Effect of flaxseed and wheat bran on serum hormones and lignan excretion in premenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of flaxseed consumption (a lignan-rich plant food) alone and in combination with wheat bran on serum hormones and urinary lignan excretion in premenopausal women.


METHODS
Sixteen subjects were studied for four feeding treatments lasting two menstrual cycles each in a randomized, crossover design. During each treatment, subjects consumed their habitual diets supplemented with baked goods containing no flaxseed or wheat bran, 10 g of flaxseed, 28 g of wheat bran, or 10 g of flaxseed plus 28 g of wheat bran/day. Serum samples collected during the mid-luteal phase of the second menstrual cycle of each diet treatment were analyzed for serum hormones and sex hormone binding globulin. Urine samples collected during the same time period were analyzed for urinary lignan excretion.


RESULTS
There were no changes in serum hormone concentrations or sex hormone binding globulin on any of the treatments. Urinary lignan excretion significantly increased on diet treatments that included flaxseed, but inclusion of wheat bran did not significantly alter lignan excretion.


CONCLUSIONS
Urinary lignan excretion increased with flaxseed consumption, but serum hormones did not change in this group of premenopausal women. Consumption of wheat bran with flaxseed did not alter urinary lignan excretion associated with flaxseed consumption.
Frische
Elsa J
EJ
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, 1334 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Hutchins
Andrea M
AM
Martini
Margaret C
MC
Thomas
William
W
Slavin
Joanne L
JL
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017705:Lignans / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000652:urine*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D017697:Premenopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015415:Biomarkers; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004967:Estrogens; D017705:Lignans; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin