Flaxseed – usually sprinkled on acai bowls or blended into smoothies – may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, a study suggests.
Researchers in Nebraska and Canada gave female mice a solution of flaxseed oil, which contains lignans, a substance found in fiber-rich foods such as grains, seeds, nuts and drinks such as coffee.
They found that it created a relationship between the gut microbiome and mammary gland microRNAs (miRNAs), which are linked to breast cancer cell growth.
Rodents fed flaxseed oil were less likely to develop breast cancer.
The new study showed that the lignans in linseed oil positively reduce the chance of cancer cell growth in the mammary glands, leading to a lower chance of developing breast cancer.
The researchers said these findings could lead to new dietary recommendations for preventing breast cancer, the most common form of cancer in the U.S., which affects nearly 300,000 American women each year.
Dr. Elena M Comelli, study author and assistant professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto, said: 'If these findings are confirmed, the microbiota will become a new target to prevent breast cancer through nutritional interventions.'
Previous research has shown that lignans have anti-inflammatory properties and cause the body to produce less estrogen, leading to a lower risk of breast cancer.
The researchers fed a solution of flaxseed lignans to female mice for three weeks and found that they triggered a response in the cecum, a pouch-like part of the large intestine that separates the small and large intestines.
When the flaxseed enters the gut microbiome – a network of bacteria that live in the digestive tract and help us fight infections and regulate appetite – it sends signals to miRNAs in the mammary glands that lead to a lower chance of developing breast cancer cells.
Dr. Jennifer Auchtung, journal author who worked on the paper and assistant professor at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, said: 'The gastrointestinal microbiota plays an important role in adapting many components of our diet to improve human health. to influence.'
'In this study, we found correlations between diets enriched with flaxseed, the composition of the cecal microbiota and miRNA profiles in the mammary gland that regulate many pathways, including those involved in cancer development.'
'This preliminary study supports further research into the role the microbiota plays in nutritional approaches to reduce risk factors associated with disease.'
Lignans have been shown to cause women who have gone through menopause to produce less active forms of estrogen, which is thought to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Other grains such as barley, buckwheat, millet, oats, rye and wheat also contain high levels of lignans. They are also abundant in other nuts and seeds, as well as beverages such as coffee, tea and wine.
The new study confirms other recent findings suggesting that flaxseed reduces the risk of cancer.
A 2021 survey of more than 400 people published in the journal Clinical nutritional researchfound, for example, that lignans resulted in a lower risk of breast cancer.
Some research has also suggested that flaxseed can improve the… growth rate of prostate cancer cells.
Flaxseed has also been shown to treat digestive problems, such as constipation, and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, reducing the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Flaxseed is rich in polyunsaturated fats, fiber, manganese, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6, iron and folate, all of which improve metabolism, digestion and immune system health.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., affecting nearly 300,000 women and nearly 3,000 men each year. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), an estimated 43,000 Americans will die from breast cancer this year
The researchers cautioned that the findings are preliminary and that more research is needed.
The research was published in the journal on Thursday Microbiological spectrum.