Flaxseed for heart health and stress in young adults
Official title: A randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial to assess the impact of dietary flaxseed on heart health and allostatic load in young adults
Funded at College of William and Mary · NIH-11444295 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A six-week, blind, randomized study tests whether daily flaxseed in muffins can lower stress-related health risks and improve heart health in college-age adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | College of William and Mary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Williamsburg, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $585,016 |
| NIH project number | 1R15HL181699-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444295 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young adults (college-age) with or at risk for stress-related mood and cardiovascular concerns.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals outside the target group or with specific flaxseed allergies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This study enrolls young adults, mainly college students, to see if adding flaxseed to daily muffins can lower the body’s allostatic load and improve cardiovascular and mental health markers. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either flaxseed muffins or control muffins for six weeks, with both groups and researchers blinded to group assignment. Researchers will measure a mix of blood, metabolic, and mood-related outcomes to understand how a simple dietary change could impact stress and heart risk in a high-stress population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants could experience improved stress regulation and heart health through an accessible dietary change.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research suggests dietary flaxseed can influence inflammation and cardiovascular markers, but effects on allostatic load in young adults require confirmation.
Where this research is happening
-
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Caligiuri, Stephanie — College of William and Mary
- Study coordinator: Caligiuri, Stephanie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.