ABSTRACT
Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of ischemic heart disease, stroke, and other peripheral vascular diseases (PVDs) such as intermittent claudication. This chapter focuses on the antiatherosclerotic effects of axseed with and without α-linolenic acid (ALA) (crop development center [CDC]-axseed) and axseed components (oil, ax lignan complex [FLC], and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside [SDG]) with special emphasis on their effects on the risk factors for atherosclerosis and suppression, regression, and slowing of progression of atherosclerosis. Flaxseed has variable
24.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................460 24.2 Flaxseed and Its Components .............................................................................................460 24.3 Flaxseed and Its Components and Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis .................................. 461
24.3.1 Serum Lipids ........................................................................................................... 461 24.3.1.1 Flaxseed ................................................................................................... 461 24.3.1.2 Flaxseed with Very Low α-Linolenic Acid ............................................. 462 24.3.1.3 Flaxseed Oil ............................................................................................. 462 24.3.1.4 SDG .......................................................................................................... 462 24.3.1.5 Flax Lignan Complex .............................................................................. 462
24.4 Antioxidant Activity ............................................................................................................463 24.5 Anti-inammatory Effect....................................................................................................464 24.6 Hypotensive Effects ............................................................................................................465 24.7 Suppression of Atherosclerosis ...........................................................................................465
