Dietary flaxseed lignan extract lowers plasma cholesterol and glucose concentrations in hypercholesterolaemic subjects.
Lignans, derived from flaxseed, are phyto-oestrogens being increasingly studied for their health benefits. An 8-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in fifty-five hypercholesterolaemic subjects, using treatments of 0 (placebo), 300 or 600 mg/d of dietary secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) from flaxseed extract to determine the effect on plasma lipids and fasting glucose levels. Significant treatment effects were achieved (P < 0.05 to < 0.001) for the decrease of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and glucose concentrations, as well as their percentage decrease from baseline. At weeks 6 and 8 in the 600 mg SDG group, the decreases of TC and LDL-C concentrations were in the range from 22.0 to 24.38 % respectively (all P < 0.005 compared with placebo). For the 300 mg SDG group, only significant differences from baseline were observed for decreases of TC and LDL-C. A substantial effect on lowering concentrations of fasting plasma glucose was also noted in the 600 mg SDG group at weeks 6 and 8, especially in the subjects with baseline glucose concentrations > or = 5.83 mmol/l (lowered 25.56 and 24.96 %; P = 0.015 and P = 0.012 compared with placebo, respectively). Plasma concentrations of secoisolariciresinol (SECO), enterodiol (ED) and enterolactone were all significantly raised in the groups supplemented with flaxseed lignan. The observed cholesterol-lowering values were correlated with the concentrations of plasma SECO and ED (r 0.128-0.302; P < 0.05 to < 0.001). In conclusion, dietary flaxseed lignan extract decreased plasma cholesterol and glucose concentrations in a dose-dependent manner.
Zhang
Wei
W
Tumor Hospital and Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Wang
Xiaobing
X
Liu
Yi
Y
Tian
Haimei
H
Flickinger
Brent
B
Empie
Mark W
MW
Sun
Sam Z
SZ
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002072:Butylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax; D005960:Glucosides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000097:blood; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002072:Butylene Glycols; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005960:Glucosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D014508:Urea; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D009584:Nitrogen; C090142:secoisolariciresinol diglucoside