Dietary Flax Seed and Breast Cancer

COMMENT: The conclusion says it all: Dietary flaxseed has the potential to reduce tumor growth in patients with breast cancer.' We usually recommend it in the form of a high-lignan flax seed oil that we carry, rather then the muffin. It is important to shake the oil VERY well, otherwise the lignans will sink to the bottom and you won't get the full benefit.

1. Thompson LU, Chen JM, Li T, Strasser-Weippl K, Goss PE. Dietary flaxseed alters tumor biological markers in postmenopausal breast cancer. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. 2005;11(10):3828-35. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15897583 [Accessed January 14, 2011].
ABSTRACT:
Purpose: Flaxseed, the richest source of mammalian lignan precursors, has previously been shownto reduce the growth of tumors in rats.This study examined, in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, the effects of dietary flaxseed on tumor biological markers and urinary lignan excretionin postmenopausal patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Experimental Design: Patients were randomized to daily intake of either a 25 g flaxseed- containing muffin (n = 19) or a control (placebo) muffin (n = 13). At the time of diagnosis and again at definitive surgery, tumor tissue was analyzed for the rate of tumor cell proliferation (Ki-67 labeling index, primary end point), apoptosis, c-erbB2 expression, and estrogen and progesterone receptor levels. Twenty-four ^ hour urine samples were analyzed for lignans, and 3-day diet records were evaluated for macronutrient and caloric intake. Mean treatment times were 39 and 32 days in the placebo and flaxseed groups, respectively. Results: Reductions in Ki-67 labeling index (34.2%; P = 0.001) and in c-erbB2 expression (71.0%; P = 0.003) and an increase in apoptosis (30.7%; P = 0.007) were observed in the flax- seed, but not in the placebo group. No significant differences in caloric and macronutrient intake were seen between groups and between pre- and posttreatment periods.A significant increase in mean urinary lignan excretion was observed in the flaxseed group (1,300%; P < 0.01) compared with placebo controls.The total intake of flaxseed was correlated with changes in c-erbB2 score (r =0.373; P = 0.036) and apoptotic index (r = 0.495; P < 0.004). Conclusion: Dietary flaxseed has the potential to reduce tumor growth in patients with breast cancer.