A randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial to assess the impact of dietary flaxseed on heart health and allostatic load in young adults

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY Chronic stress and malnutrition are increasingly recognized as major, synergistic contributors to early cardiometabolic disease, particularly among young adults. College students represent a vulnerable population, facing high academic, social, and financial demands with limited access to preventive health care. Our recent data from over 100 students revealed striking rates of perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and emergency- range hypertension, alongside widespread nutrient deficiencies. Notably, key nutrients such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), magnesium, and fiber were inversely associated with stress scores. These nutrients are abundant in flaxseed, suggesting potential as a targeted nutrition intervention. Cardiovascular and psychological health are closely linked through the physiological process of allostatic load, the cumulative burden of chronic stress on the body. Allostatic load leads to dysregulation across multiple systems, including the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal axis, autonomic function, and metabolic regulation. This multisystem dysfunction contributes to both vascular disease and mood disorders, emphasizing the pressing need to target allostatic load. To address this, we will evaluate if daily consumption of flaxseed can reduce allostatic load in young adults. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, participants will consume flaxseed or control muffins for six weeks. We will assess systemic, cellular, and mitochondrial markers of allostatic load, including salivary/plasma/blood cortisol, melatonin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, reactive oxygen species, and mitochondrial activity. Cardiovascular reactivity and neurovascular responses to acute stress will be measured using blood pressure monitoring and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) targeting the prefrontal cortex. To complement these physiological measures, we will collect behavioral and psychological data using validated questionnaires assessing mood, fatigue, sleep quality, and perceived stress. Wearable biosensor watches will provide continuous objective data on sleep architecture, heart rate variability, and physical activity. These behavioral outcomes will serve as key covariates and exploratory endpoints in our analysis. Our prior work indicates that flaxseed reduces inflammation and lowers blood pressure within four weeks, demonstrating feasibility and physiological impact. This will be the first study to test whether a nutrient-dense whole food can reduce allostatic load in young adults, a high-risk but understudied group. The project is innovative in its integration of dietary, physiological, neuroimaging, and wearable technology approaches to capture multisystem outcomes. Finally, this study offers robust, hands-on research training for undergraduate students in biospecimen handling, wearable device data collection, behavioral assessments, clinical trial coordination, and neuroimaging analysis. By targeting early, lifestyle-based prevention, this research aligns with NHLBI’s mission to reduce cardiovascular disease burden, investigate sleep and stress, promote health across the lifespan, and leverage emerging technologies to enhance well-being.