The F word!: Hello all I’ve read a few posts and... - Thyroid UK

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The F word!

Polly91 profile image
9 Replies

Hello all

I’ve read a few posts and researched a little and am still none the wiser on flaxseed oil!

I was advised to take it for the omega fish oil content & to help T4 to T3 but I’ve read it can make your hair fall out & I’ve noticed I’ve been losing more hair over the last 6 months or so (before starting the flaxseed) but I don’t want to compound the problem.

Any advice or thoughts anyone ?

Thank you in advance

Polly x

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Polly91
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9 Replies

Hi, I take steeped linseed every morning in my porridge, and haven’t noticed and problems with my hair, and never heard of this before. It was recommended by a colon specialist for IBS symptoms

Polly91 profile image
Polly91 in reply to

Thanks Gordon

Perhaps I’m mistaken about flaxseed ?

MaisieGray profile image
MaisieGray in reply to Polly91

A lot of people are - some articles represent linseed and flax as the same thing and others as different; but the cultivated plant is Linum usitatissimum, and Linseed and Flax when produced as a food or supplement are both exactly the same thing. In the UK the crop grown is called linseed, but North American-produced linseed for human consumption is called flax.

I did read an American Dr's warning about linseed/flax:

"In the case of flaxseed, soy, and other nuts, beans and seeds there is a compound called phytic acid, or the salt of this compound is a phytate, which is a very strong chelator of minerals. These plants depend on these compounds to extract minerals from poor soils. When we consume them, they can "rob" us of certain other minerals that might also be present in our intestinal tracts at the same time that they are. In the case of thyroid function, the necessary minerals would be iodine, selenium and zinc. When the seeds are grown in a relatively mineral rich soil, they don't tend to make as much phytic acid, kind of makes sense because they don't have to work so hard to extract the minerals from better dirt. This is one of the reasons why we use a little bit of nitrogen when we grow our flax, the healthier the environment that the seed is grown in, the less of these phytates it tends to make." So in general, perhaps using UK-sourced/grown flax/linseed rather than US, might be the safer bet.

Polly91 profile image
Polly91 in reply to MaisieGray

Thank you MasieGray

So high quality flaxseed should be ok (in small doses)?

P x

in reply to MaisieGray

I have eaten organic nuts everyday for most of my life. I have never lost any hair, I don't know about flax oil I take fish oil tablet every day instead.

MaisieGray profile image
MaisieGray in reply to

Fish oils are no longer recommended due to all oily fish containing neurotoxins and carcinogens as a result of ocean pollution, and that commercial over-fishing is in any case destroying the worlds oceans and vastly depleting fish numbers.

Polly91 profile image
Polly91 in reply to

Thank you Bj

I’m tempted to add a fish oil.

It’s possible my hair loss is thyroid related.

There's no fish oil in flax seed oil, just omega 3 (ALA). It might be a mild goitrogen for some people, and others can't convert the ALA and need EPA and DHA directly. You might do better on fish oil, but be aware that fish liver oils contain too much vit A and not enough vit D, so you end up with an imbalance. Flax seed oil has not affected my hair one way or the other.

Polly91 profile image
Polly91 in reply to Angel_of_the_North

That’s good to know Angel. Thank you.

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