Home Ingredients LinumLife® (Flaxseed Lignan Extract — IFF)
Women's Health

LinumLife® (Flaxseed Lignan Extract — IFF)

Linum usitatissimum
Evidence Level
Preliminary
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

LinumLife® is a flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) hull extract standardized for lignans, especially SDG (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside). Flax lignans are converted by gut bacteria into enterolignans, which have weak activity at estrogen receptors. This specific extract has not been tested in menopausal women: its one published human trial was in men with an enlarged prostate and found no benefit over placebo, and flax lignans in general have not beaten placebo for hot flashes in controlled trials.

Studied Dose No menopause dose has been studied. The only human trial used 500 or 1000 mg of flaxseed hull extract daily, providing 100 or 200 mg SDG, in men with prostate symptoms (Simons 2015).
Active Compound Flaxseed hull extract standardized to lignans, primarily secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), a precursor to the enterolignans.

Benefits

Menopausal symptoms: no direct human evidence

No trial has tested this flaxseed hull extract in menopausal women. In controlled trials of flax lignans more broadly, hot flashes fell about as much on flax as on placebo: a 188-woman trial of 410 mg lignans and a 38-woman trial of 46 mg lignans both found no advantage over placebo.

Supported by Trial 1

Weak activity at estrogen receptors

Enterolignans made from flax lignans bind weakly to estrogen receptors and can act as mild agonists or antagonists depending on the tissue. This is a laboratory property; it has not been shown to translate into measured relief of menopausal symptoms in women taking this extract.

Supported by Trial 1

Lignans as antioxidants (laboratory property)

Flax lignans and their gut-derived metabolites show antioxidant activity in laboratory assays. No human study has measured an antioxidant or clinical benefit from this extract, so this is a mechanism, not a demonstrated effect.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Enterolignan conversion

Gut bacteria convert SDG into enterolactone and enterodiol, which weakly modulate estrogen receptors and support hormonal balance.

2

Selective estrogenic activity

The enterolignans can act as mild estrogen agonists or antagonists depending on the tissue, helping buffer hormonal fluctuations.

Clinical trials

1
Flaxseed Hull Extract for Enlarged Prostate (BPH): Null Pilot Trial in Men, Not a Menopause Study
PubMed

Pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of flaxseed hull extract (LinumLife EXTRA) in men aged 45 to 75 with benign prostatic hyperplasia, not in menopausal women. (Simons et al. 2015, Journal of Medicinal Food)

Men aged 45 to 75 with benign prostatic hyperplasia (about 80 enrolled, 60 completers across two active doses and placebo).

Prostate symptom scores improved in all arms, but because of a strong placebo effect there was no statistically significant difference between the flaxseed hull extract and placebo. The extract was safe and well tolerated. This trial measured prostate symptoms in men, not menopausal symptoms.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated — flax lignan extract is well tolerated.
Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported.
Those with hormone-sensitive conditions should consult a doctor first.

Important Drug interactions

Hormone therapy — lignans have mild estrogenic activity; discuss with your doctor.
Anticoagulants — flax components may have a mild additive effect.
Tamoxifen and hormone-sensitive conditions — consult your physician before use.

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Frequently asked questions about LinumLife® (Flaxseed Lignan Extract — IFF)

What is LinumLife?

LinumLife® is a flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) hull extract standardized for lignans, especially SDG (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside). Flax lignans are converted by gut bacteria into enterolignans, which have weak activity at estrogen receptors.

What is LinumLife used for?

LinumLife is researched primarily for Women's Health. No trial has tested this flaxseed hull extract in menopausal women. In controlled trials of flax lignans more broadly, hot flashes fell about as much on flax as on placebo: a 188-woman trial of 410 mg lignans and a 38-woman trial of 46 mg l…

What is the recommended dosage of LinumLife?

The clinically studied dose is No menopause dose has been studied. The only human trial used 500 or 1000 mg of flaxseed hull extract daily, providing 100 or 200 mg SDG, in men with prostate symptoms (Simons 2015). Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is LinumLife safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, LinumLife is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated — flax lignan extract is well tolerated. Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported. It may also interact with some medications. LinumLife is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does LinumLife interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Hormone therapy — lignans have mild estrogenic activity; discuss with your doctor. Anticoagulants — flax components may have a mild additive effect. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for LinumLife?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for LinumLife as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 3 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(3 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Simons R, Sonawane N, Verbruggen M, et al. Efficacy and safety of a flaxseed hull extract in the symptomatic management of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study. J Med Food. 2015;18(2):233-40..PubMedUsed to support: Pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of flaxseed hull extract (LinumLife EXTRA) in about 80 men aged 45 to 75 with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate symptom scores fell in all arms, but because of a strong placebo effect the extract was no better than placebo. It was safe and well tolerated. The trial did not involve menopausal women.
  2. Simbalista RL, Sauerbronn AV, Aldrighi JM, Arêas JA Consumption of a flaxseed-rich food is not more effective than a placebo in alleviating the climacteric symptoms of postmenopausal women. J Nutr. 2010;140(2):293-7..PubMedUsed to support: Double-blind randomized trial in 38 postmenopausal women eating bread with 25 g flaxseed (46 mg lignans) or wheat-bran control for 12 weeks. Both groups had similar reductions in hot flashes and Kupperman Index; flax was no more effective than placebo, though it was safe.
  3. Pruthi S, Qin R, Terstreip SA, Liu H, Loprinzi CL, Shah TR, Tucker KF, Dakhil SR, Bury MJ, Carolla RL, Steen PD, Vuky J, Barton DL A phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of flaxseed for the treatment of hot flashes: North Central Cancer Treatment Group N08C7. Menopause. 2012;19(1):48-53..PubMedUsed to support: Phase III randomized placebo-controlled trial in 188 postmenopausal women. A flaxseed bar providing 410 mg of lignans reduced hot flash scores no more than placebo (4.9 versus 3.5, P=0.29), and the authors concluded the results do not support flax lignans for hot flashes.