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Anti-cancer effect of flaxseed


Initial studies suggest that flaxseed may benefit individuals with certain types of breast and prostate cancers. Jing Chen and co-workers of University of Toronto found that flaxseed and its components inhibited tumor metastasis but not tumor recurrence after surgical excision of the primary tumor [1]. They injected mice orthotopically with human breast cancer cells and when the tumors reached an average size of 110 mm they were surgical removed. Then the mice were subjected to different diets. They found that the total incidence of metastasis was significantly lower in the mice fed with flaxseed, secoisolariciresinol diglycoside, and secoisolariciresinol diglycoside with flaxseed oil.



Another study conducted at the same university concluded that intake of flaxseed has the potential to reduce tumor growth in patients with breast cancer [2]. This study conducted by Thompson and co-workers investigated the effect of dietary flaxseed on tumor biological markers in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. The postmenopausal patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer were divided in a placebo group and a flaxseed group, receiving daily 25 g flaxseed. At the time of diagnosis and at definitive surgery, tumor tissue was analyzed for the rate of tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, c-erbB2 expression, and estrogen and progesterone receptor levels. The scientists found 34% reductions in Ki-67 labeling index (Ki-67 is a nuclear protein that is associated with cellular proliferation), 71% reduction in c-erbB2 expression and a 31% increase in apoptosis in the flaxseed group but not in the placebo group.

A study of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at the University of Texas undertook a trial to test the effects of flaxseed supplemented diets on the biology of the prostate and other biomarkers [3]. A group of 161 prostate cancer patients scheduled at least 21 days before prostatectomy were divided in 4 groups: control, flaxseed-supplemented diet, low-fat diet and flaxseed-supplemented, low-fat diet. The scientists found that men in the flaxseed groups showed significant lower proliferation rates and lowers rates of Ki-67-positive cells.

[1] Flaxseed and its components reduce metastasis after surgical excision of solid human breast tumor in nude mice. Cancer Lett. 2006 Mar 28;234(2):168-75.
[2] Dietary flaxseed alters tumor biological markers in postmenopausal breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2005 May 15;11(10):3828-35.
[3] Flaxseed supplementation (not dietary fat restriction) reduces prostate cancer proliferation rates in men presurgery. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008 Dec;17(12):3577-87.




 
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