Flaxseed alters estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women greater than supplementation with an equal amount of soy
I am a big fan of both flaxseed supplementation and soy products (NOT supplements) as part of healthy lifestyle. However, I usually recommend grinding your own flaxseed which most patients find difficult to do on regular basis. Remember that the lignans are not present in the oil supplements. So, just because this study suggests that flax may be better than soy as it relates to estrogen metabolism, both have additional health benefits unrelated to their effects on estrogen metabolism and both should be part of a healthy lifestyle.
AJCN — Abstracts: Brooks et al. 79 (2): 318 –