Flaxseed oil: a small blood pressure drop, seen in people who were already unwell

The firmest number for flaxseed oil comes from a meta-analysis of only 5 randomized trials in people with metabolic syndrome and related disorders. Systolic blood pressure fell by 3.9 mmHg, with a wide 95% confidence interval from 7.6 down to 0.1, and diastolic pressure did not change significantly. In adults without disease the picture is flat. Seventeen trials of olive or flaxseed oil capsules, just 3 of them flaxseed, found no effect on blood pressure (systolic minus 0.5 mmHg, not significant). The oil is close to 100 g of fat per 3.5 oz (100 g) in a single USDA record, and a tablespoon weighs 14 g. Its omega-3 is ALA, and the body does not reliably turn that into the kind found in fish. One review with a small, mixed evidence base counted seven of ten intervention studies in which ALA from nut and seed oils was not converted to DHA at all.

The numbers, per 3.5 oz (100 g)

As people eat it, per 3.5 oz (100 g)

How much is actually in it

• USDA lists cold-pressed flaxseed oil as almost pure fat, about 100 g per 3.5 oz (100 g), with 9 g saturated fat and 9.3 ug vitamin K. — USDA SR Legacy, Oil, flaxseed, cold pressed (FDC 167702) Evidence E source
  Per 100 g: fat 99.98 g; saturated fat 8.976 g; vitamin K 9.3 ug

What a real portion looks like

• In the US survey database a tablespoon of flaxseed oil weighs 14 g, which is also the default amount coded when none is given. — FNDDS Flaxseed oil (code 82103500) Evidence E source
  1 tablespoon 14 g; 1 cup 224 g; quantity not specified 14 g

What your body absorbs

• In an RCT delivering 6 g ALA a day in muffins for 3 months, flaxseed oil raised plasma ALA more than milled seed, whole seed did not raise it, and none raised EPA or DHA. — Healthy men and women; flaxseed oil (6 g ALA), milled or whole seed (30 g) baked into muffins, 3 months Evidence B source
  Plasma ALA: oil > milled seed (P = 0.004); whole seed no significant rise; no EPA or DHA increase; early GI discomfort in oil and whole-seed groups
• In a 4-week RCT giving 6 g ALA a day, flaxseed oil raised plasma ALA and EPA in all who received it, in both the 18-29 and 45-69 year groups. — Adults aged 18-29 or 45-69 years; 6 g ALA/day as flaxseed oil or 30 g ground flaxseed, 4 weeks Evidence B source
  Significant rises in plasma ALA and EPA in all oil groups; no change in platelet aggregation or cholesterol
• A review of intervention studies found that ALA from nut and seed oils such as flaxseed oil was not converted to DHA in seven of ten key studies. — Intervention studies of vegetarian omega-3 sources over the previous 10 years (n = 10 studies) Evidence C source
  7 studies: no conversion of ALA to DHA; algal oil raised DHA in 3 studies

What it does to your health

• In the same Cochrane review, more ALA probably slightly lowered the risk of arrhythmia (RR 0.73, 2 trials with 4,912 people), with one fewer case for every 91 people. — participants in 2 RCTs of increased ALA reporting arrhythmia (n = 4912) Evidence A source
  Arrhythmia RR 0.73 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.97), NNTB 91; CVD events RR 0.95 (0.83 to 1.07), NNTB 500
• A 2024 meta-analysis of 17 trials of olive oil or flaxseed oil in healthy and at-risk adults found no effect on systolic blood pressure (-0.48 mmHg) or inflammation markers. — normotensive adults or adults at risk of hypertension; 14 olive oil and 3 flaxseed oil RCTs (n = 17 RCTs) Evidence A source
  Systolic BP MD -0.48 mmHg (95% CI -1.76 to 0.80); diastolic BP -0.47 mmHg (-1.33 to 0.39); CRP, IL-6 not changed
• In the same 12-week trial in 59 adults, flaxseed oil did not change artery dilation, arterial stiffness or retinal vessels compared with high-oleic sunflower oil. — overweight and obese adults with high-normal BP or stage 1 hypertension; 10 g/day flaxseed oil (4.7 g ALA) vs high-oleic sunflower oil, 12 weeks (n = 59) Evidence B source
  No change in flow-mediated vasodilation, pulse wave velocity, retinal microvascular calibers; fasting free fatty acids -58 µmol/L and TNF-α -0.14 pg/mL
• Observational data from 41 cohort reports with about 1.2 million people link each extra 1 g of ALA a day with 5% lower cardiovascular death and 5% lower death from any cause. — prospective cohort studies, follow-up 2 to 32 years (n = 1197564) Evidence C source
  Per 1 g/day ALA: CVD mortality RR 0.95 (95% CI 0.91 to 0.98), 14 analyses; all-cause mortality 0.95 (0.91 to 0.99), 12 analyses
• A meta-analysis of 12 studies in metabolic syndrome and related disorders found flaxseed supplementation lowered IL-6 by 0.22 units and malondialdehyde by 0.17 units. — Patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders, searched to January 2019 (n = 12 studies) Evidence A source
  IL-6 WMD -0.22 (95% CI -0.43 to -0.01); MDA -0.17 (-0.31 to -0.03); TAC +137.25 (68.04 to 206.47)

Safety, limits and interactions

• The Cochrane review also found that raising ALA had little or no effect on serious adverse events, blood lipids or blood pressure. — adults in RCTs of at least 12 months increasing ALA or long-chain omega-3 Evidence A source
  Little or no effect on serious adverse events, adiposity, lipids and blood pressure for ALA
• The NIH complementary health center says higher doses of flaxseed oil supplements may cause bloating, fullness and diarrhea, and there are theoretical reasons it may interact with blood thinners. — adults using flaxseed or flaxseed oil supplements Evidence E source
  Digestive symptoms at higher doses; theoretical interaction with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs
• NCCIH notes theoretical reasons that flaxseed oil might interact with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. — people taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines Evidence E source
  Possible interaction, not demonstrated
• In 1622 older men after a heart attack, 2 g of extra ALA a day for 40 months did not clearly raise PSA, the prostate cancer marker (difference 0.10 ng/mL, CI including zero). — Post-myocardial infarction patients aged 60-80 with PSA <4 ng/mL; 2 g/day ALA or placebo in margarine for 40 months (Alpha Omega Trial) (n = 1622) Evidence B source
  PSA difference +0.10 ng/mL (95% CI -0.02 to 0.22); OR for PSA >4 ng/mL 1.15 (0.84 to 1.58)

What people believe that the data does not support

• The EU did not authorize the label claim that flaxseed oil or its alpha-linolenic acid promotes heart health. — EU food labeling Evidence E source
  Claim non-authorized
• In healthy or at-risk adults without disease, 17 RCTs of olive or flaxseed oil capsules showed no effect on blood pressure (systolic -0.5 mmHg, not significant). — Normotensive to stage 1 hypertensive adults; 14 olive oil and 3 flaxseed oil capsule trials, searched to October 2023 (n = 17 RCTs) Evidence A source
  SBP -0.48 mmHg (95% CI -1.76 to 0.80); DBP -0.47 mmHg (-1.33 to 0.39); CRP and IL-6 unchanged
• Observational data from prospective cohorts link higher dietary ALA with slightly lower prostate cancer risk, not higher (RR 0.99 per 0.5 g/day). — 16 prospective cohort publications on omega-3 intake or blood levels and prostate cancer, searched to February 2014 (n = 16 publications) Evidence C source
  Dietary ALA RR 0.99 per 0.5 g/day (95% CI 0.98-1.00); result dominated by one study
• The EU did not authorize the claim that flaxseed oil or its alpha-linolenic acid promotes heart health. — EU health claim application for flaxseed oil / alpha-linolenic acid Evidence E source
  Status: non-authorized
• The EU also rejected the claim that flaxseed oil stabilizes moods. — EU health claim application for flaxseed oil Evidence E source
  Status: non-authorized

Who this works differently for

• In the Alpha Omega trial of 4,837 heart attack survivors, about 2 g a day of extra ALA in margarine for 40 months did not significantly reduce major cardiovascular events (HR 0.91). — patients aged 60 through 80 after myocardial infarction on standard drug therapy, 78% men; margarine with 2 g/day ALA, EPA-DHA, both, or placebo for 40 months (n = 4837) Evidence B source
  Major cardiovascular events HR 0.91 (95% CI 0.78 to 1.05) for ALA; women subgroup HR 0.73 (0.51 to 1.03)
• A 2022 meta-analysis of 5 trials found flaxseed oil lowered systolic blood pressure by 3.86 mmHg in people with metabolic syndrome and related disorders. — patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders in RCTs of flaxseed oil (n = 5 trials (6 arms)) Evidence A source
  Systolic BP WMD -3.86 mmHg (95% CI -7.59 to -0.13)
• A 2023 meta-analysis of 19 trials with 1,183 adults with overweight or obesity found ALA lowered triglycerides and systolic pressure but raised LDL cholesterol, reported as standardized differences. — adults with overweight or obesity; ALA from flaxseed, flaxseed oil, walnuts, chia and other plant sources vs placebo (n = 1183) Evidence A source
  Triglycerides SMD -4.41 (95% CI -5.99 to -2.82); systolic BP SMD -0.37 (-0.66 to -0.08); LDL SMD +1.32 (0.05 to 2.59); no effect on total cholesterol, HDL or diastolic BP
• In that meta-analysis, the drop in systolic pressure held only in trials lasting 12 weeks or more, using flaxseed or its products, giving at least 3 g of ALA, or enrolling people with high blood pressure. — 10 RCTs reporting systolic BP in adults with overweight or obesity (n = 10 studies) Evidence A source
  Systolic BP SMD -0.37 (95% CI -0.66 to -0.08), I2 71.58%; significant only in subgroups listed
• In a double-blind RCT of 59 adults with high-normal or stage 1 hypertension, 10 g of flaxseed oil a day for 12 weeks did not significantly change 24-hour blood pressure versus high-oleic sunflower oil. — overweight and obese adults with (pre-)hypertension, mean age 60; 10 g/day flaxseed oil (4.7 g ALA) vs high-oleic sunflower oil, 12 weeks (n = 59) Evidence B source
  24-h systolic BP -1.5 mmHg (95% CI -6.0 to 3.0); diastolic -1.4 mmHg (-4.2 to 1.4); mean arterial pressure -1.4 mmHg (-4.8 to 2.0)
• In an RCT of 60 adults with metabolic syndrome, 1.7 tbsp (25 mL) of flaxseed oil a day for 7 weeks did not improve blood lipids or fasting blood sugar more than sunflower oil. — adults aged 30 to 60 with metabolic syndrome in Shiraz, Iran; 25 mL/day flaxseed oil vs 25 mL/day sunflower oil, 7 weeks (n = 60) Evidence B source
  No between-group difference in blood lipids or fasting blood sugar at 7 weeks
• In 5 RCTs of people with metabolic syndrome and related disorders, flaxseed oil lowered systolic blood pressure by 3.9 mmHg but not diastolic pressure. — Patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders in randomized trials, searched to March 2020 (n = 5 RCTs) Evidence A source
  SBP -3.86 mmHg (95% CI -7.59 to -0.13); DBP -1.71 mmHg (-3.67 to 0.26, not significant)
• Across 19 RCTs with 1183 adults with overweight or obesity, ALA lowered triglycerides and CRP but raised LDL cholesterol, with a more prominent effect on heart risk profiles at 3 g a day or more from flaxseed or its oil. — Adults with overweight or obesity in randomized trials of plant ALA, searched to April 2023 (n = 1183) Evidence A source
  CRP SMD -0.38 (95% CI -0.72 to -0.04); TG -4.41 mg/dL (-5.99 to -2.82); SBP -0.37 (-0.66 to -0.08); LDL-C SMD 1.32 (0.05 to 2.59), labeled mg/dL in the abstract
• In a 12-week RCT in 60 healthy adults aged 65 to 80, 3.7 g of flaxseed oil a day improved verbal fluency versus corn oil, and no other cognitive test differed. — Healthy Japanese adults aged 65-80 without cognitive impairment; 3.7 g/day flaxseed oil (2.2 g ALA) or corn oil for 12 weeks (n = 60) Evidence B source
  Verbal fluency change 0.30 vs 0.03 (p < 0.05); all other cognitive tests not different
• In an RCT in 51 children and teens aged 6 to 17 with bipolar disorder, flax oil capsules for 16 weeks did not improve mania or depression scores over olive oil. — Youth aged 6-17 with bipolar I or II disorder; flax oil capsules (550 mg ALA per g) titrated to 12 a day vs olive oil, 16 weeks (n = 51) Evidence B source
  No significant differences in primary outcomes; well tolerated

What is still unknown

• A 2020 Cochrane review of 5 trials with 19,327 people found more plant omega-3 (ALA) probably made little or no difference to deaths from any cause or from cardiovascular disease (RR 0.96). — adults at varying cardiovascular risk in RCTs of at least 12 months increasing ALA intake (n = 19327) Evidence A source
  All-cause mortality RR 1.01 (95% CI 0.84 to 1.20); cardiovascular mortality RR 0.96 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.25), 4 RCTs, 18,619 people; moderate certainty
• For comparison, a 2020 meta-analysis of 62 trials with 3,772 people found flaxseed products lowered LDL by about 4 mg/dL and triglycerides by about 9 mg/dL. Most trials used ground flaxseed, not oil. — participants in 62 RCTs of flaxseed supplementation in any form (n = 3772) Evidence A source
  LDL WMD -4.21 mg/dL (95% CI -7.26 to -1.15); total cholesterol -5.39 mg/dL; triglycerides -9.42 mg/dL; HDL no change
• NCCIH says little is known about whether flaxseed oil is safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding. — pregnant and breastfeeding women Evidence E source
  Safety unknown

The bottom line

In 19 trials with 1183 adults with overweight or obesity, plant ALA raised LDL cholesterol. The abstract gives the pooled rise as 1.32 (95% CI 0.05 to 2.59) as a standardized difference with a mg/dL label, so its size in mg/dL is unclear. The authors saw a stronger effect on heart risk markers at 3 g of ALA a day or more from flaxseed or its oil. The ALA in those trials came from mixed sources. A separate meta-analysis in metabolic syndrome found flaxseed supplementation lowered IL-6, an inflammation marker in blood, by 0.22 units. That is a small change in a marker. Absorption itself works. Six grams of ALA a day as oil raised blood ALA and EPA in adults aged 18 to 29 and 45 to 69 alike over 4 weeks, in small groups. A 3-month trial gave the same dose baked into muffins, so the oil was heated. Oil raised blood ALA more than milled seed did, and no group gained EPA or DHA. The two small trials disagree on EPA. Two claims do not hold up. The EU did not authorize the wording that flaxseed oil promotes heart health, which means the evidence was not enough for that wording, and it rejected the claim that the oil stabilizes moods. In a 16-week trial in 51 children and teens aged 6 to 17 with bipolar disorder, flax oil capsules did no better than olive oil on the main outcomes. For thinking and memory the answer is unclear. In 60 healthy Japanese adults aged 65 to 80, 3.7 g a day for 12 weeks improved verbal fluency against corn oil. It was the only positive result among several tests, and the groups already differed at the start. On prostate cancer the trial did not show a clear effect. In 1622 men aged 60 to 80 after a heart attack, 2 g of extra ALA a day for 40 months raised PSA by 0.10 ng/mL more than placebo, with a confidence interval from minus 0.02 to 0.22. That ALA came in margarine, with no flaxseed oil, and PSA is a blood marker, so the trial did not count cancers. Cohort data link each extra 0.5 g of dietary ALA a day with a relative risk of 0.99, an observational result dominated by one study. We have no usable trial on pregnancy or on blood thinners, so this page cannot tell you the oil is safe in either case.

Sources

1. flxo-daily-r4-02 · dataset
   Oil, flaxseed, cold pressed (FDC 167702, SR Legacy): Total lipid (fat) 99.98 g; Fatty acids, total saturated 8.976 g; Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 9.3 ug per 100 g
   USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 2018 · checked 2026-09-29
2. flxo-daily-r4-01 · dataset
   Flaxseed oil, FNDDS 82103500, fdc_id 2710185: 1 cup 224 g; 1 tablespoon 14 g; Quantity not specified 14 g
   USDA FoodData Central, FNDDS survey foods, release 2024-10-31 · checked 2026-09-29
3. flxo-daily-r4-03 · RCT
   Flaxseed ingestion over a 1 month period resulted in significant (P = 0.005) increases in plasma ALA levels in the flaxseed oil and the milled flaxseed supplemented groups. The former group had significantly (P = 0.004) higher ALA levels than the milled flaxseed group. ... However, no significant increase was detected in plasma eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels in any of the flax-fed groups.
   J Am Coll Nutr, 2008 · checked 2026-09-29
4. flxo-daily-r4-04 · RCT
   All subjects who received flaxseed oil showed a significant increase in plasma ALA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) concentrations over the course of this study.
   Eur J Clin Nutr, 2009 · checked 2026-09-29
5. flxo-daily-r4-05 · systematic review
   Ten key papers published over the last 10 years were identified with seven intervention studies reporting that ALA from nut and seed oils was not converted to DHA at all.
   Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2014 · checked 2026-09-29
6. ev-flxoh-02 · Cochrane review
   However, increased ALA may slightly reduce risk of cardiovascular disease events (NNTB 500, RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.07; but RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.04 in RCTs at low summary risk of bias; 19,327 participants; 884 cardiovascular disease events in 5 RCTs; low-certainty evidence), and probably slightly reduces risk of arrhythmia (NNTB 91, RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.97; 4912 participants; 173 events in 2 RCTs; moderate-certainty evidence).
   Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2020 · checked 2026-10-07
7. ev-flxoh-06 · meta-analysis
   Meta-analysis using a random-effects model reported no significant effect on SBP n=17 mean difference (MD) -0.48; 95% CI: -1.76, 0.80; p=0.65, I2 =0%) and DBP (n=16, MD -0.47; 95% CI: -1.33, 0.39; p=0.65, I2 =0%) or inflammatory markers, CRP (n=8, MD 0.11; 95% CI: -1.18, 0.40; p=0.98, I2 =0%), IL6 (n=3, MD -0.15; 95% CI: -0.57, 0.27; p=0.87, I2 =0%), and TNFα (n=3, MD-0.08; 95% CI: -0.12, -0.03; p=0.98, I2 =0%).
   Curr Hypertens Rev, 2024 · checked 2026-10-07
8. ev-flxoh-10 · RCT
   As compared with the high-oleic oil control, intake of flaxseed oil did not change brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation, carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity, retinal microvascular calibers and plasma markers of microvascular endothelial function during the fasting and postprandial phase.
   Clin Nutr, 2020 · checked 2026-10-07
9. ev-flxoh-13 · meta-analysis of cohorts
   In the dose-response analysis, a 1 g/day increase in ALA intake (equivalent to one tablespoon of canola oil or 0.5 ounces of walnut) was associated with a 5% lower risk of all cause (0.95, 0.91 to 0.99, I2=76.2%, n=12) and CVD mortality (0.95, 0.91 to 0.98, I2=30.7%, n=14).
   BMJ, 2021 · checked 2026-10-07
10. flxo-daily-r4-09 · meta-analysis of RCTs
    Flaxseed supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in interleukin 6 (IL-6) (WMD: -0.22; 95% CI: -0.43, -0.01) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (WMD: -0.17; 95% CI: -0.31, -0.03)
    Clin Nutr ESPEN, 2020 · checked 2026-09-29
11. ev-flxoh-03 · Cochrane review
    Increasing LCn3 and ALA had little or no effect on serious adverse events, adiposity, lipids and blood pressure, except increasing LCn3 reduced triglycerides by ˜15% in a dose-dependent way (high-certainty evidence).
    Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2020 · checked 2026-10-07
12. ev-flxoh-14 · agency position
    Higher doses of flaxseed or flaxseed oil supplements may cause uncomfortable digestive symptoms like bloating, fullness, and diarrhea.
    NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil, last updated February 2025 · checked 2026-10-07
13. ev-flxoh-15 · agency position
    There are theoretical reasons to suspect that flaxseed or flaxseed oil might interact with other drugs, such as anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
    NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil, last updated February 2025 · checked 2026-10-07
14. flxo-daily-r4-11 · RCT (secondary analysis)
    Mean serum PSA increased by 0.42 ng/mL on placebo (n = 815) and by 0.52 ng/mL on ALA (n = 807), a difference of 0.10 (95% confidence interval: -0.02 to 0.22) ng/mL (P = 0·12).
    PLoS One, 2013 · checked 2026-09-29
15. ev-flxoh-17 · regulatory decision
    POL-HC-7106 Flaxseed oil/alpha-linoleic acid Promotes heart health Non-authorised
    EU Register on nutrition and health claims, claim POL-HC-7106, snapshot 2026-09-21 · checked 2026-10-07
16. flxo-daily-r4-07 · meta-analysis of RCTs
    Meta-analysis using a random-effects model reported no significant effect on SBP n=17 mean difference (MD) -0.48; 95% CI: -1.76, 0.80; p=0.65, I2 =0%) and DBP (n=16, MD -0.47; 95% CI: -1.33, 0.39; p=0.65, I2 =0%)
    Curr Hypertens Rev, 2024 · checked 2026-09-29
17. flxo-daily-r4-12 · meta-analysis of cohorts
    Dietary alpha-linolenic acid was inversely associated with PCa risk (relative risk for 0.5 g/day increase in alpha-linolenic acid intake: 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-1.00; I(2) = 0%; P = 0.04 for linear trend), which was dominated by a single study.
    J Epidemiol, 2015 · checked 2026-09-29
18. flxo-daily-r4-14 · regulatory register
    POL-HC-7106 Flaxseed oil/alpha-linoleic acid Promotes heart health Non-authorised
    EU Register on nutrition and health claims, claim POL-HC-7106, snapshot 2026-09-21 · checked 2026-09-29
19. flxo-daily-r4-15 · regulatory register
    POL-HC-7105 Flaxseed oil Stabilises moods. Non-authorised
    EU Register on nutrition and health claims, claim POL-HC-7105, snapshot 2026-09-21 · checked 2026-09-29
20. ev-flxoh-04 · RCT
    Neither EPA-DHA nor ALA reduced this primary end point (hazard ratio with EPA-DHA, 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 1.17; P=0.93; hazard ratio with ALA, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.05; P=0.20).
    N Engl J Med, 2010 · checked 2026-10-07
21. ev-flxoh-05 · meta-analysis
    Meta-analysis of five trials (6 arms) showed significant reductions in systolic (WMD: -3.86 mmHg, 95% CI: -7.59 to -0.13, p = .04) BP (SBP) after flaxseed oil consumption.
    Phytother Res, 2022 · checked 2026-10-07
22. ev-flxoh-07 · meta-analysis
    Compared with placebo, dietary ALA supplementation significantly reduced C-reactive protein concentration (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.38 mg/L; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.72, -0.04), tumor necrosis factor-α concentration (SMD = -0.45 pg/mL; 95% CI: -0.73, -0.17), triglyceride in serum (SMD = -4.41 mg/dL; 95% CI: -5.99, -2.82), and systolic blood pressure (SMD = -0.37 mm Hg; 95% CI: -0.66, -0.08); but led to a significant increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations (SMD = 1.32 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.05, 2.59).
    Adv Nutr, 2023 · checked 2026-10-07
23. ev-flxoh-08 · meta-analysis
    In the subgroup analysis, the significant effects were only observed in studies with longer duration (≥12 wk), used flaxseed and its derivatives as ALA source, or used higher doses of ALA (≥3 g), included participants with higher baseline BMI (≥30 kg/m2), included participant with hypertension at baseline (SBP ≥ 130 or DBP ≥ 80 mm Hg), or studies of fair quality (Supplementary Table 4).
    Adv Nutr, 2023 · checked 2026-10-07
24. ev-flxoh-09 · RCT
    Compared with control, the changes of -1·4 mmHg in mean arterial pressure (MAP; 24 h ABP) after flaxseed oil intake (95 % CI -4·8, 2·0 mmHg, P=0·40) of -1·5 mmHg in systolic BP (95 % CI -6·0, 3·0 mmHg, P=0·51) and of -1·4 mmHg in diastolic BP (95 % CI -4·2, 1·4 mmHg, P=0·31) were not statistically significant.
    Br J Nutr, 2019 · checked 2026-10-07
25. ev-flxoh-11 · RCT
    The results showed no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding blood lipid levels and fasting blood sugar at the end of the study.
    J Clin Lipidol, 2018 · checked 2026-10-07
26. flxo-daily-r4-06 · meta-analysis of RCTs
    Meta-analysis of five trials (6 arms) showed significant reductions in systolic (WMD: -3.86 mmHg, 95% CI: -7.59 to -0.13, p = .04) BP (SBP) after flaxseed oil consumption. However, the overall effect illustrated no significant change in diastolic (WMD: -1.71 mmHg, 95% CI: -3.67 to 0.26, p = .09) BP (DBP)
    Phytother Res, 2022 · checked 2026-09-29
27. flxo-daily-r4-08 · meta-analysis of RCTs
    Nineteen eligible randomized controlled trials, including 1183 participants, were included in the meta-analysis. ... but led to a significant increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations (SMD = 1.32 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.05, 2.59). ... Subgroup analysis revealed that ALA supplementation at a dose of ≥3 g/d from flaxseed and flaxseed oil had a more prominent effect on improving CVD risk profiles
    Adv Nutr, 2023 · checked 2026-09-29
28. flxo-daily-r4-10 · RCT
    received either 3.7 g/day of flaxseed oil containing 2.2 g of alpha-linolenic acid, or an isocaloric placebo (corn oil) containing 0.04 g of alpha-linolenic acid for 12 weeks. ... All other cognitive test scores were not significantly different between the groups.
    Nutrients, 2023 · checked 2026-09-29
29. flxo-daily-r4-13 · RCT
    There were no significant differences in primary outcome measures when compared by treatment assignment.
    Bipolar Disord, 2010 · checked 2026-09-29
30. ev-flxoh-01 · Cochrane review
    Increasing ALA intake probably makes little or no difference to all-cause mortality (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.20; 19,327 participants; 459 deaths in 5 RCTs, moderate-certainty evidence),cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.25; 18,619 participants; 219 cardiovascular deaths in 4 RCTs; moderate-certainty evidence), coronary heart disease mortality (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.26; 18,353 participants; 193 coronary heart disease deaths in 3 RCTs; moderate-certainty evidence) and coronary heart disease events (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.22; 19,061 participants; 397 coronary heart disease events in 4 RCTs; low-certainty evidence).
    Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2020 · checked 2026-10-07
31. ev-flxoh-12 · meta-analysis
    Our analysis showed that flaxseed supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) (WMD = -5.389 mg/dL; 95% CI: -9.483, -1.295, p = 0.010), triglyceride (TG) (WMD = -9.422 mg/dL; 95% CI: -15.514, -3.330, p = 0.002), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD = -4.206 mg/dl; 95% CI: -7.260, -1.151, p = 0.007) concentrations.
    Pharmacol Res, 2020 · checked 2026-10-07
32. ev-flxoh-16 · agency position
    Little is known about whether it is safe to use flaxseed oil during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
    NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil, last updated February 2025 · checked 2026-10-07