Flaxseed or Flax seed oil, as well as linseed oil  is one of the knownvegetable sources for ALA Omega 3 to the functional food industry. Despite the fact that there are many known health hazard related to Flax seedsand Flax seeds oil, linseed products are still sold to the functional food industry(especially in the US), 90% of the use of Flax seeds and oil products is in theground seeds form, or plain seeds spread on the final products.As Omega 3 functional food products are evolving to become a main streamproduct line, enterprise food companies who will check the option of using Flaxseeds and linseed products will not overlook the potential health hazard related to Flax seedsproducts and will actively look for another source of Omega 3 like Salvia Sclareawhich introduce health hazard “risk free” solution. 


Historic use of Flax seeds and Flax seeds oil Flax seed is one of the known plants to humans, trough human history linseed and flax seed were never used as sourcse for food, on the contrary linseed and flax seed oil were mainly used in for industrial uses including: 

               

 • Preparation of Varnish 
  • Preparation of paint 
  • Preparation of linoleum 
  • Preparation of soapThe only medical use (last millennium) known for Flax seed was: 
  • Is used as a laxative (linseed oil) 
  • Is used as an expectorant and demulcent Flax contain potent allergens There is much evidence       on the allergic properties of Flax seeds and Flax seeds oil: 
  • Five different allergens have been detected in flax seed and flax oil (Alonso L,Marcos ML,             Blanco JG, Navarro JA, Juste S, del Mar Garces M, Perez R, Carretero PJ. Anaphylaxis caused       by linseed (flaxseed) intake. J Allergy Clin Immunol1996;98(2):469-70 ) 


  • In another study, allergens with a higher molecular weight intensely boundwith IgE, were found,       (Lezaun A, Fraj J, Colas C, Duce F, Dominguez MA,• Cuevas M, Eiras P. Anaphylaxis from           linseed. Allergy 1998;53(1):105-6 ) 

  • Anaphylaxis reaction to Linseed products was reported in 3 cases; (Leon F, Rodriguez M,                 Cuevas M. The major allergen of linseed. Allergy.    2002;57(10):968) (Alonso L, Marcos ML, Blanco JG, Navarro JA, Juste S, delMar Garces M,        Perez R, Carretero PJ. Anaphylaxis caused by linseed (flaxseed)intake. J Allergy Clin Immunol        1996;98(2):469-70) Stricker WE, Anorve-LopezE, Reed CE. Food skin testing in patients with        idiopathic anaphylaxis. J AllergyClin Immunol 1986;77(3):516-9) 


  • Allergic symptoms may increase because of the increased use of Linseed inbread and laxatives,       and in a range of products from health food shops (LeonF, Rodriguez M, Cuevas M. Anaphylaxis      to Linum. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr)• The flaxseed components 30 g of seed or 6 g of ALA      in the oil (equal to 12capsules per day) were deliver over a 3 month test period in healthy male        andfemale subjects.  


  • There were no changes in plasma cholesterol or triglycerides or in plateletaggregation at any time     point in any of the groups.  (Bioavailability of alphalinolenicacid in subjects after ingestion of         three different forms of flaxseed2008 Apr Cell Biology Laboratory, St Boniface Hospital                 Research Centre,Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2H 2A6, Canada.


   learn more about:

    • flax seed oil vs. sage oil    • linseed oil as omega 3 fatty acid source