Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 320, Issue 8311, 11 December 1982, Pages 1295-1299
The Lancet

EXCRETION OF THE LIGNANS ENTEROLACTONE AND ENTERODIOL AND OF EQUOL IN OMNIVOROUS AND VEGETARIAN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN AND IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(82)91507-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Dietary studies and assays of urinary lignans in postmenopausal women showed that lignan excretion is significantly lower in urine of women with breast cancer than in normal omnivorous and vegetarian women and confirmed that there is a significant correlation between fibre intake and lignan excretion. It is suggested that the precursors of the human lignans enterolactone and enterodiol formed by the intestinal microflora are to be found in fibre-rich foods such as grains, nuts, and legumes. Excretion of equol, which has antioestrogenic properties, was similar in all groups studied and did not correlate with fibre intake, but occasional high values were found in some subjects.

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