Ms. Kurzer et al., FECAL LIGNAN AND ISOFLAVONOID EXCRETION IN PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN CONSUMING FLAXSEED POWDER, Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention, 4(4), 1995, pp. 353-358
Lignans and isoflavonoids are diphenolic compounds found in plant food
s, particularly whole grains and legumes, They have been shown to have
anticarcinogenic properties in animal and cell studies, and have been
associated with reduced cancer risk in epidemiological studies, In or
der to perform further epidemiological and metabolic studies on these
compounds, it is necessary to be able to monitor concentrations in bio
logical samples, In this study, we examined the effects of consumption
of flaxseed, a concentrated source of lignans, on fecal lignan excret
ion and evaluated the effect of high lignan consumption on fecal excre
tion of isoflavonoids, Thirteen women were studied for two diet period
s of three menstrual cycles each in a cross-over design, During the co
ntrol period, they consumed their usual diets; during the treatment pe
riod they consumed their usual diets supplemented with 10 g/day ground
flaxseed, Feces were collected on days 7-11 of the last menstrual cyc
le in each diet period, Five-day fecal composites were analyzed for li
gnans and isoflavonoids by isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass sp
ectrometry. Fecal excretion of the lignans enterodiol, enterolactone,
and matairesinol increased significantly with flax consumption, from 8
0.0 +/- 80.0 (SD) to 2560 +/- 3100; 640 +/- 480 to 10,300 +/- 7580; an
d 7.33 +/- 10.0 to 11.9 +/- 8.06 nmol/day, respectively, There were no
differences in fecal excretion of the isoflavonoids, daidzein, equol,
genistein, and O-demethylangolensin.