Flaxseed Oil
Omega/Fatty Acid ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Richest plant source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a precursor to EPA/DHA.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Flaxseed Oil is an omega/fatty acid most often used for plant omega-3, anti-inflammatory, heart health. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate. A typical adult dose is 1-2 tablespoons or 1,000-2,000 mg daily, commonly taken as cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil. This profile indexes 17 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: plant omega-3, anti-inflammatory, heart health. 17 sources indexed (2006–2025), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
ALA is converted (inefficiently, ~5-10%) to EPA and DHA by delta-6 desaturase. Direct anti-inflammatory effects via ALA-derived resolvins. Lignans provide antioxidant benefits.14,16
Dosing & protocol.
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Cold-Pressed Flaxseed Oil.
Assumes 1 tablespoon or 1,000-2,000 mg/day. Vendor basis: NOW/iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon marketplace, and refrigerated oil products; bottles are cheaper than softgels. Updated 2026-05-28.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Whole flaxseed adds fiber and lignans; oil mainly supplies fat.
Full safety detail.
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
9- 1Supplementation of Olive Oil and Flaxseed Oil on Blood Pressure and Inflammation in Healthy and At-Risk Adults: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-AnalysisPMIDMcNabb TB, Young I, Newman RG, Skinner RC, Benedito VA, Tou JC · Curr Hypertens Rev · 2024
Meta-analysis of 17 RCTs found no significant effect of OO and FLO supplementation on systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, CRP, IL-6, or TNF-alpha. Longer-duration, higher-dose RCTs are needed.
- 2Effect of Alpha-Linolenic Acid Supplementation on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Profile in Individuals with Obesity or Overweight: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsPMIDNaghshi S et al. · Nutrients · 2023
ALA supplementation significantly reduced CRP, TNF-alpha, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure in overweight/obese individuals
- 3Dietary intake and biomarkers of alpha linolenic acid and risk of all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studiesPMIDNaghshi S et al. · BMJ · 2021
Dietary ALA intake is associated with a reduced risk of mortality from all causes, CVD, and coronary heart disease
- 4Dietary Intake and Biomarkers of α-Linolenic Acid and Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort StudiesPMIDChen LH, Hu Q, Li G et al. · Frontiers in nutrition · 2021
Chen LH, Hu Q, Li G et al.. Dietary Intake and Biomarkers of α-Linolenic Acid and Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. Frontiers in nutrition. 2021
- 5α-Linolenic Acid and Risk of Heart Failure: A Meta-AnalysisPMIDWu J, Qiu M, Sun L et al. · Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine · 2021
Wu J, Qiu M, Sun L et al.. α-Linolenic Acid and Risk of Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine. 2021
- 6Effect of flaxseed intervention on inflammatory markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsSource linkedPMIDMohammadi-Sartang M, Mazloom Z, Raeisi-Dehkordi H et al. · Cytokine · 2018
- 7alpha-Linolenic acid and risk of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysisPMIDPan A et al. · Am J Clin Nutr · 2012
In observational studies, higher ALA exposure is associated with a moderately lower risk of cardiovascular disease
- 8Prospective studies of dietary alpha-linolenic acid intake and prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysisPMIDCarayol M, Grosclaude P, Delpierre C · Cancer causes & control : CCC · 2010
Carayol M, Grosclaude P, Delpierre C. Prospective studies of dietary alpha-linolenic acid intake and prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis. Cancer causes & control : CCC. 2010
- 9Effect of alpha linolenic acid on cardiovascular risk markers: a systematic reviewPMIDWendland E, Farmer A, Glasziou P et al. · Heart (British Cardiac Society) · 2006
Wendland E, Farmer A, Glasziou P et al.. Effect of alpha linolenic acid on cardiovascular risk markers: a systematic review. Heart (British Cardiac Society). 2006
Randomized controlled trials
3- 10The effects of concurrent alpha-linolenic acid, L-carnitine supplementation on clinical symptoms, mental health, and quality of life in women with migraine: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trialPMIDGolpour-Hamedani S, Bagherniya M, Khorvash F et al. · Nutrition journal · 2025
Golpour-Hamedani S, Bagherniya M, Khorvash F et al.. The effects of concurrent alpha-linolenic acid, L-carnitine supplementation on clinical symptoms, mental health, and quality of life in women with migraine: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrition journal. 2025
- 11Supplementation with Flaxseed Oil Rich in Alpha-Linolenic Acid Improves Verbal Fluency in Healthy Older AdultsPMIDOgawa T, Sawane K, Ookoshi K, Kawashima R · Nutrients · 2023
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 60 healthy older adults, 12 weeks of flaxseed oil supplementation (2.2 g ALA/day) significantly improved verbal fluency scores compared to placebo.
- 12Flaxseed oil increases the plasma concentrations of cardioprotective (n-3) fatty acids in humansPMIDHarper CR et al. · J Nutr · 2006
Plasma EPA levels increased 60% and DPA by 25% after flaxseed oil supplementation, but plasma DHA levels did not change, confirming limited ALA to DHA conversion
Reviews & position papers
5- 13The Role of Alpha-Linolenic Acid and Other Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Mental Health: A Narrative ReviewPMIDBertoni C, Pini C, Mazzocchi A et al. · International journal of molecular sciences · 2024
Bertoni C, Pini C, Mazzocchi A et al.. The Role of Alpha-Linolenic Acid and Other Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Mental Health: A Narrative Review. International journal of molecular sciences. 2024
- 14A comprehensive review of the health benefits of flaxseed oil in relation to its chemical composition and comparison with other omega-3-rich oilsPMIDParikh M et al. · Nutrients · 2023
Flaxseed oil, fibers, and lignans reduce cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders; ALA is anti-inflammatory
- 15The effect of flaxseed intake on appetite reduction: A systematic review of randomized clinical trialsPMIDZarei M, Adeli S, Hosseini S, Daneshzad E · Phytother Res · 2022
Systematic review of 13 studies found some evidence that flaxseed reduces hunger perception and appetite, and increases fullness and satiety, though results were inconsistent across studies.
- 16Flax and flaxseed oil: an ancient medicine & modern functional foodPMIDGoyal A et al. · J Food Sci Technol · 2014
Flaxseed oil exerts health benefits including reduction of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and osteoporosis
- 17Health benefits of flaxseed and its componentsSource linkedPMIDGoyal A, Sharma V, Upadhyay N et al. · J Food Sci Technol · 2014
Common questions.
Quick answers about Flaxseed Oil, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Flaxseed Oil?
Richest plant source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a precursor to EPA/DHA.
What is Flaxseed Oil used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Flaxseed Oil include: Plant omega-3; Anti-inflammatory; Heart health; Skin hydration. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.
What is a typical dose of Flaxseed Oil?
A typical adult dose of Flaxseed Oil is 1-2 tablespoons or 1,000-2,000 mg daily. The commonly recommended form is Cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Flaxseed Oil?
Reported side effects include gi upset, diarrhea at high doses. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Flaxseed Oil?
NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Flaxseed Oil in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.