omega-3 fat (ALA) decrease blood levels of cell adhesion cell adhesion molecule type 1 (VCAM-1), and
molecules. Cell adhesion molecules are biomarkers of early intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 (ICAM-1). They
events in the development of atherosclerosis or hardening of are responsible for attaching leukocytes tightly to the
the arteries. endothelium.5
Soluble forms of these adhesion molecules appear
Flax is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the in the bloodstream. High blood levels of cell
essential omega-3 fatty acid, and lignans, which are adhesion molecules occur in several inflammatory
phytoestrogens and antioxidants. These flax disorders. For example, blood levels of VCAM-1 and
components decrease inflammatory factors associated ICAM-1, but not E-selectin, were increased significantly
with atherosclerosis also called "hardening of the in patients who had had an acute heart attack or who
arteries" and may help prevent heart attacks had either stable or unstable angina, but they were
and strokes. low in patients with normal coronary arteries.6
Blood levels of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were increased
Role of Cell Adhesion Molecules significantly in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
who have a high risk of coronary events compared
in Atherosclerosis
with healthy adults.7 (E-selectin was not measured in
Atherosclerosis begins in infancy and childhood this study.) These and other findings suggest that
when the earliest lesions, called fatty streaks, begin to blood levels of cell adhesion molecules may serve as
develop in arteries.1 In the early stages of fatty important clinical biomarkers of inflammation and
streak development, white blood cells (leukocytes) atherosclerosis.6-8
begin sticking to the inner lining of blood vessels
(the endothelium).
The sticking of leukocytes to the endothelium is Table
controlled by a group of compounds called cell
Active Agents in Atherosclerosis
adhesion molecules. Cell adhesion molecules are
stirred into action in response to signals from pro- Agent Actions
inflammatory compounds such as C-reactive protein C-reactive protein (CRP) An acute phase inflammatory protein;
(CRP) and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor high blood levels of CRP indicate the
(TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-6 presence of systemic inflammation or
infection.3
(IL-6). CRP and cytokines are themselves released in
response to inflammation.2-4 Cytokines Proteins released by immune cells; they
both start and amplify inflammatory
reactions.1
Refer to the Flax Council of Canada's fact sheet titled Flax Examples: interleukin-1 (IL-1),
Favourably Affects the Immune System for a review of how interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis
flax components decrease the blood levels of C-reactive factor (TNF)
protein and cytokines.
Cell adhesion molecules Respond to signals received from
cytokines; they promote the sticking of
The actions of cell adhesion molecules enhance white blood cells (leukocytes) to the inner
the formation of fatty streaks and plaques. Plaques lining of blood vessels (the endothelium)
are advanced lesions that can block the flow of and their blood levels may help predict
blood in the artery. If a plaque ruptures, it can cause risk of heart attack and stroke.6
Examples: E-selectin, vascular cell
a thrombosis that may result in a heart attack
adhesion molecule type 1 (VCAM-1),
(myocardial infarction) or stroke.4 (Consult the table intercellular adhesion molecule
for a description of compounds that promote type 1 (ICAM-1)
inflammation and atherosclerosis.)
ALA-Rich Diets Decrease Blood A clinical study conducted in Greece recruited
Levels of Cell Adhesion 90 men with high blood cholesterol who ate a typical
Greek diet. They were randomized to eat for 12 weeks
Molecules
a diet rich in ALA obtained from flax oil or a diet rich
Several recent studies suggest that flax and its in linoleic acid obtained from safflower oil. The ALA
essential omega-3 fatty acid, ALA, decrease the blood diet decreased VCAM-1 levels 18%.2
levels of soluble cell adhesion molecules. These
findings provide evidence that diets containing flax Regular Flax Consumption May
may help prevent or slow the progression of
Help Prevent Atherosclerosis
atherosclerosis.
New research suggests a role for flax in reducing
Cohort Study. In the Nurses' Health Study, a cohort of blood levels of cell adhesion molecules. Blood levels
727 women reported their usual dietary intake and of cell adhesion molecules may predict risk of heart
provided a blood sample in 1989-1990. The Nurses' attacks and stroke.6 A regular intake of flax may help
Health Study is a prospective cohort study that began prevent heart attacks and stroke by reducing
in 1976; follow-up data have been collected every inflammatory reactions associated with atherosclerosis.
2 years since then.
In these women, plasma concentrations of VCAM-1 References
and E-selectin tended to decrease as ALA intake
1. Licastro F, et al. Immunity Aging. 2005;2:8 (18 May 2005).
increased. Plasma concentrations of E-selectin, ICAM-1,
Available at www.immunityageing.com.
and VCAM-1 were all inversely related to the intake
2. Rallidis LS, et al. Atherosclerosis. 2004;174:127-132.
of total omega-3 fatty acids. Plasma VCAM-1
3. Wilson AM, et al. Int J Cardiol. 2005 (in press).
concentrations were lowest in women with ALA
4. Ross R. New Engl J Med. 1999;340:115-126.
intakes of 1.2-2.4 g/day or total omega-3 fat intakes
5. Hwang SJ, et al. Circulation. 1997;96:4219-4225.
of 1.4-3.3 g/day.9 [An ALA intake of 1.2-2.4 g/day can
6. Güray Ü, et al. Int J Cardiol. 2004;96:235-240.
be achieved by eating 2 - 4 tsp of milled flax or
7. Dessein PH, et al. Arthritis Res Ther. 2005;7:R634-R643.
1/2 - 1 tsp of flax oil daily.]
8. Wallberg-Jonsson S, et al. J Rheumatol. 2002;29:875-882.
Clinical Studies. In a clinical study, men and women 9. Lopez-Garcia E, et al. J Nutr. 2004;134:1806-1811.
with moderate hypercholesterolemia were assigned to 10. Zhao G, et al. J Nutr. 2004;134:2991-2997.
eat 3 test diets on a rotating basis. One diet was an
average American diet; one diet was rich in ALA
provided by a combination of walnuts, walnut oil,
and flax oil; and one diet was rich in linoleic acid, the
essential omega-6 fatty acid. The ALA-rich diet
significantly decreased serum ICAM-1, E-selectin, and
VCAM-1 concentrations compared with the average
American diet. In this study, the ALA-rich diet had
the largest beneficial effects on these markers of
endothelial activation.10 However, the ALA intake in
this clinical study was high 6.5% of energy or about
17 g ALA/day. [This intake level can be achieved by
consuming flax oil, which provides 8 g ALA/tbsp, in
addition to other ALA-containing foods.]
Flax Council of Canada, 465167 Lombard Ave., Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3B 0T6, E-mail: flax@flaxcouncil.ca Website: www.flaxcouncil.ca 11.2005ED11.05