Flaxseed: Does it increase my prostate cancer risk?

I take flaxseed to control my high cholesterol. But I was recently told that flaxseed increases the risk of prostate cancer. Is this true?

- Jared / Arizona

Answer

There is limited research on the effects of flaxseed on the risk of prostate cancer. Flaxseed and flaxseed oil are rich sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) — a fatty acid — which can help reduce total cholesterol.

Some research suggests that higher levels of ALA may be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. Other preliminary studies report that a low-fat diet supplemented with flaxseed can reduce prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in men with enlarged prostate glands (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and in those with prostate cancer. However, these effects may be due to a reduction in dietary fats. The role of flaxseed in such cases isn't clear.

Overall, it remains unclear whether flaxseed or flaxseed oil has a role in the prevention or treatment of prostate cancer. Until more definitive studies are available, it's probably best for men to avoid supplementation with high doses of flaxseed.

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