Flax Oil and Estrogenic Compounds – Should Men Avoid Flax Oil?
Over the years I have read on several ‘net forums and other places, that flax oil contains estrogenic compounds and men should avoid flax oil. It’s often written as fact. Is it true? Let’s see… For one, it’s actually a moot issue if you are talking about flax oil. The main flaxseed lignan is secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), which is found in the hull but which occurs in the oil in very small quantities. I don’t generally recommend large amounts of ground flax seed to men per se, but it’s also a far more complicated issue than people – in particular self proclaimed experts found on the ‘net – realize, and no simple flax lignan = estrogenic effects should be made. The term “phyto estrogen” is not automatically a negative per se, as it may act as an anti estrogen depending on the tissue in question and other variables. For example, flax lignans were found to reduce mammary carcinogenesis, which means it’s acting as an anti estrogen in those tissues. According to one review on the
