Lignans cancer protective effects

In contrast to lignans, few studies have been reported regarding the relationship between ALA and breast cancer. In a meta-analysis, Saadatian-Elahi et al. (2004) reported a significant protective effect of total n-3 fatty acids and breast cancer risk. In this assessment, three cohort and seven case-control studies were reviewed. The case-control studies revealed an inverse association between ALA and breast cancer risk. High dietary intakes of ALA were correlated with a reduced breast cancer risk (Franceschi et al., 1996). This study involved 2569 women with breast cancer and the result was supported by a cohort study conducted in the Netherlands (Voorrips et al., 2002). A significant inverse association was found between ALA content in breast adipose tissue and breast cancer risk (Klein et al., 2000 Maillard et al., 2002). Furthermore, ALA to LA ratio close to one was also significantly associated with lower breast cancer risk (Maillard et al., 2002). 

In an in vivo study, Jenab et al. [150] demonstrated the protective effects of flaxseed lignans against colon cancer. This was associated with an increase in P-glucuronidase activity. The total activity of this enzyme correlated positively with total urinary lignan excretion, especially secoisolariciresinol diglycoside, and negatively with the total number of aberrant crypts and the total number of aberrant crypt foci in the distal colon. 

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