CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT00051415Updated Aug 18, 2006

Safety and Effectiveness of Flaxseed for Reducing High Cholesterol

A Phase 2/3 interventional study of Flaxseed-supplemented diet in Hypercholesterolemia, sponsored by National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 45 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2006-08-18.

Sponsored by National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) · Phase 2/3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2/3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
45 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Flaxseed, a rich source of fiber, may be a significant component of a cholesterol-reducing diet. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of flaxseed in reducing high cholesterol.

Read the detailed description

Hypercholesterolemia is an established risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The National Cholesterol Education Program estimates that 65 million Americans with hypercholesterolemia could be treated with diet and exercise alone. Flaxseed is a potential component of cholesterol-reducing diet regimens. Flaxseed contains significant amounts of soluble fiber and is a rich source of both alpha-linolenic acid and phytoestrogenic ligands, which have been implicated in the prevention of ASCVD. However, flaxseed's phytoestrogenic ligands may have undesirable hormonal effects. This study will systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of ground flaxseed ingestion in both men and women with hypercholesterolemia.

Participants will be randomized to receive flaxseed or a matching wheat bran control. The test dose of flaxseed will be 40 grams administered in baked products (muffins, bread, or bars). The first 6 study weeks are a diet stabilization phase, followed by a 10-week study phase in which participants are expected to eat two servings of the test food daily. Blood and urine are collected for analysis, which will include measurement of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), post-prandial triglycerides, and urinary isoprostane secretion.

02

Conditions studied

  • Hypercholesterolemia

Keywords

  • Flaxseed
  • Cholesterol
03

In context

Hypercholesterolemia

1,238 studies on the registry are indexed under Hypercholesterolemia; 109 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 60 is below the median of 99 across 991 interventional studies indexed under Hypercholesterolemia.

Browse Hypercholesterolemia studies →

Lead sponsor

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is the lead sponsor of 218 studies on the registry; 7 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
45 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Men over 45 and post-menopausal women
  • LDL cholesterol > 130 mg/dl

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria

  • Established heart, kidney, or liver disease
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2 / Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double
Enrollment
60 participants

Interventions

  • BehavioralFlaxseed-supplemented diet
06

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
07

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 18, 2006, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00051415
Lead sponsor
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
First posted
Jan 15, 2003
Start date
Jan 2003
Completion
Jan 2005
Last update
Aug 18, 2006

Study contacts

Philippe O Szapary, MD
principal investigator · University of Pennsylvania
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2006. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion