A recent study found that consuming flaxseeds may reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to Newsweek.
Previous studies have shown a link between consuming lignans, a fibrous compound found in many plant-based foods, and a lower mortality rate from breast cancer in postmenopausal women, according to Alhurra.
The reason for the link between lignans and reduced breast cancer mortality was previously unknown.
The new study revealed that lignans, which are abundant in flaxseeds, interact with gut microbes that play a crucial role in physical and mental health by acting as a barrier against harmful microbes.
The new study, published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum, demonstrated a link between microRNA in the mammary gland and gut microbes in experiments on young female mice.
Researchers found that this relationship is modifiable through dietary intervention, highlighting the connection between microRNA (miRNA) and organs, demonstrating that dietary interventions interact to influence it, and suggesting a new avenue for breast cancer prevention.
“The gut microbiome plays a critical role in modifying many components of our diet to impact human health,” said Jennifer Ochsung, an assistant professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska.
“We found associations between diets rich in flaxseed, the composition of the gut microbiome, and the microRNA profile in the mammary gland, which regulates many pathways, including those associated with cancer development,” she added.
Breast cancer affects approximately 240,000 people each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, resulting in approximately 42,500 deaths annually.