Flaxseed lignan lowers blood cholesterol and decreases liver disease risk factors in moderately hypercholesterolemic men.

Key Findings:

This study supports growing evidence that lignans, in particular SDG, can recue CVD through beneficial effects on serum lipids. Here 100 mg of SDG resulted in a significant reduction in the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio following 12 weeks in moderately hyper cholesterolemic men.  The waist circumference was also significantly reduced. Significant percentage decreases in the levels of enzymes that are elevated in liver disease (glutamic pyruvic transaminase and γ–glutamyl transpeptidase) results which may aid in the alleviation of liver injury. Thus a low dose of flaxseed or flaxseed lignan could positively influence hypercholesterolemia and liver disease risk factors in humans.

ABSTRACT:

The effects of flaxseed lignan (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside [SDG]) intake on hypercholesterolemia and liver disease risk factors in moderately hypercholesterolemic men were investigated. In a previous study, we reported that SDG attenuates high-fat, diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in mice. Here, we report a double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled study in moderately hypercholesterolemic men in which we investigated the hypothesis that oral administration of SDG (20 or 100 mg) would decrease the level of blood cholesterol and liver disease risk factors induced by hypercholesterolemia in humans. Thirty men with total cholesterol levels of 4.65 to 6.21 mmol/L (180-240 mg/dL) were randomly assigned to 3 groups; 2 groups received flaxseed lignan capsules (SDG, 20 or 100 mg/d) and the other received placebo capsules for 12 weeks. We found that, compared to the subjects who received placebo, those who received 100 mg of SDG exhibited a significant reduction in the ratio of low-density lipoprotein/high density lipoprotein cholesterol at baseline (P < .05) and at week 12 (P < .05). In addition, in SDG treated subjects, we also observed a significant percentage decrease in the levels of glutamic pyruvic transaminase and γ–glutamyl transpeptidase relative to the levels at baseline (P < .01) and a significant percentage decrease in the level of γ–glutamyl transpeptidase relative to the placebo treated group (P < .05). These results suggest that daily administration of 100 mg SDG can be effective at reducing blood level of cholesterol and hepatic diseases risk in moderately hypercholesterolemic men. (Authors Abstract)