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Supplements/Fatty Acid

Flax Seed Oil (ALA)

Alpha-linolenic acid omega-3.

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Overview

Alpha-linolenic acid omega-3.

Natural sources
  • Endogenously produced or biosynthesized molecule
  • Standardized pharmaceutical- or food-grade supplement
  • Combined with cofactors that improve absorption or activity
Common forms
  • Capsule or softgel
  • Powder
  • Sublingual or buccal
  • Liposomal liquid

Mechanism of action

ALA converts inefficiently to EPA.

Pathways
  • · ALA converts inefficiently to EPA

Effects on the body

Supports
Modest cardiovascular effects

Organ system effects

Cardiovascular

Flax Seed Oil (ALA) supports endothelial function, lipid profile, or blood-pressure regulation in cardiovascular trials.

Evidence-based benefits

Modest cardiovascular effects

Moderate evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · GI upset
Rare
    Serious

      Drug interactions

      Prescription medications (general)
      Always disclose Flax Seed Oil (ALA) use to your prescriber — additive, antagonistic, or pharmacokinetic interactions are possible.
      minor

      Supplement interactions

      Pairs well with
      • Omega-3
        Anti-inflammatory cardiovascular synergy.
      • CoQ10
        Supports mitochondrial energetics in cardiac tissue.
      Avoid combining with

      No specific avoidances listed.

      Dosing & bioavailability

      Typical dose
      1 tbsp
      Best form
      Most evidence is based on the capsule or softgel form.
      Timing
      Consistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
      With food?
      Either with or without food.

      Where to buy

      Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Amazon code supplementsch-20 is auto-applied at checkout. We don't endorse specific brands; verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

      Scientific evidence8Show studies
      Meta-analysisAm J Clin Nutr · 2009

      Flax for cardiovascular

      Pan A, et al.

      27 RCTs

      Key findings

      Reduced total and LDL cholesterol.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Flax Seed Oil (ALA) — Modest cardiovascular effects

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Flax Seed Oil (ALA) Modest cardiovascular effects" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Flax Seed Oil (ALA) and "Modest cardiovascular effects". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Flax Seed Oil (ALA) — randomized controlled trial

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Flax Seed Oil (ALA) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Flax Seed Oil (ALA) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Flax Seed Oil (ALA) — meta-analysis

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Flax Seed Oil (ALA) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Flax Seed Oil (ALA) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Flax Seed Oil (ALA) — pharmacokinetics

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Flax Seed Oil (ALA) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Flax Seed Oil (ALA) and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Flax Seed Oil (ALA) — safety adverse events

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Flax Seed Oil (ALA) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Flax Seed Oil (ALA) and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Flax Seed Oil (ALA) — dose response

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Flax Seed Oil (ALA) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Flax Seed Oil (ALA) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

      Google Scholar: Flax Seed Oil (ALA) — clinical evidence

      Live Scholar search

      Cross-database citation index for Flax Seed Oil (ALA) as it relates to "clinical evidence".

      Key findings

      Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

      Open study
      Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.

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