False Hope Du Jour? : Flax Seed Oil

[Cornholio]

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/s ... 83,00.html

Excerpt below is from another article: Note Flax Seed is a source of ALA (which appears in EDIT: Revivogen ) and is converted in the body to form some of the beneficial ingredients found in fish oil.

The only "study" regarding hair is essentially worthless (10 people, subjective evaluation, study ran by a supplement company) http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/new ... -lignans-a
so I wouldnt call this proven however it may be a good general health supplement...

Surely it isnt expensive... I think it can be bought in oil form ?in health food stores? and used in salad dressings and cooking.



"Flax Seed and Flax Oil

Ancient records show that the human race has consumed flax seed since the beginning of civilization. Over the centuries, the growing of flax seed has spread across Europe, Africa, and, finally, to North America. Today, scientific findings are confirming the nutritional benefits of flaxseed in a balanced diet.

Flax seed is a remarkably good source of Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA). ALA is an essential fatty acid and is one of the essential nutrients that is necessary for life. ALA must be obtained from the diet - the human body is not able to manufacture it.

ALA is useful in protecting against heart diseases, improving immune function, cancer prevention, and improving male infertility.

As well, approximately 20% of the ALA we consume is transformed in our bodies into two other fatty acids: EPA and DHA (these are the same beneficial compounds found in fish oil). The benefits of EPA and DHA include: protection from fatal heart attack, decreased inflammation and pain in arthritis, and protection from thrombotic disease. DHA alone is noted for its effects on brain function, mood and behavior. DHA is one of the building blocks for brain growth and development. Numerous animal and human studies suggest that DHA improves learning, vision processes, memory, and concentration."

Is anybody using this or fish oil regularly?

 

[Dinzy]

I take it as a supplement. It is good to take if you eat a low fat diet which I do every other meal

 

[Dice_Has_Hair]

Here is a link to another good flaxseed oil supplement : http://www.barleans.com/products/oils.html#.html

Its called Omega man

 

[wangho75]

Here is a link to another good flaxseed oil supplement : http://www.barleans.com/products/oils.html#.html

Its called Omega man

yep, it's in my regime. IT supposdly acts as a DHT inhibitor along with many other benefits, but mainly I take it for other reasons than hair. I take about a tablespoon of flax seeds a day and mulch them up really well before ingesting them. That's important, or you'll just poop the whole seed out.

 

[Dice_Has_Hair]

Here is a link to another good flaxseed oil supplement : http://www.barleans.com/products/oils.html#.html

Its called Omega man

yep, it's in my regime. IT supposdly acts as a DHT inhibitor along with many other benefits, but mainly I take it for other reasons than hair. I take about a tablespoon of flax seeds a day and mulch them up really well before ingesting them. That's important, or you'll just poop the whole seed out.

How long have you been using omega man? How is your hair doing? Are you on Propecia?

 

[KEVING]

Is flaxseed oil just omega 3 fish oil??

 

[Dice_Has_Hair]

Is flaxseed oil just omega 3 fish oil??

Do Venus Fly traps give birth to cats? Of course not. Flax seed oil comes from a plant. Omega 3 fish oil comes from an animal. But, 20% of the ALA we take in, which flax is a good source of ALA, is transformed into 2 other fatty acids - EPA and DHA. EPA and DHA are the same beneficial compounds found in fish oil.

 

[KEVING]

Im taking Eskimo 3 fish oil should i also take flaxseed oil??

 

[TheBaldingMenace]

Hey, no doubt about it, taking Flax seed on a daily basis is a win win deal! When I was growing up my Mom would always try to get me to take the stuff but I always resisted. But now, after reading lots of research on it I'm wanting to start taking it on a daily basis.

 

[Dice_Has_Hair]

Im taking Eskimo 3 fish oil should i also take flaxseed oil??

Sure. Flaxseed oil has stuff in it that fish oil doesn't offer. Go for it.

 

[Bryan]

Excerpt below is from another article: Note Flax Seed is a source of ALA (which appears in Dr. Proctor's topicals, as a SOD i think)...

I don't think so. I've never heard alpha linolenic acid mentioned as an ingredient in Dr. Proctor's topicals. Can you cite a source for that claim, Cornholio?

BTW, the ALA found in natural oils like flax seed, fish, vegetable, etc., is not a 5a-reductase inhibitor.

Bryan

 

[Red Rose]

I would go for Hemp over Flax.

Flax goes rancid quite quickly.

Hemp has a greater concentration of vitamin E, I think, which acts as a natural preservative.

Flax oil also has to have one of the most unpleasant tastes ever - well thats a slight exaggeration, but I wouldn't say it's pleasant.

 

[Cornholio]

I don't think so. I've never heard alpha linolenic acid mentioned as an ingredient in Dr. Proctor's topicals. Can you cite a source for that claim, Cornholio?

BTW, the ALA found in natural oils like flax seed, fish, vegetable, etc., is not a 5a-reductase inhibitor.

Bryan

Oh, sorry, I cant back that up. It's in Revivogen, not Dr. Proctor's product line (at least not listed). I remembered it wrong. I guess being in revivogen isn't as strong a recommendation is it? : )

From a revivogen advertising....

GLA, ALA, Linoleic Acid and Oleic Acid Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA)

Linoleic and Oleic Acid are essential fatty acids found in plant oils. These fatty acids have been individually proven to inhibit 5-Alpha Reductase. In fact, these are the most powerful inhibitors of 5-Alpha Reductase known today and not only do they inhibit the Type II form of the 5-Alpha Reductase which other products like Propecia inhibit, but also the Type I form of the enzyme which is present in high concentrations in the scalp, sebaceous glands, and the skin. Additionally GLA, ALA and Oleic acid have potent anti-inflammatory properties.

 

[Dice_Has_Hair]

I don't think so. I've never heard alpha linolenic acid mentioned as an ingredient in Dr. Proctor's topicals. Can you cite a source for that claim, Cornholio?

BTW, the ALA found in natural oils like flax seed, fish, vegetable, etc., is not a 5a-reductase inhibitor.

Bryan

Oh, sorry, I cant back that up. It's in Revivogen, not Dr. Proctor's product line (at least not listed). I remembered it wrong. I guess being in revivogen isn't as strong a recommendation is it? : )

From a revivogen advertising....

GLA, ALA, Linoleic Acid and Oleic Acid Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA)

Linoleic and Oleic Acid are essential fatty acids found in plant oils. These fatty acids have been individually proven to inhibit 5-Alpha Reductase. In fact, these are the most powerful inhibitors of 5-Alpha Reductase known today and not only do they inhibit the Type II form of the 5-Alpha Reductase which other products like Propecia inhibit, but also the Type I form of the enzyme which is present in high concentrations in the scalp, sebaceous glands, and the skin. Additionally GLA, ALA and Oleic acid have potent anti-inflammatory properties.

Okay so if one were to apply the Linolenic and Oleic acid to their scalp, do you think that it would be a worthy inhibitor. I know these are in revivogen, but I was wondering if one were to "isolate" these 2 fatty acids and use them alone without all the other sh*t in revivogen..............................maybe it would work even better? It would be of higher concentration with these two alone.

 

[Bryan]

BTW, the ALA found in natural oils like flax seed, fish, vegetable, etc., is not a 5a-reductase inhibitor.

From a revivogen advertising....

GLA, ALA, Linoleic Acid and Oleic Acid Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA)

Linoleic and Oleic Acid are essential fatty acids found in plant oils. These fatty acids have been individually proven to inhibit 5-Alpha Reductase. In fact, these are the most powerful inhibitors of 5-Alpha Reductase known today and not only do they inhibit the Type II form of the 5-Alpha Reductase which other products like Propecia inhibit, but also the Type I form of the enzyme which is present in high concentrations in the scalp, sebaceous glands, and the skin.

Those fatty acids only inhibit 5a-reductase when they're in their FREE FORM. Almost all natural oils contain them only in the form of mono-, di-, and triglycerides, which don't work for that particular purpose. Natural oils generally contain only trace levels of free fatty acids, like on the order of 1% to 2% or so.

Bryan

 

[Dice_Has_Hair]

BTW, the ALA found in natural oils like flax seed, fish, vegetable, etc., is not a 5a-reductase inhibitor.

From a revivogen advertising....

GLA, ALA, Linoleic Acid and Oleic Acid Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA)

Linoleic and Oleic Acid are essential fatty acids found in plant oils. These fatty acids have been individually proven to inhibit 5-Alpha Reductase. In fact, these are the most powerful inhibitors of 5-Alpha Reductase known today and not only do they inhibit the Type II form of the 5-Alpha Reductase which other products like Propecia inhibit, but also the Type I form of the enzyme which is present in high concentrations in the scalp, sebaceous glands, and the skin.

Those fatty acids only inhibit 5a-reductase when they're in their FREE FORM. Almost all natural oils contain them only in the form of mono-, di-, and triglycerides, which don't work for that particular purpose. Natural oils generally contain only trace levels of free fatty acids, like on the order of 1% to 2% or so.

Bryan

Damn! Well, how would one get them in their free form? :? Sounds like to me that one would have to "extract" the 1 or 2% out of the natural oils.

 

[Bryan]

Damn! Well, how would one get them in their free form? :?

You have to get them from a chemical company, or obtain them by way of Revivogen! :wink:

De-esterifying natural oils into free fatty acids and glycerin isn't a particularly difficult thing to do for professionals (like chemical companies), but it's probably not within the reach of typical "kitchen-sink chemists" like us.

Interestingly, one way it's done is to heat natural oils under pressure in some kind of reactor vessel. That causes the triglyceride to break down into the constituent fatty acids and glycerin. Then you skim-off the glycerin floating on top, and what's left is (VOILA!) free-form fatty acids.

Anyone wanna break out your grandmother's old-fashioned pressure-cooker and give it a try yourself on your kitchen stove? 8)

Bryan

 

[Dice_Has_Hair]

Damn! Well, how would one get them in their free form? :?

You have to get them from a chemical company, or obtain them by way of Revivogen! :wink:

De-esterifying natural oils into free fatty acids and glycerin isn't a particularly difficult thing to do for professionals (like chemical companies), but it's probably not within the reach of typical "kitchen-sink chemists" like us.

Interestingly, one way it's done is to heat natural oils under pressure in some kind of reactor vessel. That causes the triglyceride to break down into the constituent fatty acids and glycerin. Then you skim-off the glycerin floating on top, and what's left is (VOILA!) free-form fatty acids.

Anyone wanna break out your grandmother's old-fashioned pressure-cooker and give it a try yourself on your kitchen stove? 8)

Bryan

Okay, then if I wanted to get the Linoleic and Oleic Acids from revivogen, would I actually have to order the actual revivogen, or could I just purchase the Linoleic and Oleic Acids only? They might think it is weird for me to request just "Linoleic and Oleic Acids" from them. Or if I were to get them from a chemical company, do you know of any links to such companies? :?

 

[Bryan]

Okay, then if I wanted to get the Linoleic and Oleic Acids from revivogen, would I actually have to order the actual revivogen, or could I just purchase the Linoleic and Oleic Acids only? They might think it is weird for me to request just "Linoleic and Oleic Acids" from them.

To say the least! I don't think they'd appreciate it very much if you told them you only wanted to buy the fatty acids themselves, but not Revivogen! :wink: I was referring before specifically to the purchase of Revivogen.

BTW, some time ago the Revivogen people were offering the option of buying the ORIGINAL formula, the one without the newer stuff like the proanthocyanidins, etc. I would tend to prefer that older version, myself. Skip the newfangled stuff, and gimme just the older version that mainly had fatty acids! However, I have no idea if you can still get that original formula.

Or if I were to get them from a chemical company, do you know of any links to such companies? :?

It's the Age-Old Problem: it's almost impossible to buy chemicals from chemical companies, unless you have an account with them and you're a doctor, a researcher, a graduate student at a university, etc.

If you're clever enough and resourceful enough, you _may_ be able to pull it off through surreptitious means, but it ain't easy. Individual purified fatty acids are _quite_ expensive, BTW.

Bryan

 

[Biostudent]

so...

But wait. If one were to purify the fatty acids and have them available in their free form, how effective would they be, as a topical application in preventing 5a reductase on the scalp. Wouldn't you need some sort of vehicle to make sure it gets into the hair follicle, since they are pretty large molecules.