Flashfree food for thought: lignans and breast cancer risk

Posted by Liz on Jun 7, 2010 in breast cancer | 1 comment

I’ve written previ0usly about the potential benefits of flaxseed in boosting bone health and alleviating hot flashes.  Now, researchers are suggesting that flaxseed and other foods that contain high levels of lignans –  a type of phytoestrogen with both weak estrogen and antioxidant activities – may also help lower the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

In a large analysis of 21 studies examining possible links between lignan intake and breast cancer risk, the researchers found that including large amounts of lignan in the diet reduced the risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 14% in postmenopausal women. What’s more, risk was reduced by as much as 16% in studies that specifically examined levels of compounds called “enterolignans,” which are created with dietary lignan enters the stomach and interacts with bacteria residing in the intestines. The researchers say that lignan may offer moderate protection against breast cancer because it blocks estrogen activity that promotes tumour growth, perhaps mostly when natural estrogen is low (i.e. during menopause). However, the study did not provide details as to what constitutes “large” amounts of the compounds.

Flaxseed is one of the richest dietary sources of lignan, although it is also found in other foods including sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, whole grain breads, muesli, kale, broccoli, white cabbage and brussel sprouts, apricots and strawberries. You can find a full list of the lignan content in foods here.

Should you start eating more lignan? The good news is that the foods that are richest sources of the phytoestrogen are also quite healthy.  And, wth the potentially added benefits of preventing osteoporosis and lessening hot flashes, it seems that boosting lignan intake is a win-win all around!

Want to read more? Reuters Health has an excellent write up with additional information on the study.