Flaxseed - Flaxseed Oils & Lignans

Flaxseed: Nature's Richest Source of Plant Lignans

by Jade Beutler, R.R.T., R.C.P. Source

Generally, the U.S. Government has little involvement in its citizens diets other than to encourage that they are nutritionally sound. Beginning in the 1980's however, consumers were advised by the Surgeon General of the United States and the National Academy of Sciences that low in saturated fat, high fiber diets could be beneficial to their health. This advice was driven by new health statistics. For example, Healthy People 2000, noted that five of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, coronary heart disease, some types of cancer, stroke, certain types of diabetes and atherosclerosis, were related to diet. Consequently, the Surgeon General advised consumers to lower their saturated fat and cholesterol intakes, and at the same time increase their consumption of grains, vegetables and fruits. This new information convinced the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to undertake a 20.5 million dollar program to learn more about natural plant chemicals (phytochemicals) in certain food groups that may prevent cancer.

One of the first and most promising foods to be studied was flaxseed. It had been previously discovered that flaxseed contained a phytochemical known as lignan within the cell matrix of its seed. Much of the interest surrounding plant lignans is based on the suspected association between them and the low incidence of breast and colon cancers of those consuming a plant and grain based vegetarian diet. High levels of lignans are present in the blood, urine and feces of these individuals. Flaxseed contains 100 - 800 times more plant lignans than does its closest competitors, wheat bran, rye, buckwheat, millet, soy beans and oats. Once consumed, lignans found in flaxseed are converted by bacterial action in the colon to mammalian lignans. They are then circulated through the intestinal tract and liver where their action is potentiated. Here mammalian lignans bind with estrogen receptors with results suggesting they may induce the production of a special sex hormone binding compound. This compound known as sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) regulates estrogen levels by escorting excess estrogen from the body via its eliminative pathways. It should be noted that lignans are thought to be estrogen modulators, balancing estrogen activity with both weak estrogenic and antiestrogenic abilities. These and other positive findings were presented by both the FDA and the NCI as well as several research institutions at the annual convention on Experimental Biology held in New Orleans, LA.

In summary, flaxseed containing the phytochemical lignan, has been proven scientifically to exhibit estrogenic activity which may hold implications in estrogen related mammary and colon problems.

Flaxseed and flaxseed oil can be purchased in health food stores nationwide. A new high in lignan organic flaxseed oil product is now available which possesses all of the qualities of flaxseed oil with the extra benefit of additional lignans.