Lignan contents of Dutch plant foods: a database including lariciresinol, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol

Abstract

Enterolignans (enterodiol and enterolactone) can potentially reduce the risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Enterolignans are formed by the intestinal microflora after the consumption of plant lignans. Until recently, only secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol were considered enterolignan precursors, but now several new precursors have been identified, of which lariciresinol and pinoresinol have a high degree of conversion. Quantitative data on the contents in foods of these new enterolignan precursors are not available. Thus, the aim of this study was to compile a lignan database including all four major enterolignan precursors. Liquid chromatography -tandem mass spectrometry was used to quantify lariciresinol, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol in eightythree solid foods and twenty-six beverages commonly consumed in The Netherlands. The richest source of lignans was flaxseed (301 129 mg/100 g), which contained mainly secoisolariciresinol. Also, lignan concentrations in sesame seeds (29 331 mg/100 g, mainly pinoresinol and lariciresinol) were relatively high. For grain products, which are known to be important sources of lignan, lignan concentrations ranged from 7 to 764 mg/100 g. However, many vegetables and fruits had similar concentrations, because of the contribution of lariciresinol and pinoresinol. Brassica vegetables contained unexpectedly high levels of lignans (185-2321 mg/100 g), mainly pinoresinol and lariciresinol. Lignan levels in beverages varied from 0 (cola) to 91 mg/100 ml (red wine). Only four of the 109 foods did not contain a measurable amount of lignans, and in most cases the amount of lariciresinol and pinoresinol was larger than that of secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol. Thus, available databases largely underestimate the amount of enterolignan precursors in foods.

Oilseeds ameliorate metabolic parameters in male mice, while contained lignans inhibit 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation in vitro

“…Table 2 lists the composition of sesame and flaxseed. The specific lignans composition is described in Table 3, and it is in accordance with quantification reported in the literature [38].…”

“…Lignans compose about 0.5-1 % of the compounds present in these oilseeds (w/w) and are the most abundant polyphenols. According to our measurements (see ''Materials and methods'' section, Table 2) and to the literature [38], SEC and CLAR are mostly abundant in flaxseed and SES, LAR and PIN abundant in sesame (Table 3). Being aware of the fact that several other compounds present in these oilseeds may play an antiadipogenic role (omega-3, fiber, vitamins, etc.…”

Tools to evaluate estrogenic potency of dietary phytoestrogens:A consensus paper from the EU Thematic Network “Phytohealth” (QLKI-2002-2453)

“…The previous European estimates of lignan intakes do not differ significantly from the lignan intake estimates in the U.S. (Table 2). However, recent reports on the presence of new plant lignan precursors for mammalian lignan production in foods, have changed the view of lignan intake estimates (Heinonen et al, 2001;Milder et al, 2005b). Food composition analyses of lariciresinol (LARI) and pinoresinol (PINO) demonstrated that in many food items these lignans are dominating and may contribute to about 75% of the total lignan intake (Milder et al, 2005a).…”

“…The major sources of lignans in Europe are cereals, coffee, tea, fruit, berries, vegetables, and also alcoholic beverages Milder et al, 2005a-b). One of the richest food source of lignans is linseed Milder et al, 2005b) and including linseed consumers in the intake calculations increases significantly the average intake values Valsta et al, 2003).…”

Variation in fasting and non-fasting serum enterolactone concentrations in women of the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort

“…Lignans, found in seeds, legumes, berries and cereals (Milder et al, 2005;Penalvo et al, 2005a), may have health benefits and possibly protect, or indicate protection against chronic diseases such as breast and prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease (Vanharanta et al, 1999(Vanharanta et al, , 2003Adlercreutz, 2002). The mammalian intestinal micro flora converts plant lignans into enterolignans, mainly enterolactone (ENL) (Heinonen et al, 2001).…”