Higher lignan levels improve breast cancer survival

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Higher lignan levels improve breast cancer survival

In an article published online on September 6, 2011 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, German researchers report that high serum levels of enterolactone, a biomarker of lignan intake, are associated with a significantly greater chance of surviving postmenopausal breast cancer in comparison with having low levels. Lignans are phytoestrogen compounds found in flax and other seeds, in addition to vegetables and wheat. These compounds are converted in the colon to enterolactone, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream.

Serum enterolactone levels were measured in blood samples obtained between 2002 to 2005 from 1,140 postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Incidences of tumor metastasis or patient death were documented over a 6.1 median follow-up period.

One hundred sixty-two deaths occurred over follow-up. The median enterolactone level for survivors was 21.4 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L), compared to 17.0 nmol/L for those who did not survive. Women whose enterolactone levels were among the top 25 percent of participants had a 42 percent lower risk of dying over follow-up compared to those whose levels were among the lowest fourth. Subjects whose lignan intake was highest experienced a similarly reduced risk of undergoing metastasis. Further analysis determined a protective effect for enterolactone on estrogen receptor-negative tumors as opposed to those which were receptor-positive.

"We now have first clear evidence showing that lignans lower not only the risk of developing postmenopausal breast cancer, but also the mortality risk," stated lead researcher Chang-Claude of the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg. "The result was significant only for the group of tumors that have no receptor for the estrogen hormone. This gives reason to suspect that enterolactone protects from cancer not only by its hormone-like effect … In order to find out whether enterolactone also inhibits the aggressiveness of estrogen receptors in estrogen-positive tumors, we would need to expand this study to include much larger groups of women."

"By eating a diet that is rich in wholemeal products, seeds and vegetables, which is considered to be health-promoting anyway, everybody can take in enough lignans," she recommended.

http://www.lef.org/newsletter/2011/0920_Higher-Lignan-Levels-Improve-Breast-Cancer-Survival.htm?source=eNewsLetter2011Wk38-1 & key=Article & l=0#article