The interaction of polyphenolic molecules with human serum albumin (HSA) could lead to changes in the reactivity of the HSA Cys34 thiol group (HSA-SH). The influences of enterolactone (EL) and enterodiol (ED) binding on HSA-SH reactivity in fatty acid (FA)-free HSA, and in HSA with bound stearic acid (S) in S/HSA molar ratios of 1 : 1 and 4 : 1, were investigated by the determination of the pseudo first order rate constants (k') for the thiol reaction with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid). The binding affinities and binding sites of EL and ED were also determined, using fluorescence measurements of the intrinsic fluorescence ). When the S/HSA ratio was increased, the binding affinities and number of binding sites for EL and ED were decreased. At the same time, a high correlation between binding constants and increased Cys34 reactivity was found (r = 0.974). Competitive experiments using diazepam indicated that the binding of ED and of EL was located in the hydrophobic pocket of site II in HSA. Overall, it is evident that stearic acid could modulate the enterolignan effects on HSA-SH reactivity as well as their binding to HSA. This finding could be important for pharmacokinetics and the expression of enterolignan antioxidant effects in vivo after an intake of lignan rich food.