By: Allison Stevens for Fibroids1Could what you eat influence your risk of uterine fibroids? Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that this may be the case with the intake of lignans, a group of phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) that produce a weak estrogenic effect in the body.
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Want to include lignan-rich foods in your diet? Following are some of the leaders when it comes to lignan content:
Seeds & nuts:
Flaxseeds
Sesame seeds
Cashews
Sunflower seeds
Grains:
Multi-grain bread
Rye bread
Muesli
Vegetables:
Kale
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Carrots
Bell peppers
Fruits:
Apricots
Strawberries
Peaches
Pears
Raisins
Grapefruit
Other:
Extra virgin olive oil
Garlic |
Researchers from Seattle, Washington studied the relationship between phytoesterogens and the risk of uterine fibroids. The study included a total of 368 ethnically diverse women, ages 25-59 years old. Of these, there were 191 subjects with uterine fibroids and 177 subjects without fibroids. All participants provided information on their dietary intake and two overnight urine samples were obtained to determine their excretion of phytoestrogens, including both isoflavones and lignans.
Researchers found that a higher lignan excretion was associated with a lower risk of fibroids, suggesting a higher intake of lignans may reduce the risk of fibroids. Because fibroids are hormonally responsive, it could be that foods containing lignans have weak hormonal effects in the body that help prevent uterine fibroids from developing.
Numerous foods naturally contain lignans. Flax seeds are by far the richest source of lignans; but, they are also found in many other seeds, nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Researchers also looked at the relationship between isoflavones (another group of phytoestrogens) and fibroids, but found no association. Soy foods are the main source of isoflavones in the diet; therefore, a relatively low soy intake seen in the study participants could explain the lack of findings for an isoflavone/fibroid relationship in this particular study.
Fibroids are benign tumors in the muscular wall of the uterus that are found in up to 70 percent of all women. Even though they are benign, fibroids sometimes cause reproductive problems such as heavy bleeding, pelvic pressure, severe cramping, pain, infertility, and miscarriage – and are the leading cause of hysterectomy. Why fibroids develop or grow in the first place is still unknown. Fibroids are hormonally responsive, and it is possible that fibroids grow in response to environmental factors such as diet, smoking, exercise, or exposure to certain chemicals. And some evidence suggests that fibroids are related to a genetic problem.
Although the possibility of lignan intake being related to fibroids is promising, researchers noted that, “Because lignans are widespread in a variety of foods that are generally perceived to be healthy, it is difficult to ascertain whether the relation between urinary lignan excretion and risk of uterine fibroids observed in our study represents an effect of lignans per se.” Instead, it could be that lignan excretion signifies an overall healthier pattern of eating that may be causing the reduction in fibroids.
More research is needed to determine the exact relationship between phytoestrogen intake (both isoflavone and lignan) and fibroids. But lignan-rich foods (grains, seeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetables) are known to be part of a healthy diet. Therefore, including plenty of these foods in your diet in the meantime will deliver positive health benefits, one of which just may be a lower risk for uterine fibroids.
