Flaxseed Lignans and Gut Microbiota: Novel Route for Breast Cancer Prevention?

By: Chris Schimpf, BS
Posted: Monday, February 5, 2024

Relationships between cecal microbiota and mammary gland expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) may present new possibilities for breast cancer prevention, according to preclinical research published in Microbiology Spectrum, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). Elena M. Comelli, PhD, of the University of Toronto, and colleagues found that gut cecal microbiota profiles and miRNAs expressed in the mammary gland seem to be related, and a subset of miRNAs appeared to regulate genes involved in breast cancer–related processes. Furthermore, the researchers were able to modify these relationships using dietary flaxseed.

“If these findings are confirmed, the microbiota becomes a new target to prevent breast cancer through dietary intervention,” Dr. Comelli commented in an ASM press release.

The researchers split a group of 3-week-old C57BL/6 mice into four dietary groups: those receiving a control basal diet, and those receiving the same isocaloric diet modified to contain dietary flaxseed, a corresponding amount of alpha-linolenic acid–rich flaxseed oil, or a corresponding amount of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG)—both of which are found in dietary flaxseed. Upon analyzing both cecal microbiota data and mammary gland miRNA expression data, the investigators identified 73 taxa that were represented at the genus level in at least one of the four dietary groups. Of these taxa, they reported that 10, 12, and 15 of them were found to be differentially abundant between the control-flaxseed, flaxseed–flaxseed oil, and flaxseed-SDG diet comparisons, respectively. Within those same comparison groups, 68, 71, and 29 miRNAs were differentially expressed.

“Overall, this study showed the cecal gut microbiota is related to mammary gland miRNAs and consumption of flaxseed may modulate mammary gland development pathways, which may reduce breast cancer risk in later life,” the investigators concluded.

Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit journals.asm.org.

Microbiology Spectrum

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