Yes/No to Flaxseed Oil

[Debra]

Does anyone know of any reason why those of us in this club, shouldn't take flaxseed oil? I read about the health benefits of all the omega's, and it seems you need much less of flaxseed then fish oil to get the daily requirements. My caregiver doesn't see any problems but I guess I am concerned if it will interfere with the Herceptin or Tamoxifen in some way for I read that "sage" interferes with taxmoxifen and on one ever told me that! (not that I use a lot of sage when cooking). I read that in the Lance Armstrong book that was passed out through the Amer. Cancer Soc. during the relay for life walks last year.
Anyhow, I find Joe and all the others on this site to be a better resource to me then any caregivers I have encountered in the last year!

[heblaj01]

One of the main reason Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA) of marine origin are usually prefered is that the main ingredient, ALA,in flaxseed oil, is poorly converted into EPA & DHA in the body:
http://www.omega3sealoil.com/Chapter4_3c.html

An other practical reason is the more delicate conditions of storage & limited shelf life of flaxseed oil.
More reasons are provided in the above link.

[R.B.]

Heblaj01

TOP POST.

An exellent find.

This list is succinct and informative.

It interestingly for me ties very closely with one I have done independently based on my reading for the first draft of a book on the subject.

It deals indirectly with the other half of this "equation" which is to BALANCE the omega sixes and threes.

The subject of flaxseed or oil is a complex one and you will find lots of posts using the search facility above and entering flaxseed or flax seed.

ALA the "mother" omega three is found in greens or things that eat green things, and in quantity in a limited number of seeds and nuts. Flax seed is one of those high level sources. Undoubtably the body needs ALA so maybe a little oil or flax seed (see discussions), but the omega threes lacking in most people are the long chain omega three children DHA and EPA.

And as pointed the body has limited production facility, which we block by eating trans fats, alcohol, sugar, mineral deficienies, some drugs (I have long been asking if Herceptin intervenes in these pathways). Women make more than men when all works perfectly about 10% and men 1-2% - why because they are key to the reporductive function.

And all of this cannot be isolated form the basics of a good diet.

There is quite a lot on the subject if you search. The "Greek Diet" thread will be of interest.

DHA uptake was shown to drop off in one trial at about 2 grams per day.

Please do talk to your advisors as higher DHA EPA leads to blood thinning and can have other impacts for avery limited number of people.

RB

[hawktalk06]

Ok, I must say I am confused. When I was first diagnosed, I was given flax-seed by my first physician. Then when it was confirmed that it was Stage IV, after scans, I was told NOT to take it. Now, I'm not sure what I should be taking! Should we be taking it or not? hmmmm, this gets so confusing!

[heblaj01]

hawtalk06,
The best answer to your question should come from the onc who told you to stop taking flax seeds.
I can only guess what he might have considered.But one thing must be clarified: you are talking of seeds while the previous posts delt with oil extracted from the seeds. There is a significant difference in chemical ingredients.
May be it is the phytoestrogens in the seeds (but not present in the oil) which your onc did not like you to absorb?
While these phytoestrogens (assumed to be either not estrogenic or weakly so) are said to bind to ER+ receptors thus preventing the more cancer stimulating estrogen in blood from binding, your onc may fear they might do more harm than good. Especially if you are one of the lucky ones responding well to long term Herceptin single agent treatment. He may think why take a chance in changing things when they work.

[sarah]

Hi,
I'm ER+ and so I assume that taking flax seeds is NOT a good idea for me. But I'm also confused often by what I should or shouldn't be taking!
sarah