Flaxseed and its mammalian lignan precursor cause a lengthening or cessation of estrous cycling in rats.

Abstract

Flaxseed and its mammalian lignan precursor secoisolariciresinol diglycoside (SDG) have been shown to be mammary cancer-protective in rats. Thus, the antiestrogenic effects of flaxseed and SDG were compared with tamoxifen, an antiestrogen, by monitoring rat estrous cycling. Four-week supplementation of a high-fat diet with flaxseed (2.5, 5, or 10%) or SDG (0.75, 1.5 or 3.0 mg/day) produced a dose-related cessation or lengthening (by 18-39%) of estrous cycles in up to 66% of rats. With tamoxifen (1 mg/kg body weight/day), 83% of the animals had irregular cycles or were in persistent diestrus. Flaxseed and SDG were antiestrogenic without gross tissue toxicity.

• Authors: L J Orcheson, S E Rickard, M M Seidl, L U Thompson
• Journal: Cancer letters (Cancer Lett) Vol. 125 Issue 1-2 Pg. 69-76 (Mar 13 1998) ISSN: 0304-3835 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 9566698 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Butylene Glycols
• Estrogen Antagonists
• Lignans
• secoisolariciresinol

Topics

• Animals
• Butylene Glycols (pharmacology)
• Estrogen Antagonists (pharmacology)
• Estrus (drug effects)
• Female
• Flax
• Lignans
• Organ Size (drug effects)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley