- Lignans are a group of chemical compounds found in whole grains, seeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetables, particularly in flaxseed and sesame seed. The health effects of lignans have been found to largely depend on the particular type of lignan.
- There is limited scientific evidence that lignans may be taken to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease, cognitive performance, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis and several types of cancer. Although some clinical research has been conducted, additional and higher-quality studies are needed before a conclusion may be made about the use of lignans for any condition.
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Lignans
Contents
- Cotterchio M, Boucher BA, Manno M, et al. Dietary phytoestrogen intake is associated with reduced colorectal cancer risk. J Nutr 2006;136(12):3046-3053. View Abstract
- Hallund J, Ravn-Haren G, Bugel S, et al. A lignan complex isolated from flaxseed does not affect plasma lipid concentrations or antioxidant capacity in healthy postmenopausal women. J Nutr 2006;136(1):112-116. View Abstract
- Hallund J, Tetens I, Bugel S, et al. Daily consumption for six weeks of a lignan complex isolated from flaxseed does not affect endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women. J Nutr 2006;136(9):2314-2318. View Abstract
- Hallund J, Tetens I, Bugel S, et al. The effect of a lignan complex isolated from flaxseed on inflammation markers in healthy postmenopausal women. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2008;18(7):497-502. View Abstract
- Horn-Ross PL, Hoggatt KJ, Lee MM. Phytoestrogens and thyroid cancer risk: the San Francisco Bay Area thyroid cancer study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2002;11(1):43-49. View Abstract
- Kilkkinen A, Erlund I, Virtanen MJ, et al. Serum enterolactone concentration and the risk of coronary heart disease in a case-cohort study of Finnish male smokers. Am J Epidemiol 2006;163(8):687-693. View Abstract
- Kreijkamp-Kaspers S, Kok L, Bots ML, et al. Dietary phytoestrogens and vascular function in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study. J Hypertens 2004;22(7):1381-1388. View Abstract
- Low YL, Taylor JI, Grace PB, et al. Polymorphisms in the CYP19 gene may affect the positive correlations between serum and urine phytoestrogen metabolites and plasma androgen concentrations in men. J Nutr 2005;135(11):2680-2686. View Abstract
- McCann SE, Ambrosone CB, Moysich KB, et al. Intakes of selected nutrients, foods, and phytochemicals and prostate cancer risk in western New York. Nutr Cancer 2005;53(1):33-41. View Abstract
- Penumathsa SV, Koneru S, Thirunavukkarasu M, et al. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside: relevance to angiogenesis and cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2007;320(2):951-959. View Abstract
- Stuedal A, Gram IT, Bremnes Y, et al. Plasma levels of enterolactone and percentage mammographic density among postmenopausal women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2005;14(9):2154-2159. View Abstract
- van der Schouw YT, Kreijkamp-Kaspers S, Peeters PH, et al. Prospective study on usual dietary phytoestrogen intake and cardiovascular disease risk in Western women. Circulation 2005;111(4):465-471. View Abstract
- Vanharanta M, Voutilainen S, Rissanen TH, et al. Risk of cardiovascular disease-related and all-cause death according to serum concentrations of enterolactone: Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Arch Intern Med 2003;163(9):1099-1104. View Abstract
- Wu WH, Kang YP, Wang NH, et al. Sesame ingestion affects sex hormones, antioxidant status, and blood lipids in postmenopausal women. J Nutr 2006;136(5):1270-1275. View Abstract
- Zeleniuch-Jacquotte A, Lundin E, Micheli A, et al. Circulating enterolactone and risk of endometrial cancer. Int J Cancer 2006;119(10):2376-2381. View Abstract
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