Flaxseed has been recommended as an alternative strategy to estrogen for cooling hot flashes during menopause. Breast cancer patients who experience hot flashes as a consequence of their treatment are often especially motivated to avoid estrogen because this female hormone makes some breast tumors grow. Unfortunately, a randomized placebo-controlled study from the Mayo Clinic found that flaxseed did not reduce hot flash scores compared to placebo. Women struggling with hot flashes will need to look for a different way to ease them.
[American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting]
