Lignans are found in flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, whole grains and other foods
Lignans are phytoestrogens with antioxidant activity. Lignans are from the cell walls of plants and are found in a variety of foods, including flax seeds, soybeans, whole grain cereals, rye, broccoli, pumpkin seed and some berries. A recent prospective study, appearing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2007; 99(6): 475-86), analyzed the lignan intake of 58,049 postmenopausal French women. There was a link between lignan intake and lower breast cancer risk. Intake was assessed in the women, who were not taking any sort of soy isoflavone supplement, with a self-administered dietary history questionnaire. The women in the top quartile of lignan intake had a 17% lower risk of developing breast cancer than the women in the quartile with the lowest lignan intake.
