Researchers wanted to know if a person’s genes affect how well flaxseed oil works for people with type 2 diabetes. They studied 32 people with diabetes and gave some flaxseed oil supplements while others got a placebo. They looked at seven health markers that make diabetes worse, including belly fat, high blood pressure, and inflammation. The study found that flaxseed oil helped reduce blood clotting slightly, but a person’s genetic type didn’t change whether they benefited or not. This suggests that flaxseed oil might help some people with diabetes regardless of their genes.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether a person’s genes (specifically a gene called apolipoprotein E) determine if flaxseed oil supplements help people with type 2 diabetes
- Who participated: 32 people who already had well-controlled type 2 diabetes participated in this study
- Key finding: Flaxseed oil slightly reduced blood clotting in platelets compared to the control group, but a person’s genetic type didn’t affect whether they benefited from the supplement
- What it means for you: If you have type 2 diabetes, flaxseed oil might help with blood clotting regardless of your genetic makeup, though the benefit was modest. However, this is a small study, so talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement
The Research Details
This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which is considered a gold-standard research design. This means neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was getting the real flaxseed oil and who was getting a fake supplement (safflower oil) until the study ended. This prevents bias from affecting the results.
Participants visited the clinic three times over the study period. At the first visit, researchers identified each person’s genetic type for the apolipoprotein E gene. At each visit, the researchers measured seven different health markers that are known to make diabetes worse: belly fat, blood pressure, blood clotting tendency, blood sugar levels, cholesterol problems, oxidized LDL cholesterol, and inflammation markers.
The researchers compared how much these seven markers changed in people taking flaxseed oil versus those taking the placebo, and they looked at whether genetic differences changed these results.
Understanding whether genes affect how supplements work is important because it could help doctors personalize treatment recommendations. If certain genes made flaxseed oil more or less effective, doctors could test for those genes and only recommend it to people likely to benefit. This study helps answer that question, though the small size means the answer isn’t definitive.
This study has both strengths and limitations. The double-blind, placebo-controlled design is strong and reduces bias. However, the sample size of 32 people is quite small, which means the results might not apply to larger populations. The study was also relatively short-term, so we don’t know about long-term effects. The journal (Endocrine Regulations) is a peer-reviewed medical journal, which means experts reviewed the work before publication.
What the Results Show
The main finding was that flaxseed oil supplements reduced platelet aggregability (blood clotting tendency) compared to the placebo group. This is potentially beneficial because excessive blood clotting can increase heart disease risk in people with diabetes.
However, flaxseed oil did not significantly improve the other six health markers studied: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, cholesterol problems, oxidized LDL cholesterol, or inflammation. There was a hint that flaxseed oil might help reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol, but this wasn’t statistically significant.
Most importantly, the researchers found that a person’s apolipoprotein E genetic type did not affect whether they responded to flaxseed oil. This means that people with different genetic types benefited (or didn’t benefit) similarly from the supplement.
While not statistically significant, there appeared to be a potential trend toward flaxseed oil reducing oxidized LDL cholesterol (a harmful form of cholesterol). This suggests that with a larger study, flaxseed oil might show benefits in this area. The lack of effect on blood sugar control, blood pressure, and inflammation was somewhat surprising given that some previous research suggested flaxseed might help with these markers.
Previous research on flaxseed oil for diabetes has shown mixed results. Some studies suggested benefits for cholesterol and inflammation, while others found minimal effects. This study’s finding that flaxseed oil helps with blood clotting aligns with some previous research on flaxseed’s effects on blood vessel function. However, the lack of effect on most other markers suggests that flaxseed oil may have more limited benefits than some earlier studies indicated.
The biggest limitation is the small sample size of only 32 people. With such a small group, it’s harder to detect real effects and easier for random chance to affect results. The study was also relatively short-term, so we don’t know if benefits would continue or increase over months or years. Additionally, the study only included people with well-controlled diabetes, so results might differ for people whose diabetes is harder to manage. Finally, we don’t know how much flaxseed oil was used or for how long, which affects whether the results apply to typical supplement use.
The Bottom Line
Based on this study alone, flaxseed oil supplements may have a modest benefit for blood clotting in people with type 2 diabetes, but the evidence is limited. The confidence level is moderate because the study was small and short-term. If you have type 2 diabetes and are interested in flaxseed oil, discuss it with your doctor first, especially if you take blood-thinning medications. This study should not replace standard diabetes treatments.
People with type 2 diabetes who are interested in natural supplements might find this relevant. However, this study is too small to make strong recommendations for any specific group. People taking blood thinners should be especially cautious about adding flaxseed oil without medical supervision. This research is less relevant for people without diabetes or those with type 1 diabetes.
If flaxseed oil does help with blood clotting, benefits might appear within weeks, though this study didn’t specify exactly when changes occurred. However, don’t expect dramatic improvements in blood sugar control or weight loss based on this research. Any benefits would likely be modest and should be combined with standard diabetes management including diet, exercise, and medications.
Want to Apply This Research?
- If using a health app, track blood clotting markers if available through medical tests (such as platelet function tests), along with standard diabetes markers like fasting blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Record flaxseed oil supplement use daily with dosage to correlate with any changes in these markers.
- Users could set a daily reminder to take a flaxseed oil supplement at the same time each day and log it in their app. They should also continue logging their standard diabetes management activities (meals, exercise, medications) to see the full picture of what affects their health.
- Track blood work results every 3 months (cholesterol, blood sugar, and if available, platelet function tests) and compare results before and after starting flaxseed oil. Also monitor for any side effects or interactions with current medications. Keep a note of the specific flaxseed oil product used, as quality and dosage vary between brands.
This research is preliminary and based on a small study of 32 people. Flaxseed oil supplements are not a replacement for standard diabetes medications or lifestyle changes. Before starting flaxseed oil or any new supplement, consult with your doctor, especially if you take blood-thinning medications, have bleeding disorders, or are pregnant. The findings about genetic differences should not be used to make decisions about genetic testing. Always work with your healthcare team to manage type 2 diabetes.