Hello everyone:
This is Jane, not Mike this time. I feel compelled to comment on this discussion, for I am often asked on what I think about whether or not flax oil is helpful or harmful regarding prostate cancer. I don't have time to read all the previous posts, so I apologize up front if I have repeated anything other people have contributed.
Dr. Charlie Myers writes a very convincing message and certainly does not tell you the whole picture. Here are some examples:
1) when he talks about the population studies, he fails to tell you that the populations that had a higher rate of prostate cancer and higher intakes of ALA(alpha-linolenic acid---the omega-3 fat found in flax), the ALA source was NOT FLAXSEED. The ALA source was from high intakes of red meat in the diet. So, making the assumption that flax oil will cause prostate cancer is wrong.
2) when he talks about the cell culture work where ALA is found to increase proliferation rate in prostate cancer cell lines. Given the instability of ALA and the fact that when you perform cell culture, you basically use purified fatty acids and then allow them to cook for several days in the incubator, it would not surprise anyone that highly unsaturated fatty acids wouldn't behave the same way. It is doubtful that you can take this cell culture work and assume that this would occur in vivo studies.
I find it very encouraging to hear testimonials from people on this list, because it tells researchers that we don't have enough studies yet to really make those hasty conclusions. Everyone makes a valuable contribution on this list. Please keep those comments coming!
Jane Reinhardt-Martin, RD, LD
Author: Flax Your Way to Better Health
www.FlaxRD.com
