title: Lignan precursors from flaxseed or rye bran do not protect against the development of intestinal neoplasia in ApcMin mice.
abstract: Phytoestrogens, like isoflavonoids and lignans, have been postulated as possible colorectal cancer protective constituents. To investigate this hypothesis, two high-fiber sources rich in lignan precursors, i.e., rye bran and flaxseed, were tested for their ability to modulate intestinal tumor development in ApcMin mice. Test diets consisted of a control diet (a Western-style diet, adjusted for fiber and/or phytate content) supplemented with 5% flaxseed or 30% rye bran. Chemical analysis of diets and blood samples confirmed the enhanced systemic exposure of mice fed the test diets to the major lignan precursors, i.e., secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol. No statistically significant difference was observed in the incidence and multiplicity of small intestinal and colon tumors at terminal sacrifice between mice fed the control diet or the diet supplemented with 5% flaxseed. With the rye bran diet a statistically significant enhancement of the number of small intestinal tumors in female mice was observed. The number of colon tumors, however, was comparable between the control and rye bran-fed mice of either sex. Furthermore, no activating point mutations in the K-ras oncogene nor positive immunohistochemical staining for the p53 gene were observed in a set of 48 colon tumors. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that increased intake of lignan precursors from flaxseed or rye bran, administered in a Western-style diet, does not protect against intestinal tumor development in an appropriate animal model for intestinal neoplasia such as the ApcMin mice.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Health Effects Research, Department of Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis & Genetics, Laboratory of Pathology, National Institute of Public Health and Environment, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henk J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: van Kranen
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: Ilona K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Jolanda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van den Berg-Wijnands
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beems
authors.forename: Tarja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nurmi
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adlercreutz
authors.forename: Coen F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: van Kreijl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax / Q000737:chemistry; D017491:Genes, APC; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D017705:Lignans / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009154:Mutation; D011897:Random Allocation; D012434:Secale / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D017705:Lignans