Consumption of a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables
has been associated with the reduction of risk of certain cancers
One possible contribution to this benefit may come from lignans, diphenolic
compounds present in foods of plant origin. These compounds possess
estrogenic, antiestrogenic, antiproliferative and antioxidative properties.
Flaxseed, a substance rich in lignan precursor SDG, has been used experimentally
as a dietary source of lignans to investigate the possible role of these
compounds in cancer prevention. Inhibition of carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis
by flaxseed has been observed previously. The present study investigated
the effect of dietary flaxseed supplementation on experimental metastasis
of intravenously injected melanoma cells in mice. Supplementation resulted
in decreased number, area and volume of lung tumors. Flaxseed therefore
appears to reduce the pulmonary metastasis of melanoma cells and inhibit
tumor growth. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that
flaxseed products may be useful adjunctive therapies to prevent metastasis.Yan
L, Yee J, Li D, et al. "Dietary flaxseed supplementation and
experimental metastasis of melanoma cells in mice."
Cancer Letters 1998;124:181-186.
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