Flaxseed and its Impact on Diseases
Malek Mollazadeh
Department of Food Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

Flax seed is considered to be an important oil seed crop that is especially rich in essential fatty acids. The seed contains essential omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids that our bodies require to maintain optimal health. It is the most abundant plant source of omega-3 fatty acid, specifically α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n-3). Flax seed contains 41% oil by weight, of which 70% is polyunsaturated (PUFA), and more than half of the total fatty acid is α- alinolenic acid. Flaxseed, due to its high α-linolenic acid (ALA) content has gained attention as a dietary ingredient for swine. However, the high oil content may cause feed handling and oxidative stability problems. Co-extruding flaxseed with field peas alleviates these problems, possibly due to the antioxidant capacity of peas  and increased nutrient digestibility of the co-extruded product. Although flax seed is not commonly used as food oil, the oil from the seed is low in saturated fat (approximately 9%), contains moderate amounts of monounsaturated fat (approximately 18%), and is high in polyunsaturated fats (approximately 73%). 
Flax seed oil does not contain trans fatty acids, which have been suggested to cause significant increases in coronary heart disease risk. Additionally, it contains both soluble and insoluble fiber, which accounts for about 28% of the weight of full-fat flax seeds. The major insoluble fiber fraction in flax seed consists of cellulose and, lignin. Lignans are phytoestrogens, which are beneficial compounds that affect the metabolism of hormones such as estrogens in humans. The major lignan found in flax seed is secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, commonly referred to as SDG. SDG has been shown to be a potent antioxidant, and a known precursor of the mammalian lignans, enterolactone and enterodiol. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for growth and development, and have been associated with health and the prevention and treatment of heart disease, arthritis, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and cancer. 
Keywords: 
Flax Seed, Monounsaturated, Mammalian Lignans, Autoimmune Diseases, Omega-3.