A new research has discovered that flaxseed may help lower high cholesterol level in males.

Lead author Suzanne Hendrich, an Iowa State University professor in food science and human nutrition, analyzed the effects of flaxseed lignan in 90 people diagnosed with high cholesterol level. The results showed that having at least 150 milligrams of flaxseed lignans on a daily basis reduced cholesterol in males, but not in females, by just fewer than 10%over the three months that they were fed the flaxseed.

While Suzanne discloses that's considerably less than the projected outcome from cholesterol-lowering medicines - around 10 to 20%for 3-months, hinging upon the individual - it's still enough to make flaxseed a more natural choice for some men.

"Because there are people who can''t take something like Lipitor, this could at least give you some of that cholesterol-lowering benefit," Hendrich said. "The other thing is, there are certainly some people who would prefer to not use a drug, but rather use foods to try to maintain their health. So this potentially would be something to consider."

Hendrich conducted the research with ISU master's student Kai Ling Kong and doctoral graduates Zhong Ye, Xianai Wu, and Sun-Ok Lee to find out whether the main lignan present in flaxseed, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, could lower cholesterol level.

The results of the research will be presented during the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting at Experimental Biology 2010, April 24-28, in Anaheim, Calif. (With Input from Agencies)