Table 3. Randomized controlled trials of lignans and blood pressure.

Outcome	Author, year, reference	Adult population	Vehicle	Lignan dosage per day	Study duration weeks	N	Response
Systolic	Pan et al (2007)¹³³	M, F, China, type 2 diabetics, age 50-70, LDL ≥2.9 mmol/L	Capsule flaxseed lignan extract	Seco 124 mg (360 mg SDG)	12	73	-0.4 mmHg p = 0.268
	Cornish et al (2009)¹³²	M Canada, ≥50 years, healthy, with walking intervention	Tablet flaxseed lignan complex	Seco 187 mg (543 mg SDG)	26	42	No effect
	Cornish et al (2009)¹³²	F Canada, ≥50 years, healthy, with walking intervention	Tablet flaxseed lignan complex	Seco 187 mg (543 mg SDG)	26	50	No effect
	Wu et al (2009)¹²²	M, F, Australia, overweight (BMI 25-35), ≥ risk factor metabolic syndrome^* or LDL > 3.4 mmol/L	Bars with 26.2 g sesame seeds	Sesamin 39.5, sesamolin 12.2	5	33	-0.7 mmHg p = 0.835
	Miyawaki et al (2009)¹³⁴	M, F, Japan, middle aged, mild hypertensives	Capsule 180 g wheat germ oil	Sesamin 60 mg	4	25	-3.5 mmHg p =0.044
Diastolic	Pan et al (2007)¹³³	M, F, China, type 2 diabetics, age 50-70, LDL ≥2.90 mmol/L	Capsule flaxseed lignan extract	Seco 124 mg (360 mg SDG)	12	73	-1.5 mmHg p = 0.751
	Cornish et al (2009)¹³²	M Canada, ≥50 years, healthy, with walking intervention	Tablet flaxseed lignan complex	Seco 187 mg (543 mg SDG)	26	42	-2 mmHg p = 0.046
	Cornish et al (2009)¹³²	F Canada, ≥50 years, healthy, with walking intervention	Tablet flaxseed lignan complex	Seco 187 mg (543 mg SDG)	26	50	No effect
	Wu et al (2009)¹²²	M, F, Australia, overweight (BMI 25-35), ≥ 1 risk factor metabolic syndrome or LDL > 3.4 mmol/L	Bars with 26.2 g sesame seeds	Sesamin 39.5, sesamolin 12.2	5	33	0.3 mmHg p = 0.223
	Miyawaki et al (2009)¹³⁴	M, F, Japan, middle aged, mild hypertensives	Capsule 180 g wheat germ oil	Sesamin 60 mg	4	25	-1.9 mmHg p =0.045
20-HETE, plasma	Wu et al (2009)¹²²	M, F, Australia, overweight (BMI 25-35), ≥ 1 risk factor metabolic syndrome or LDL > 3.4 mmol/L	Bars with 26.2 g sesame seeds	Sesamin 39.5, sesamolin 12.2	5	33	-236 pmol/mmol p = 0.001
20-HETE, urine / creatinine	Wu et al (2009)¹²²	M, F, Australia, overweight (BMI 25-35), ≥ 1 risk factor metabolic syndrome or LDL > 3.4 mmol/L	Bars with 26.2 g sesame seeds	Sesamin 39.5, sesamolin 12.2	5	33	-47 pmol/L p = 0.001

Metabolic syndrome composite score based on fasting glucose, HDL, triglycerides, abdominal adiposity, blood pressure, and inflammatory cytokines

Abbreviations: M – males, F – females, BMI – body mass index, BP – blood pressure, LDL – low density lipoprotein cholesterol, Seco – Secoisolariciresinol, SDG - Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside