Dietary Lignans Might Improve Breast Cancer Survival
Posted Dec 30 2009 12:00am
Several studies have suggested that lignans, phytoestrogens found mainly in flax seed and sesame seed, might help reduce breast cancer risk, particularly in postmenopausal women. New breast cancer research published Online First in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment reports that dietary lignan consumption might improve survival in breast cancer patients.
In their study, the investigators examined the relationship between dietary lignan intake and survival in more than 1,100 women diagosed with breast cancer between 1996 and 2001. Lignan intake was determined by a food frequency questionnaire and survival was assessed through 2006. The results of this breast cancer research showed that:
Postmenopausal women consuming more than 318 micrograms of lignans per day had about a 70% lower hazard ratio for breast cancer mortality.
Postmenopausal women in the highest quarter of lignan consumption also showed about a 50% lower risk of death due to all causes.
The highest quarter of dried bean consumption by postmenopausal women was associated with a 50% lower hazard ratio of breast cancer mortality.
No associations between lignan consumption and death due to breast cancer were seen in premenopausal women.
Overall, this study shows that by adding lignans to their diet, postmenopausal breast cancer patients might be able to better fight their breast cancer. This new breast cancer research adds to the growing amount of evidence suggesting that healthy dietary habits can be an important part of a person's strategy to prevent and fight breast cancer. Ligans can be found in many foods. In fact, the major lignan consumed in this study (secoisolariciresinol) was mainly consumed from dark bread, peaches, and orange juice. Despite this, flax seed remains the highest source of lignans. In addition to being a great source of lignans, flax seed is also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which is why flax seed is one of my favorite cancer fighting foods.
To learn more about my favorite cancer fighting foods, read my book Fight Now: Eat & Live Proactively Against Breast Cancer at www.fightBCnow.com.
In their study, the investigators examined the relationship between dietary lignan intake and survival in more than 1,100 women diagosed with breast cancer between 1996 and 2001. Lignan intake was determined by a food frequency questionnaire and survival was assessed through 2006. The results of this breast cancer research showed that:
- Postmenopausal women consuming more than 318 micrograms of lignans per day had about a 70% lower hazard ratio for breast cancer mortality.
- Postmenopausal women in the highest quarter of lignan consumption also showed about a 50% lower risk of death due to all causes.
- The highest quarter of dried bean consumption by postmenopausal women was associated with a 50% lower hazard ratio of breast cancer mortality.
- No associations between lignan consumption and death due to breast cancer were seen in premenopausal women.
Overall, this study shows that by adding lignans to their diet, postmenopausal breast cancer patients might be able to better fight their breast cancer. This new breast cancer research adds to the growing amount of evidence suggesting that healthy dietary habits can be an important part of a person's strategy to prevent and fight breast cancer. Ligans can be found in many foods. In fact, the major lignan consumed in this study (secoisolariciresinol) was mainly consumed from dark bread, peaches, and orange juice. Despite this, flax seed remains the highest source of lignans. In addition to being a great source of lignans, flax seed is also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which is why flax seed is one of my favorite cancer fighting foods.To learn more about my favorite cancer fighting foods, read my book Fight Now: Eat & Live Proactively Against Breast Cancer at www.fightBCnow.com.