Determinants of dietary lignan intake in a representative sample of young Spaniards: association with lower obesity prevalence among boys but not girls

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Lignan-rich diets have been associated with favorable health effects through improved metabolic profile. In this study, we hypothesized that dietary lignan intake could be also associated with childhood obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We studied prevalent obesity in relation to lignan intake within the enKid study that involved 3438 children, adolescents and young adults (2-24 years old). Participant's dietary records were used to calculate lignan dietary intake using a lignan composition database adapted to the Spanish diet. RESULTS: The mean intake of the dietary lignans was calculated as B1 mg/day, corresponding mainly (37%) to pinoresinol. No gender differences were found, but lignan intake was positively associated with age, physical activity level and dietary fiber intake, and negatively with the intake of polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids. The main sources of dietary lignans were refined wheat, olive oil and whole-wheat bread. A strong association between dietary lignan intake and prevalent obesity was found only for boys, with odds ratio (highest versus lowest quartile of lignan intake) of 0.34 (95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.70) after adjusting for main confounders, including dietary fiber. CONCLUSIONS: Boys with the highest lignan-rich products including cereals, whole-grain products and olive oil, presented less cases of obesity in this representative sample of Spanish children and adolescents. It is unknown whether this association implies an active role of dietary lignans on obesity development, or is merely an indicator of a healthier lifestyle. INTRODUCTIONChildhood obesity has become a major public health issue, both for its increased prevalence worldwide, and its progression to major cardiovascular events later in life that further increases morbidity and mortality. As a disorder of energy balance, obesity is associated with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Different bioactive compounds in the diet are currently acknowledged to have favorable effects in these processes. 1 Lignans are fiberrelated phenolic compounds widely distributed in the diet 2 as part of the dietary fiber complex. 3 Lignans are especially abundant in grains, oilseeds, legumes and cruciferous vegetables. [4][5][6] Six different lignans, that is, pinoresinol, lariciresinol, syringaresinol, medioresinol, matairesinol and secoisolariciresinol can be found at relevant concentrations in the human diet. 7 These dietary lignans are absorbed, and to a certain extent (17%) excreted, 8 although the major fraction undergoes an extensive metabolism by the gut microflora that results in the formation of the so-called enterolignans, 9 attending to their colonic origin. These metabolites have been inversely associated with lower weight in women, 10 and further with improved cardiovascular risk factors, and lower risks of acute cardiovascular events. [11][12][13][14][15] There is no information on the intake of lignans in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine the lignan intake and it...

Association between lignan intake from different types of plant-based foods and obesity indicators in the Netherlands

“…One cross-sectional study indicated that higher lignan intake was associated with less abdominal fat mass [31]. Similarly, a Spanish study observed a strong association between dietary lignan intake and reduced prevalence of obesity for 2-24 years old Spaniards boys [12]. Overall, the aforementioned studies were in line with our ndings.…”

“…A study involving 3438 young Spaniards between 2-24 years old investigating the prevalence of obesity related to lignan intake found a strong association between dietary lignan intake and prevalent obesity for boys, with an odds ratio of 0.34 (95% CI, 0.17-0.70) in the highest versus lowest quartile of lignan intake [12]. Similarly, a 10-year prospective cohort study on weight change of U.S. women observed that the annual weight change rate among women in the highest quartile of total lignans intake was 0.20 kg less (95% CI: −0.36, − 0.04) than that among women in the lowest quartile [13].…”

Is Extra Virgin Olive Oil an Ally for Women’s and Men’s Cardiovascular Health?

“…After long flaxseed lignan secoisolariciresinol diglycoside exposure, female rats have higher lignan concentrations in heart and thymus than male rats [119]. A strong association between dietary lignan intake and prevalent obesity exists only for boys [120].…”

Lignan exposure: a worldwide perspective

“…For instance, young adults (35-44 years) had a lower intake of total lignans (2.8 mg/d) than older adults (65-74 years; 3.5 mg/d) [9]. In children and adolescents, the two available European studies [36,56] found that the mean intake was higher in adolescents (15-18 years) than in children (2-15 years), 0.98-1.10 vs. 0.61-1.00 mg/d, respectively.…”