According to Breastcancer.org, 85 percent of women in the U.S. experience hot flashes around the time of menopause. Moreover, between 20 to 50 percent of women continue to have them for many years after menopause. While some studies show that flaxseed oil relieved symptoms, more recent studies disprove those earlier findings. Check with your doctor before trying flaxseed to decrease your symptoms.
Hot Flashes
Decreasing levels of estrogen in women as they age prevents the hypothalamus from functioning properly to regulate sleep cycles, appetite, sex hormones and body temperature. When your body mistakenly perceives that your temperature is too hot, it begins the cooling process. Your blood vessels dilate to increase blood circulation and your sweat glands go into overdrive. Some women experience temperature increases of over six degrees according to BreastCancer.org.
Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseeds contain substances called lingnan, which are a plant-based type of estrogen. However, dietary flaxseed oil does not contain either fiber or the antioxidant, lignan, both found in the hull of the flaxseed. Flaxseed oil does contain the essential fatty acid of flax, called alphaplinolenic acid, which changes into the heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Scientific Studies
Despite some research showing flaxseed oil may reduce the effects of night sweats and hot flashes, scientific evidence does not definitively prove the connection. According to MayoClinic.com, preliminary evidence exists showing links between flaxseed oil and mild symptoms, but more research is needed. The National Institutes of Health makes no mention of links between flaxseed oil and hot flashes in a 2011 flaxseed oil factsheet.
Alternative Treatments
Talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy, which may be a more effective treatment for hot flashes, but be aware that it comes with increased links to heart disease and breast cancer. While not approved for treating hot flashes, some antidepressant drugs decreased the frequency of hot flashes by 50 percent in some women according to a 2011 study in the "Journal of the American Medical Association," as opposed to a 36 percent decrease in the placebo group. You may also try reducing stress with yoga and deep breathing, avoiding triggers such as alcohol, hot showers or spicy foods, dressing in layers and lowering your home thermostat.
References
- BreastCancer.org; All About Hot Flashes; May 2011
- BreastCancer.org; ASCO: Flaxseed No Help for Hot Flashes; Crystal Phend; June 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil (Linumusitatissimum)
- "The New York Times"; Regimens: Antidepressant May Help Quench Hot Flashes; Nicholas Bakalar; January 2011
- Medline Plus; Flaxseed Oil; February 2011
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