For years flaxseed has been pushed as an alternative to modern medicine to calm hot flashes typically brought on during menopause. It was believed that the plant based compounds helped women as they age, but a new study shows flaxseed doesn’t offer the relief once believed.
“I’ve tried flaxseed to help deal with my ever changing body temperature,” Rola Waters said. “I take it but I’ve never been sure of its effectiveness.”
Now Waters and other women using flaxseed should know a study showed it offered no more relief than a placebo.
“Hot flashes are a common symptom during the menopause transition or following breast cancer treatment,” says researcher Sandhya Pruthi, MD, of Mayo Clinic’s Breast Diagnostic Clinic, in a news release. “While our preliminary data from our 2007 pilot study showed a reduction in hot flashes associated with the consumption of ground flaxseed, our new study did not result in a significant decrease in hot flashes with eating flaxseed compared to placebo.”
The study, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Meeting in Chicago, tracked hot flashes in close to 200 women who each kept a diary of their hot flashes.
“The results showed that in both groups, about a third of the women reported a 50% reduction in hot flashes, and there was no significant difference between the two groups in hot flashes.”
About hot flashes
According to the Mayo Clinic, hot flashes can happen at any time, leaving you sweaty and red-faced. Although other hormonal conditions can cause them, hot flashes are frequently due to menopause. Hot flashes are quite common. As many as 3 out of 4 women experience hot flashes as they go through menopause. If hot flashes become particularly bothersome and disrupt your daily routines, consider making an appointment with your doctor to discuss treatment options.
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