The Flax Council of Canada announced availability of an updated database of research about human health and nutrition. With scientific evidence regarding the health benefits of flax and its constituents expanding at a rapid pace, this resource enables the food industry, health professionals and the scientific community to keep up with an increasing amount of information. The database update was made possible through funding from Glanbia Nutritionals, Fitchburg, WI.

“We are very pleased to partner with Glanbia on the development and update of the research database,” said William Hill, president of the council, based at Winnipeg, MB. “And since Glanbia has committed to sponsoring the independent updating of the site on a monthly basis, we can ensure that the information is current and relevant to the industry.”

Flax’s omega-3 fatty acids and other nutritional components have made flaxseed and oil popular food ingredients for people of all ages. With growing consumer interest comes increased research scrutiny.

The database includes only peer-reviewed publications available on commonly used scientific search sites. Close to 160 new publications have been released since the database’s previous update in mid-2009. Most focus on human clinical trials and include health and disease reduction research, analytical assessments, food formulation and review articles.

“The Flax Council’s research database is the industry’s most comprehensive portal for all flax-related research,” said Robert Beausire, vice-president of business development at Glanbia Nutritionals. “The database fills a gap in the conversation by offering hundreds of papers on the health benefits of flaxseed. It is a tremendous resource for developers and marketers.”

Studies have been published on the antioxidant characteristics of flax, as well as the health benefits of its omega-3, fiber, lignan and protein components. In the area of disease reduction, the research covers cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and inflammatory disorders. Studies are also reviewed that focus on bone, brain, eye, skin and renal health.

Papers appear under a number of categories to enable quick searches that capture relevant publications of interest.

Access the flax research database here.