A new study carried out by a Mayo Clinic and North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) has claimed that flaxseed is not beneficial for hot flashes among breast cancer patients and postmenopausal women. The findings of the research were presented in the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Hot flashes are common symptoms during menopause and also occur after hormonal breast cancer treatment, can have a serious effect on quality of life.

These findings were based on the results of a placebo-controlled study carried out on 188 women between October and December 2009. Participants were randomly assigned to give flaxseed and placebo. The results of the study revealed that there was no significant difference in mean hot flash scores between women taking flaxseed and those taking a placebo.

M. D. of Mayo Clinic's Breast Diagnostic Clinic and a researcher with NCCTG, Sandhya Pruthi said that flaxseed is beneficial for people who want to add fiber and bulk to their diet to manage constipation but they are not beneficial for reliving hot flashes.

Pruthi further added that estrogen therapy is effective at reducing hot flashes, but many women avoid undergoing the therapy as it could give rise to cancer risks linked to hormonal therapy.