Lignans / flaxseed question

AlaskaAngel · 06-08-2010, 11:42 AM

Hi, I'm taking Steph's suggestion from this previous thread, but want to link it as it has so much discussion about lignans/flaxseed:

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=41056

Here is sort of an update that is interesting:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6535S220100604

A.A.

TanyaRD · 06-10-2010, 06:46 AM

Thanks for the updated article AA. I find this very interesting. Much as the term "cancer" is too broad this article demonstrates that even the term "breast cancer" is also too broad. There are multiple diseases within "breast cancer". While treatments have come so far with regards to individualization of regimens based on receptor sites this demonstrates that we still have so much to learn. As you have pointed out in the past this is an endocrine issue. In regards to nutrition, I believe many oncology RDs are already trying to tailor nutrition plans to meet the needs of specific types of breast cancer (i.e. Triple neg benefit most from very low fat) much as we would for diabetes nutrition management. The detailed individualizations are minor as all benefit from a plant-based, low saturated fat diet but deserves individualization nonetheless.

AlaskaAngel · 06-10-2010, 07:08 AM

Good morning Tanya! It is light very early here at this time of year.

Given that lignans are so helpful it would be nice if the use with bc wasn't so complicated, but I think you are right.

I also wondered when I read this part, just how the conclusions would be affected by the effects on the GI tract of bc patients from chemotherapy:

"In some of the studies, researchers also took blood or urine samples to measure participants' levels of enterolignans -- compounds created when intestinal bacteria interact with dietary lignans."

Chemotherapy and the support drugs for it significantly affect the flora of the GI tract...

No simple answers yet to the question of the use of flaxseed.