Source: Hamaker et al. 1992. Arkansas University, USA. Complemented with Sacha Inchi.

*TEAA: Total Essential Amino-acids

*TAA: Total Amino-acids

1. The values are indicated in miligramms of proteins.

2. Values for Soya bean, peanut, cotton and sunflower have been taken from Bowel y Hopkins (1985)

3. Recommended levels for pre-school aged children (2-5 years). Recently have been recommended to evaluate the quality of the protein diet for all groups, with the exception of the infants. (Consulant's Meetings). Union of Expert Consultants of the FAO/WHO 1990.

C = Contains; b = lower content; but the value is not available.

Finally, one refers to various authorized quotations to conclude the comparison:

• The flax seed has been strongly questioned as far as the amount of factors that interferes in the normal development of people and animals. The flax seed is used essentially to manufacture industrial products such as coatings, floor coverings, paintings and varnishes.
• The restriction in the use of the flax seed in the human and animal consumption is due mainly to the toxic presence of cyanoglycoside (linamarin) and to antagonistic factors of the B6 Vitamin (Vetter, 2000; Center for Alternative Plant and Animal Products, 1995; Stitt, 1989; Butler et al., 1965). Recent discoveries demonstrate that the low levels of Vitamin B6 in the blood are associated to an increasing risk of fatal cardio-coronary disease and apoplexy (American Heart Association, 1999). The homocysteine, a non protein substance, which produces sulfur amino acid and is not a normal diet component, increases when the folic acid and the vitamin B6 are inadequate (Herzlich et al., 1996; Selhub et al., 1996). The researchers believe, that when the corporal cells release excessive homocystine in the blood, the interior of the arterial walls becomes irritated, stimulating the formation of fat deposit-plates which adhere in the arterial walls (McBride, 1999). Today it is recognized, that a high concentration of homocystine in serum becomes a considerable high risk, besides the cardiovascular diseases and apoplexy (Malinow, 1996; Boushey et al,1995).
• All the varieties of the flax seeds contain anti nutritional factors, including the new variety FP967, a genetically modified organism (GMO), that has a concentration of total cyanogenic compounds (linamarin, linustatinase, and total neolinustatinase ), which are not different to the traditional ones (Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 1998).
• The human consumption of the flax seeds is prohibited in France and in Germany, Switzerland and Belgium it is used with limitations(Le Conseil d'Etat, 1973). In the United States, although the human consumption is not prohibited, it does not have the FDA approval. This signifies, that under those circumstances, if a company decides to include the flax seeds in the formulation of a nutritional product, it will be responsible for any harm that may be caused. (Vanderveen, 1986).
• Recent research works in animals have warned on the negative action of the flax seeds during the pregnancy and the reproductive period. These effects have been attributed to the denominated diclycoside ecoisolariciresinol (SDG) compound (SDG), that trough the bacterial action, acts in the mammals as a estrogenic depressor or stimulant. The flax seed is known as the richest source of SGD and therefore it is recommended to take a special care when its consumption takes place during the pregnancy and lactation (Toug et al., 1998; Rickard y Thompson, 1998).
• Due to the flax seeds availability (as industrial oil) and its relatively low price, there have been several attempts to use it in the animal feeds as a source of fatty acids omega 3, but without much success. Numerous scientific publications have demonstrated the negative effects caused by the flax seed's anti nutritional factor