Flax seed oil may stem bone loss

CAIRO, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Flax seed oil may help reduce osteoporosis risk, researchers in Egypt said.

Mer Harvi and colleagues at the National Research Center in Cairo analyzed the blood and urine of 70 female rats -- including some with diabetes and some with ovaries removed to simulate post-menopause as well as controls who did not have flax seed oil added to their diet.

The researchers found the concentrations of serum insulin-like growth factor 1 and the bone-creating protein osteocalcin -- could be raised to normal levels by adding flax seed oil to their diet.

The animal study also reported higher levels of deoxypyridinoline in the urine of the diabetic rats. Healthy bone retains deoxypyridinoline so its presence in the urine indicates bone is being reabsorbed. However, levels of deoxypyridinoline in the urine fell when the rats were given flax seed oil.

"We recommend further investigations using animals and humans to confirm the effect of using dietary flax seed oil to improve bone health and to prevent osteoporosis," the researchers said in a statement.

The findings are published in the International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health.