Lignans

See also: Hydroxycinnamic acids / Phenylpropanoids

(image courtesy of Lisa Ganora)

Lignans, FAQ

Dietary lignan intake and postmenopausal breast cancer risk by estrogen and progesterone..

Factors affecting Lignan Solubility

Further studies on a human intestinal bacterium Ruminococcus sp. END-1 for transformation of plant lignans to mammalian lignans

The lignans are a very diverse group of compounds, both structurally and functionally, but they are all formed by joining together units called hydroxycinnamyl alcohols, derived from phenylpropanoid precursors. Various kinds of lignans are known to contribute to the activity of adaptogenic, phytoestrogenic, hepatoprotective, and anticarcinogenic woody polymer that strengthens some plant cell walls and seed coats. In herbs, lignans are the relatively small physiologically active compounds, while lignan is for the most part found along with cellulose in the insoluble fiber or roughage portion of the plant material. However, there is some evidence that a healthy population of colon microflora is able to break down lignan to some degree, releasing lignan subunits.

Our gut microbes break lignans down into enterolactone, an isoflavone that may have health benefits, it has weak estrogenic activities in the body but the extent to which it affects us isn't well understood.

Diets high in lignans have been shown to lower cardiovascular disease risk. In postmenopausal women, diets high in lignans have shown a reduced risk of breast cancer and possibly endometrial and ovarian cancer. The same effect was not found in women who are still ovulating.