Key Findings
Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) is the major plant lignan found in flaxseed hull, and a review on the health benefits of SDG supplementation suggests that lignans may protect against multiple human diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Very few randomized clinical trials report the use of a standardized lignan-enriched product with known lignan content. This study was a phase II a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical pilot trial of long-term oral administration of a standardized flaxseed lignan–enriched product in healthy older. BeneFlax, a standardized flaxseed product containing 38% SDG was used. The study indicated no differences in the outcome measures for participant safety and tolerability between the lignan supplemented group and placebo. There were no significant changes in other outcome measures, which included lipid profiles, and quality of- life indicators, namely cognitive function, pain scores, muscular strength, and daily activity. No changes were noted in blood inflammatory biomarkers—CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. In a post hoc subgroup analysis involving participants with elevated systolic BP (SBP, lignan supplementation caused a statistically significant mean reduction (15 mm Hg) in SBP (from a mean of 155 +/-13 mm Hg at baseline to 140 +/- 11 mm Hg at 24 weeks). No significant difference was found in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between treatment and placebo groups. The supplementation with a flaxseed lignan–enriched standardized product is well tolerated in healthy older adults following once-daily long-term administration of a pharmacological dose of SDG (600 mg) for 6 months. Further, it appears that lignan supplementation may decrease SBP, so future study is required to determine its effects in hypertensive participants.
ABSTRACT:
Evidence from the literature suggests that dietary flaxseed lignans have the ability to modulate inflammation, which is recognized as the underlying basis of multiple chronic human diseases in older adults. Our objective was to determine the effects of oral lignan supplementation on biochemical and functional indicators of inflammation as well as safety and tolerability in older healthy adults. We designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in older healthy adults (60-80 years) to assess flaxseed lignan-enriched complex (∼38% secoisolariciresinol diglucoside [SDG]; 600 mg SDG dose) oral supplementation effects on biochemical and functional indicators of inflammation and safety and tolerability in older healthy adults after 6 months of once-daily oral administration. The clinical trial confirmed that plasma concentration of total flaxseed lignans (free and conjugated forms) secoisolariciresinol (SECO), enterodiol (ED), and enterolactone (ENL) were significantly associated with daily oral supplementation of flaxseed lignan-enriched complex (p < 0.05). A significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP; from a mean of 155 ± 13 mm Hg at baseline to 140 ± 11 mm Hg at 24 weeks) was observed in lignan-supplemented participants stratified into an SBP ≥140 mm Hg subcategory (p = 0.04). No differences were found between treatment or placebo groups in terms of cognition, pain, activity, physical measurements (calf, waist, and upper arm circumstances), and grip strength. With respect to blood inflammatory markers, lipid profiles, and biochemical parameters, no significant differences were found between treatment and placebo groups at the end of the 6-month supplementation. No adverse effects were reported during supplementation. These data further support the safety and tolerability of long-term flaxseed lignan-enriched complex supplementation in older adults and identify an ability to favorably modulate SBP, an important risk factor in cardiovascular disease.
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