A diet rich in flaxseed reduced the risk of breast cancer in mice. The research was published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum.
Flaxseed components – lignans – were added to the diet of experimental female mice. These substances are also found in wood. Some lignans are precursors of phytoestrogens, molecules similar to female sex hormones. Many lignans also have antioxidant activity, meaning they protect cells from damage. Dietary lignan intake has previously been shown to reduce the risk of death in postmenopausal women.
The authors of the new study found that consuming lignans can reduce the activity of genes in breast cells responsible for an increased risk of breast cancer. This effect was due to molecules released by microbes living in the cecum while processing lignan. The cecum is thought to serve as a reservoir of beneficial anaerobic bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids.
“If these results are confirmed, the microbiota will provide a new target for breast cancer prevention through nutritional intervention,” said Elena M. Comelli, assistant professor at New York University.
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