CHIA: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Chia (Salvia hispanica) is an herb that originated in Mexico and was cultivated by the Aztecs. It's grown for its seed, a source of omega-3 fatty acids.

In addition to omega-3 fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), chia seeds contain a large amount of dietary fiber. Omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber might help reduce risk factors for heart disease.

People use chia seed for diabetes, athletic performance, high blood pressure, heart disease, itching, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Possibly Ineffective for

High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). Consuming chia by mouth doesn't seem to reduce lipid levels in people who are more likely to develop high levels of cholesterol or other fats. This includes people with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease, or obesity.
Obesity. Consuming chia seeds doesn't help reduce body weight in overweight or obese adults.

There is interest in using chia for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Chia is commonly consumed in foods. Chia is possibly safe when used as medicine for up to 6 months. Large doses might cause mild stomach discomfort in some people.

When applied to the skin: Chia is possibly safe when used for up to 8 weeks.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if chia is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Prostate cancer: Chia contains large amounts of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). There is some concern that large amounts of ALA might increase the chance of getting prostate cancer. But this doesn't seem to be a concern when ALA comes from plants, such as chia. Consuming chia in moderation does not seem to increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Interactions ?

We currently have no information for CHIA overview.

Dosing

Chia seed or powder has most often been consumed by adults in doses of 25-40 grams by mouth daily for up to 6 months. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

View References

REFERENCES:

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Ayerza, R., Jr. and Coates, W. Effect of dietary alpha-linolenic fatty acid derived from chia when fed as ground seed, whole seed and oil on lipid content and fatty acid composition of rat plasma. Ann Nutr Metab 2007;51(1):27-34. View abstract.

Bushway, A. A., Belyea, P. R., and Bushway, R. J. Chia seed as a source of oil, polysaccharide, and protein. Journal of Food Science 1981;46(5):1349-1350.

Espada, C. E., Berra, M. A., Martinez, M. J., Eynard, A. R., and Pasqualini, M. E. Effect of Chia oil (Salvia Hispanica) rich in omega-3 fatty acids on the eicosanoid release, apoptosis and T-lymphocyte tumor infiltration in a murine mammary gland adenocarcinoma. Prostaglandins Leukot.Essent.Fatty Acids 2007;77(1):21-28. View abstract.

Justo, M. B., Alfaro, A. D., Aguilar, E. C., Wrobel, K., Wrobel, K., Guzman, G. A., Sierra, Z. G., and Zanella, Vda M. [Integral bread development with soybean, chia, linseed, and folic acid as a functional food for women]. Arch Latinoam.Nutr 2007;57(1):78-84. View abstract.

Reyes-Caudillo, E., Tecante, A., and Valdivia-López, M. A. Dietary fibre content and antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds present in Mexican chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds. Food Chemistry 2008;107(2):656-663.

Wang, X., Morris-Natschke, S. L., and Lee, K. H. New developments in the chemistry and biology of the bioactive constituents of Tanshen. Med Res Rev 2007;27(1):133-148. View abstract.

Yang, X. F., Wang, N. P., and Zeng, F. D. [Effects of the active components of some Chinese herbs on drug metabolizing-enzymes]. Zhongguo Zhong.Yao Za Zhi. 2002;27(5):325-328. View abstract.

Zhou, L., Zuo, Z., and Chow, M. S. Danshen: an overview of its chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and clinical use. J Clin Pharmacol 2005;45(12):1345-1359. View abstract.

Brouwer IA, Katan MB, Zock PL. Dietary alpha-linolenic acid is associated with reduced risk of fatal coronary heart disease, but increased prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis. J Nutr 2004;134:919-22. View abstract.

Chicco AG, D'Alessandro ME, Hein GJ, Oliva ME, Lombardo YB. Dietary chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) rich in alpha-linolenic acid improves adiposity and normalises hypertriacylglycerolaemia and insulin resistance in dyslipaemic rats. Br J Nutr. 2009;101(1):41-50. View abstract.

Finnegan YE, Minihane AM, Leigh-Firbank EC, et al. Plant- and marine-derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have differential effects on fasting and postprandial blood lipid concentrations and on the susceptibility of LDL to oxidative modification in moderately hyperlipidemic subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77:783-95. View abstract.

Guevara-Cruz M, Tovar AR, Aguilar-Salinas CA, et al. A dietary pattern including nopal, chia seed, soy protein, and oat reduces serum triglycerides and glucose intolerance in patients with metabolic syndrome. J Nutr. 2012;142(1):64-9. View abstract.

Ho H, Lee AS, Jovanovski E, et al. Effect of whole and ground Salba seeds (Salvia Hispanica L.) on postprandial glycemia in healthy volunteers: a randomized controlled, dose-response trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013;67(7):786-8. View abstract.

Illian TG, Casey JC, Bishop PA. Omega 3 Chia seed loading as a means of carbohydrate loading. J Strength Cond Res. 2011;25(1):61-5. View abstract.

Jeong SK, Park HJ, Park BD, Kim IH. Effectiveness of Topical Chia Seed Oil on Pruritus of End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Patients and Healthy Volunteers. Ann Dermatol. 2010;22(2):143-8. View abstract.

Nieman DC, Cayea EJ, Austin MD, et al. Chia seed does not promote weight loss or alter disease risk factors in overweight adults. Nutr Res. 2009;29(6):414-8. View abstract.

Nieman DC, Gillitt N, Jin F, et al. Chia seed supplementation and disease risk factors in overweight women: a metabolomics investigation. J Altern Complement Med. 2012;18(7):700-8. View abstract.

Vuksan V, Whitham D, Sievenpiper JL, et al. Supplementation of conventional therapy with the novel grain Salba (Salvia hispanica L.) improves major and emerging cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes: results of a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care 2007;30:2804-10. View abstract.

Alwosais EZM, Al-Ozairi E, Zafar TA, Alkandari S. Chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) supplementation to the diet of adults with type 2 diabetes improved systolic blood pressure: a randomized controlled trial. Nutr Health 2021;27(2):181-189. View abstract.

Brouwer IA, Geleijnse JM, Klaasen VM, Smit LA, Giltay EJ, de Goede J, Heijboer AC, Kromhout D, Katan MB. Effect of alpha linolenic acid supplementation on serum prostate specific antigen (PSA): results from the alpha omega trial. PLoS One. 2013 Dec 11;8(12):e81519. View abstract.

Chavarro JE, Stampfer MJ, Li H, et al. A prospective study of polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in blood and prostate cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16:1364-70. View abstract.

de Paula Dias Moreira L, Enes BN, de São José VPB, et al. Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Flour and Oil Ameliorate Metabolic Disorders in the Liver of Rats Fed a High-Fat and High Fructose Diet. Foods 2022;11(3):285. View abstract.

De Stefani E, Deneo-Pellegrini H, Boffetta P, et al. Alpha-linolenic acid and risk of prostate cancer: a case-control study in Uruguay. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2000;9:335-8. View abstract.

EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (EFSA NDA Panel), Turck D, Castenmiller J, de Henauw S, et al. Safety of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) as a novel food for extended uses pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J. 2019 Apr 17;17(4):e05657. View abstract.

EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA), Turck D, Castenmiller J, et al. Safety of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) powders, as novel foods, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J. 2019 Jun 12;17(6):e05716. View abstract.

Estilai A, Hashemi A. Chromosome number and meiotic behavior of cultivated chia, Salvia hispanica (Lamiaceae). Hort Sci 1990;25(12):1646-1647.

García Jiménez S, Pastor Vargas C, de las Heras M, Sanz Maroto A, Vivanco F, Sastre J. Allergen characterization of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica), a new allergenic food. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2015;25(1):55-6.

Giovannucci E, Rimm EB, Colditz GA, et al. A prospective study of dietary fat and risk of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993;85:1571-9. View abstract.

Illian TG, Casey JC, Bishop PA. Omega 3 Chia seed loading as a means of carbohydrate loading. J Strength Cond Res. 2011;25(1):61-5. View abstract.

Ixtaina VY, Nolasco SM, Tomas MC. Physical properties of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds. Ind Crops Prod 2008;28(3):286-293.

Kolonel LN, Nomura AM, Cooney RV. Dietary fat and prostate cancer: current status. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999;91:414-28. View abstract.

Laaksonen DE, Laukkanen JA, Niskanen L, et al. Serum linoleic and total polyunsaturated fatty acids in relation to prostate and other cancers: a population-based cohort study. Int J Cancer 2004;111:444-50.. View abstract.

Leitzmann MF, Stampfer MJ, Michaud DS, et al. Dietary intake of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and the risk of prostate cancer. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80:204-16. View abstract.

Medina-Urrita AX, Jorge-Galarza E, El Hafidi M, et al. Effect of dietary chia supplementation on glucose metabolism and adipose tissue function markers in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease subjects. Nutr Hosp 2022;39(6):1280-1288. View abstract.

Medina-Urrutia A, Lopez-Uribe AR, El Hafidi M, et al. Chia (Salvia hispanica)-supplemented diet ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its metabolic abnormalities in humans. Lipids Health Dis. 2020 May 19;19(1):96. View abstract.

Nieman DC, Cayea EJ, Austin MD, et al. Chia seed does not promote weight loss or alter disease risk factors in overweight adults. Nutr Res. 2009;29(6):414-8. View abstract.

Nieman DC, Gillitt N, Jin F, et al. Chia seed supplementation and disease risk factors in overweight women: a metabolomics investigation. J Altern Complement Med. 2012;18(7):700-8. View abstract.

Ramon JM, Bou R, Romea S, et al. Dietary fat intake and prostate cancer risk: a case-control study in Spain. Cancer Causes Control 2000;11:679-85. View abstract.

Silva LA, Verneque BJF, Mota APL, Duarte CK. Chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) consumption and lipid profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Food Funct 2021;12(19):8835-8849. View abstract.

Svec I, Hrusková M. Hydrated chia seed effect on wheat flour and bread technological quality. Agric Eng Int 2015;23(4):259-263.

Toscano LT, da Silva CS, Toscano LT, de Almeida AE, Santos AC, Silva AS. Chia flour supplementation reduces blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2014 Dec;69(4):392-8.

Vuksan V, Choleva L, Jovanovski E, et al. Comparison of flax (Linum usitatissimum) and Salba-chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds on postprandial glycemia and satiety in healthy individuals: a randomized, controlled, crossover study. Eur J Clin Nutr 2017;71(2):234-8. View abstract.

Vuksan V, Jenkins AL, Brissette C, et al. Salba-chia (Salvia hispanica L.) in the treatment of overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2017;27(2):138-46. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.

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