Table 4. Randomized controlled trials of lignans and lipoproteins.
| Outcome | Author, year, reference | Adult population | Vehicle | Lignan dosage per day | Study duration weeks | N | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDL | 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 | -0.77 mg/dl p = 0.243 |
| Zhang et al (2008)136 | M, W, China, LDL ≥ 3.62 mmol/L hypercholesterolemic | Tablets flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 103 mg (300 mg SDG) | 8 | 18 | -3.86 mg/dl p < 0.001 from baseline | |
| Hallund et al (2006)135 | F, Denmark, postmenopausal age 61 ± 7, healthy, BP<160/90 | Muffin with flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 172 mg (500 mg SDG) | 6 | 22 | -1.54 mg/dl p = 0.531 | |
| Zhang et al (2008)136 | M, W, China, LDL ≥ 3.62 mmol/L hypercholesterolemic | Tablets flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 206 mg (600 mg SDG) | 8 | 55 | -5.4 mg/dl p = 0.167 | |
| Wu et al (2009b)139 | 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 | 0.00 mg/dl p = 0.764 | |
| Hirata et al (1996)138 | M, Japan, hypercholesterolemic | Capsule 180 g wheat germ oil | Sesamin 32.4 mg 4 weeks then 64.8 mg 4 weeks | 8 | 12 | No effect | |
| LDL | 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 | -4.25 mg/dl p = 0.404 |
| Zhang et al (2008)136 | M, W, China, LDL ≥ 3.62 mmol/L hypercholesterolemic | Tablets flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 103 mg (300 mg SDG) | 8 | 18 | -28.6 mg/dl p < 0.001 from baseline | |
| Hallund et al (2006)135 | F, Denmark, postmenopausal age 61 ± 7, healthy, BP<160/90 | Muffin with flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 172 mg (500 mg SDG) | 6 | 22 | -7.72 mg/dl p = 0.184 | |
| Cornish et al (2009)132 | M, F Canada, ≥50 years, healthy, with walking intervention | Tablet flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 187 mg (543 mg SDG) | 26 | 92 | No effect | |
| Zhang et al (2008)136 | M, W, China, LDL ≥ 3.62 mmol/L hypercholesterolemic | Tablets flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 206 mg (600 mg SDG) | 8 | 55 | -38.6 mg/dl p = 0.003 | |
| Marblestone 2008137 | F, USA, perimenopausal, age 36-48 | Flaxseed source by Brevail | Seco 69 mg (200 mg SDG) | 14 | 11 | reduced | |
| Pan et al (2009)131 | Meta-analysis, 7 comparisons | Flaxseed lignan supplements | -6.18 mg/dl p = 0.03 | ||||
| Wu et al (2009b)139 | 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 | 2.70 mg/dl p = 0.292 | |
| Hirata et al (1996)138 | M, Japan, hypercholesterolemic | Capsule 180 g wheat germ oil | Sesamin 32.4 mg 4 weeks then 64.8 mg 4 weeks | 8 | 12 | -30.7 mg/dl p <0.05 | |
| Total cholesterol | 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 | -6.56 mg/dl p = 0.367 |
| Zhang et al (2008)136 | M, W, China, LDL ≥ 3.62 mmol/L hypercholesterolemic | Tablets flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 103 mg (300 mg SDG) | 8 | 18 | -39.8 mg/dl p <0.001 from baseline | |
| Hallund et al (2006)135 | F, Denmark, postmenopausal age 61 ± 7, healthy, BP<160/90 | Muffin with flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 172 mg (500 mg SDG) | 6 | 22 | -8.88 mg/dl p = 0.262 | |
| Cornish et al (2009)132 | M, F Canada, ≥50 years, healthy, with walking intervention | Tablet flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 187 mg (543 mg SDG) | 26 | 92 | No effect | |
| Zhang et al (2008)136 | M, W, China, LDL ≥ 3.62 mmol/L hypercholesterolemic | Tablets flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 206 mg (600 mg SDG) | 8 | 55 | -68.3 mg/dl p <0.001 | |
| Pan et al (2009)131 | Meta-analysis, 7 comparisons | Flaxseed lignan supplements | -10.81 mg/dl p = 0.04 | ||||
| Wu et al (2009b)139 | 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 | 0.77 mg/dl p = 0.227 | |
| Hirata et al (1996)138 | M, Japan, hypercholesterolemic | Capsule 180 g wheat germ oil | Sesamin 32.4 mg 4 weeks then 64.8 mg 4 weeks | 8 | 12 | -23.7 mg/dl p <0.05 | |
| Triglycerides | Pan et al (2007)133 | M, F, China, type 2 diabetics, age 50-70, LDL ≥2.90 mmol/L | Capsule flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 124 mg (360 mg SDG) | 12 | 73 | -17.70 mg/dl p = 0.720 |
| Zhang et al (2008)136 | M, W, China, LDL ≥ 3.62 mmol/L hypercholesterolemic | Tablets flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 103 mg (300 mg SDG) | 8 | 18 | -46.0 mg/dl not significant from baseline | |
| Hallund et al (2006)135 | F, Denmark, postmenopausal age 61 ± 7, healthy, BP<160/90 | Muffin with flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 172 mg (500 mg SDG) | 6 | 22 | 3.5 mg/dl p = 0.595 | |
| Cornish et al (2009)132 | M Canada, ≥50 years, healthy, with walking intervention | Tablet flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 187 mg (543 mg SDG) | 26 | 49 | Group effect (controls increased p = 0.017) | |
| Cornish et al (2009)132 | F Canada, ≥50 years, healthy, with walking intervention | Tablet flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 187 mg (543 mg SDG) | 26 | 52 | No effect | |
| Zhang et al (2008)136 | M, W, China, LDL ≥ 3.62 mmol/L hypercholesterolemic | Tablets flaxseed lignan complex | Seco 206 mg (600 mg SDG) | 8 | 55 | -76.1 mg/dl p = 0.068 | |
| Wu et al (2009b)139 | 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 | -10.6 mg/dl p = 0.254 | |
| Hirata et al (1996)138 | M, Japan, hypercholesterolemic | Capsule 180 g wheat germ oil | Sesamin 32.4 mg 4 weeks then 64.8 mg 4 weeks | 8 | 12 | No effect | |
| Apo A1 | 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 | -2.5 mg/dl p = 0.751 |
| Apo B | 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 | -1.6 mg/dl p = 0.528 |
| Hirata et al (1996)138 | M, Japan, hypercholesterolemic | Capsule 180 g wheat germ oil | Sesamin 64.8 mg | 8 | 12 | -20.3 mg/dl p <0.05 | |
| Lp(a) | 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 | 62 | -2.52 mg/dl p = 0.339 |
| Marblestone 2008137 | F, USA, perimenopausal, age 36-48 | Flaxseed source by Brevail | Seco 69 mg (200 mg SDG) | 14 | 11 | reduced |
*
Metabolic syndrome composite score based on fasting glucose, HDL, triglycerides, abdominal adiposity, blood pressure, and inflammatory cytokines
Abbreviations: Apo A1 – Apolipoprotein A1, Apo B – Apolipoprotein B, Lp(a) – Lipoprotein (a), M– males, F – females, BMI – body mass index, BP – blood pressure, LDL – low density lipoprotein cholesterol, Seco – Secoisolariciresinol, SDG - Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside