Omega-3 fats may decrease your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and stroke. Flaxseed oil is a source of both omega-3 and omega-6 fats. However, the type of omega-3 fats in flaxseed oil is different from that found in fish oil, which is the type used for many of the studies on the benefits of omega-3 fats, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC.
Omega-3 Fat Types
Fish oil contains the omega-3 fats eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. The omega-3 contained in flaxseed oil is alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. Most people can convert ALA to DHA and EPA, but the conversion is very inefficient, and people with certain conditions, including diabetes and schizophrenia, may not be able to make the conversion.
Flaxseed Oil Health Benefits
Consuming flaxseed oil may increase your immune function, lower your risk for heart disease and help with dry skin, according to AskDrSears.com. Replacing saturated and trans fats with unsaturated fats, such as flaxseed oil, may also reduce your risk for obesity.
Considerations
Flaxseed oil goes rancid quickly. Purchase it in small quantities in dark bottles and keep it refrigerated. Do not use flaxseed oil for cooking, as heat destroys the oil's healthy benefits.
Consuming flaxseed oil along with foods containing antioxidants can improve the benefits of flaxseed oil, according to AskDrSears.com.
Warning
ALA may increase the risk of macular degeneration and prostate cancer, and may interfere with the absorption of certain medications, including blood-thinning medications, cholesterol-lowering medications and blood-sugar lowering medications, according to UMMC.
Expert Insight
The Mayo Clinic suggests a dose between 0.8 g and 1.1 g of ALA per day for healthy individuals, along with 0.3 g to 0.5 g of EPA and DHA. One tablespoon of flaxseed oil contains about 7 g of ALA, which is approximately equivalent to 1 g of fish oil, according to UMMC.
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