Flax seed may slow breast cancer

TORONTO, ON, February - 2001 Can a flax seed muffin a day help women at risk for breast cancer? "Yes," say a group of cancer researchers from Toronto, Canada.

The researchers studied a group of 39 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer tumors. The women received a muffin each day that contained 25 grams of ground flax seed, or a placebo muffin that contained no flax seed. The researchers found that women who received the flax seed muffins experienced a slow-down in their tumor growth.

"Breast tumor cells had their growth rate significantly reduced in women consuming the muffins containing flax seed compared to those eating control muffins without the seed," says lead researcher Dr. Paul Goss, associate professor at the University of Toronto, and director of the breast cancer prevention program at the Princess Margaret Hospital and the University Health Network.

"While it is a small study, requiring confirmation, it suggests that consumption of ground flax seed in the diet may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer," says Dr. Goss. "Flax seed may also be capable of slowing the progression of the disease in those who have it."

The research appears to confirm population data that suggests people who consume flax seed have lower breast cancer risks. Previous animal studies also showed that flax seed helps prevent and slow down hormone-dependent tumor growth.

In a related study, Dr. Goss and his team of researchers also examined the role of flax seed in cyclical mastalgia. This condition is a syndrome of breast pain, swelling, and lumpiness that recurs in each premenstrual cycle. Cyclical mastalgia has been associated with breast cancer risk.

The researchers found that dietary supplementation with 25 grams of flax seed daily (also eaten in muffins) was effective in relieving symptoms of cyclical mastalgia without significant side effects. The researchers believe that the benefits may have been the result of the anti-estrogenic effects of the lignans found in flaxseed.

Lead researcher Dr. Paul Goss presented the findings of both studies at the 23rd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 6-9, 2000, sponsored by the San Antonio Cancer Institute.

Super Potent Flax Seed Muffins

The following is the recipe used in clinical research on flax seed and breast cancer. The recipe yields a week¹s supply of muffins (7 muffins). Each muffin provides 25 grams of flax seed.

5/8 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup ground flaxseed
3/8 cup brown sugar
1/2 tblsp baking powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups skim milk

Bake muffins at 350°F for 30 minutes.

Sources:

Goss PE, Li T, Theriault M, Pinto S, Thompson L, University Health Network/Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Effects of Dietary Flax Seed in Women with Cyclical Mastalgia.

Thompson LU, Lit T, Chen J, Goss PE Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Medical Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Both presented at the 23rd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 6-9, 2000.

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