Flaxseed and constipation

What 2 graded rows on flaxseed agree on for constipation, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.

Consensus finder Rows from the Flaxseed page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides

What the rows agree on

Each block and row is one graded row from the Flaxseed page, with its PubMed record.

Supplement

Flaxseed Choose another

2 rows · 167 people

They agree: both rows found an improvement.

No difference

Improved

Each block is one evidence row, sized by how many people it enrolled, with its grade inside.

From the rows

The best-graded row, grade C, is a randomized trial of 77 people (2019) and found an improvement.

The rows run from 77 to 90 people, published from 2019 to 2020: 2 single studies.

2 improved

Grade CConstipation symptoms · Improved
RCT · n 77 · 2019 · Constipated adults with type 2 diabetes (Iran)
10 g twice daily (20 g/day) · 12 weeks
Constipation symptoms and stool consistency improved more than with placebo cookies, as did weight, fasting glucose, total and LDL cholesterol; flaxseed did better than psyllium. No adverse effects were observed.
Row on the Flaxseed page · PubMed 30661699 (opens PubMed)
Grade DFunctional constipation, compared with lactulose · Improved
RCT · n 90 · 2020 · Adults with functional constipation (Rome IV criteria) in China
50 g/day (vs lactulose 15 mL/day) · 4 weeks
The median constipation score fell from 14 to 6.5 with flaxseed and from 15 to 9 with lactulose; bowel movements rose from 2 to 7 a week with flaxseed and from 2 to 6 with lactulose. Quality of life improved in both groups.
Row on the Flaxseed page · PubMed 32229443 (opens PubMed)