In what organs can hormone-dependent tumors appear? Treatment of hormone-dependent tumors What is an estrogen-dependent tumor

Estrogens are sex hormones that are produced in the body of women. Thanks to them, the development of the uterus and its appendages, the maturation of the reproductive system and the acquisition of female beauty occur. But with an increased amount of estrogen, various diseases can occur. These include estrogen-dependent tumors.

Concept and reasons

Estrogen-dependent tumors are neoplasms of a benign or malignant nature that develop as a result of hormonal imbalance in the body. Female estrogens play a leading role in the occurrence of these diseases.

Such pathologies most often affect the uterus, ovaries and breasts of patients. The most common estrogen-dependent tumors include uterine fibroids, estrogen-dependent breast cancer, malignant. There are many reasons why a hormonal surge occurs in the body and the balance of hormones is disturbed. These include the following:

Pathologies of the female genital organs of an inflammatory nature.
Diseases of the uterus and its appendages, occurring in a chronic form.
Frequent abortions.
The onset of the climax.
Irregular intimate life.
Damage to the uterus or mammary glands.
Frequent stress and depression.
Infertility.
hereditary predisposition.
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
Diabetes.
Impact on the body of harmful substances and radiation.

The causes of uterine fibroids and ovaries do not end there. In the process of research, scientists are identifying more and more predisposing factors.

Symptoms

The clinical picture of estrogen-dependent tumors depends entirely on the organ in which they develop. If a woman has uterine fibroids, the symptoms will be as follows:

Soreness in the lower abdomen of a pulling nature.
Profuse uterine bleeding.
Problems with stool and urination.
Difficulty conceiving a child.

When a hormone-dependent neoplasm appears in the area of \u200b\u200bthe mammary gland in women, a seal is found when the breast is felt. Also, patients notice discharge from the nipple, which normally should only be in pregnant and lactating mothers.

With a cancerous growth in the breast, women notice that the nipple sinks inward. With the growth of the lesion, one gland becomes larger than the other, a pain syndrome occurs, the skin becomes reddish, flaky and itchy.

Diagnostics

To identify an estrogen-dependent tumor, a complex of diagnostic measures is required. It includes laboratory and instrumental methods. First, the doctor conducts an examination himself, listens to complaints, studies the medical history.

Then the woman is required to donate blood for analysis. They check clinical and biochemical parameters, as well as the concentration of hormones in the body. If oncology is suspected, blood will also be needed to identify tumor markers. Additionally, a urine test may be ordered.

Of the instrumental methods, the following are used:

Ultrasound procedure.
Colonoscopy.
Mammography.
Computed and magnetic resonance imaging.
Radiography.

Diagnosis is completed by biopsy and histology. With the help of them, the doctor finds out whether the detected neoplasm is cancer or not.

Therapy

Treatment methods may be different for estrogen-dependent tumors. The main way to deal with them is hormone therapy. Patients are prescribed drugs containing female germ cells to normalize the balance of hormones. Restoration of the hormonal background allows you to suppress the division and growth of atypical cells, reduce the size of the tumor.

In addition to hormone therapy, other methods are used to treat neoplasms. The choice of method of dealing with pathology depends on factors such as:

The nature of the disease: benign or malignant.
The age of the patient.
The stage of development of the disease.
Presence of comorbidities.
Localization of the tumor focus.

Also, the best way to treat formations is surgery. In a benign course of the pathology, only the tumor is removed, in case of a cancerous lesion, the volume of the operation depends on the size of the focus, quite often it is necessary to remove the affected organ completely.

With the development of oncological diseases, radiation and chemical therapy are also used. They are combined with a surgical method or prescribed independently if the neoplasm is inoperable.

The prognosis for estrogen-dependent pathologies can be different. When it is mostly favorable, but with cancer it all depends on the stage of development. Doctors urge women to monitor their hormonal levels and, with any changes, undergo the necessary treatment.

Among the huge number of cancerous neoplasms of a malignant nature of development, a special group of pathologies has been identified by specialized specialists in the field of oncological diagnostics.

The specificity of these anomalies is that they are successfully treated, as a result of which the tumor cannot use their cells for its own purposes.

The method of their treatment was called “hormone therapy”, and the diseases themselves are hormone-dependent neoplasms.

A tumor can be classified as hormone-dependent in a situation where have receptors for estrogen and progesterone components. It is these protein molecules that are localized in the surface zone of the cancer-affected cell.

Location of the pituitary gland

The degree of progression of the disease and the growth of compaction are directly affected by the strength of the effect of one or another type of hormone on the affected tissue fragments.

According to statistics, such pathologies occur in every tenth case of diagnosing a malignant anomaly and characterized by a calmer course, lack of aggressiveness and rarely metastasize, which not only facilitates treatment, but also gives a good prognosis for a positive trend in full recovery.

Hormone-producing seals differ from hormone-dependent ones, they are more aggressive, flow from stage to stage faster, grow rapidly and are difficult to treat. They have a more pessimistic prognosis for survival. They often recur.

Detailed information about the disease in this video:

Education process

The main impetus for the activation of the formation of hormone-dependent pathology is hormonal imbalance in human blood.

It has been proven that a huge percentage of cancer cells are endowed with special receptors, which, when actively stimulated by hormones, begin to grow rapidly and produce new abnormal cells like themselves. This is the mechanism for the development of neoplasms against the background of hormonal dependence.

To understand how these processes work in the body, one should consider the function of the pituitary gland when one or another organ of the human body is affected by cancerous formations.

According to its purpose, the pituitary gland is designed to constantly and efficiently synthesize the hormones of the endocrine system. Excessive release of such components intensively nourishes the cells that have undergone a malignant mutation and forms an oncological neoplasm.

For example, it has been proven that breast cancer in 45% of cases is a tumor that has developed precisely against the background of exceeding the maximum dose of the concentration in the blood of a woman of the elements estrogen and progesterone, which having connected, settled on the surface of the cells of the organ and, having interacted with protein molecules, provoked the appearance of a cancerous anomaly.

The reasons

The pituitary gland, which is the main element of the pituitary gland, is in the process of constant development throughout a person's life. The organ tends to increase in size with the physiological aging of the body, which impairs its functioning and adversely affects resistance to cancerous lesions.

At the same time, the pituitary gland can also grow for a number of reasons not related to age, which are not only provocateurs of disruption of its work - these reasons also cause hormone-dependent cancer. The main ones are:

brain surgery- surgical impact partially damages the brain region and injures the pituitary gland to a greater or lesser extent;
violation of blood exchange processes in the body- this worsens his nutrition, which in the acute stage can cause brain diseases, and in the chronic stage - the formation of tumor formations;
mechanical damage- trauma to the pituitary gland is possible with craniocerebral blows, cracks, concussions;
taking medications with a certain spectrum of action- these can be drugs to combat epilepsy, arrhythmia, as well as steroid components;
viral and infectious diagnoses- their damaging effect on the brain depresses the pituitary gland and reduces its activity;
radiation therapy- this method of treating oncology of other organs can have a destructive effect on the state of the brain regions, and lead to the activation of irreversible pituitary processes;
genetics- it has been proven that pituitary pathologies can be inherited, while the abnormal gene is formed even at the stage of intrauterine development of the fetus and may not manifest itself in the human body for decades.

Vulnerable areas

Hormone-dependent neoplasms, as a rule, affect organs related to the reproductive activity of both the male and female bodies. The most vulnerable in this regard among the representatives of the female half of the population are:

breast- the most common area for the formation of this type of tumor, since, like all departments that carry a reproductive function, it directly depends on the hormonal balance;
uterus- occupies 28% of all diagnosed pathologies;
ovaries- is less common, but surpasses the cases described above in terms of the degree of damage and intensity of development.

Hormone-dependent ovarian tumor on ultrasound

In men susceptible to the formation of the formation of the prostate gland. This anomaly is very common among representatives of the middle and older age group.

Mutually dependent organs prone to damage by this form of tumor are:

thyroid- when the function of the pituitary gland is inhibited, it is the thyroid gland that malfunctions faster than other parts of the body;
pancreas- the organ is tender and vulnerable, extremely susceptible to any negative manifestations of the activity of the pituitary gland and metabolic processes;
endocrine glands- their activity is directly regulated by hormonal processes occurring in the body. The state of the organ depends on the degree of their functionality.

Symptoms

The symptomatology of this form of cancer is characterized by common, inherent in all malignant pathologies, signs, and specific - which are distinctive only applicable to the disease considered in this article.

Common signs include:

increase in body temperature- the indicator is not too high, while it is poorly stopped and lasts for several weeks;
dramatic weight loss- already at the initial stages of tumor development, body weight decreases by 10 - 15% of the initial weight;
loss of appetite- thus, the body, weakened by the fight against the disease, tries to save the internal resource and redirect it to a more necessary channel in this situation;
fast fatiguability- does not go away even after a good rest and is not directly related to the level of physical activity.

Specific symptoms include:

seals at the site of pathology development- if the tumor is concentrated in the superficial part of the body, this sign is considered dominant in the process of self-diagnosis - it is on him that a person pays attention and goes to the clinic for medical advice;
an increase in lymph nodes adjacent to the site of the tumor- manifests itself already at the stage of active progression of the disease, often when metastasis is already active;
external deformation- in the area of localization of the lesion, external changes in the surface of the skin become noticeable - their color changes - the first redness, peeling of the epithelial layer and a change in relief appear.

Diagnostics

For an objective diagnosis of the disease, as well as obtaining the most complete clinical picture of the course of the pathology, the following methods are used:

blood test for hormones- is prescribed to identify the level of the main hormonal indicators. Basically, these are tests for tirobilerin and synacthen;
analysis for tumor markers- is indicated to confirm the malignancy of the anomaly. During the analysis, the doctor detects the presence of protein tumor markers produced by cancer cells;
CT- allows you to observe any manifestations of pathological changes in the problem organ. It is possible to carry out the procedure in combination with a contrast component - this way you can get a more detailed three-dimensional image of the tumor, understand its shape, see the boundaries and size.
biopsy- involves the collection of a small fragment of the affected tissues, after which the taken sample of the material is recovered for microscopic examination. Allows you to find out the structural composition of the seal and understand the degree of its aggressiveness;
ultrasound- by applying sound waves, an image of the affected department is obtained. At the same time, diseased cells have a signal that is different from that supplied by healthy tissues. It can be used in combination with a biopsy.

Treatment

The degree of effectiveness of treatment is determined by the stage of the course of the disease, the degree of aggressiveness of the tumor, its size, location and the possible presence of metastasis. Based on these factors, the following types of therapy are prescribed:

tumor removal– The operational approach to fixing this problem is considered the most optimal in most cases. Depending on the size of the tumor, fragmentary cutting off of the affected tissues is possible, and in the case when the pathology has spread to a large area of the organ, its complete amputation;
hormone therapy- antiestrogen drugs, regulate the reproduction of the sex hormone. The method is auxiliary and cannot be considered the basic method of treatment due to low efficiency. It is used in combination with other treatment options to consolidate positive dynamics;
Chemotherapy- carried out in a complex, before surgery - to improve the overall clinical picture, after amputation - as a fixing positive result, the course of treatment, the number of sessions and a single dose are selected individually;
radiation therapy- in this case, the impact of radiation fluxes on cancer cells is prescribed to minimize the occurrence of relapse during the operation. Symptomatically eliminates individual metastases. If the patient is not operable due to the neglect of the pathology, radiation therapy is used to prolong the life of the patient to some extent.

Phytotherapy

Science has long known the influence of a number of medicinal plants on the production of hormones and their normalization in the body. Of course, it is unlikely to cure the disease in this way, but the effect of the use of medicinal herbs is undoubtedly present.

Can control the action of hormones:

bush crow- qualitatively reduces the secretion of the pituitary hormone prolactin. Grind a handful of inflorescences, pour 1 liter of boiling water, insist. Strain. Drink 1 glass 3 times a day. The course of treatment is a month. Then - the same amount of break;
sparrow medicinal- 1 tbsp. pour a glass of boiling water over a spoonful of dry grass. Insist, strain well. Drink on an empty stomach 2 times a day for 3 months. With regular use of the pituitary gland of biologically active components, it decreases;
capsule- use only the root part. Chop the root. Boil 50 g of the resulting mixture in 1 liter of water for 15 minutes. Insist 4 hours, strain. Take 100 g 3 times a day for 60 days. The plant inhibits an excess of sex hormones.

Prevention

Despite the fact that the nature of the appearance of the disease has not been scientifically confirmed, scientists have identified factors that can minimize the chances of its occurrence.

healthy eating- in the vast majority of cases, the main cause of tumors is free radicals contained in food;
physical exercise- keeping the body in good shape improves immunity, stimulates metabolic and hormonal processes, the imbalance of which causes this form of cancer;
use of herbal medicines- such prevention is justified if a person is at risk due to heredity. Balanced formulas will prevent tumor formation by regulating hormone levels.

Forecast

The likelihood of a complete cure with hormone therapy is rather doubtful. Scientists who have been working in this direction for a long time agree that the percentage of cure using this technique was only 18%, and then at the initial stages of the formation of the disease, while with surgical removal, more than 80% of patients are completely cured.

Of course, there are cases of cure without surgery, but this percentage is small due to the difficulty in diagnosing this type of cancer.

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Inna Bereznikova

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One of the most common estrogen-dependent tumors is. Most doctors considered it to be a benign tumor. However, since this neoplasm after some time was capable of developing into a malignant one, most experts considered it necessary to remove it, and the uterus, too, except when a patient with fibroids had never given birth.

In this variant of the development of the disease, it is possible to remove only the fibroid nodes. However, with such an approach to the problem, the risk of re-formation of fibroids is quite high, especially if the patient gives birth to a child in the future. In most of these cases, surgery was performed again.

In this regard, in the nineties, experts engaged in a massive study of this disease and came to the conclusion that fibroids are completely curable without surgical intervention.

The result of the great work done by scientists was the fact that fibroids cannot be unambiguously attributed to either benign or malignant tumors. As a result of the research, evidence was also obtained that excludes the very possibility of fibroids developing into a category of malignant neoplasms.

Uterine fibroids on ultrasound

Judging by the obtained characteristics of this disease, fibroids are more like a keloid scar (and / or a common wen). This fact is designed to completely refute any suspicions that arise in patients with fibroids about possible oncological complications.

Since uterine fibroids do not have pronounced symptoms, it is far from always easy to detect during its development.

Causes of fibroids

At the moment, the following main causes of this disease have been identified:

Damage and wear of the uterus

One of the main (if not the main) cause of this disease in patients is damage to the uterus, which is often accompanied by heavy and prolonged menstruation. Women by nature need motherhood (preferably multiple), and this reduces the number of periods. Moreover, the smaller they are, the uterus becomes stronger and much healthier. The very process of monthly discharge wears out the uterus, which can provoke a large number of gynecological diseases.

The cause of damage to the uterus can be the labor activity of the woman's body, as well as diagnostic curettage, unprofessional introduction of intrauterine contraceptive coils, as well as a gross incompetent gynecological examination.

In most cases, the occurrence of uterine fibroids was provoked by multiple abortions, since any abortion is a huge hormonal surge for the entire female body. Another possible reason for the appearance and development of this disease may be inflammation of the genital organs or a hormonal imbalance, which results in an increase in the amount of female hormones (another name is estrogens) and a decrease in the level of progesterone.

Almost always, such negative changes are the result of impaired functioning of the ovaries.

Currently, specialists are still divided into two camps. Some argue that a fibroid is not a tumor, while others believe the opposite - that it is.

However, no matter how large a fibroid is, it is an estrogen-dependent tumor.

In the case of women consuming refined carbohydrates, saturated fatty acids, and, at the same time, reducing the amount of fiber consumed, the content of estrogen in the body increases. Finding out whether the level of this hormone in a woman is elevated is quite simple.

Such a woman usually has a blooming appearance, is very active, very energetic and looks much younger than her peers, in whom the amount of estrogen is within the normal range or reduced.

Heredity

A serious influence on the possibility of the occurrence of such a disease as fibroids has heredity.

If the mother had this disease, then most likely her daughter will also have it.

An increased risk of uterine fibroids are those women who, for whatever reason, are unable to experience orgasm during sexual intercourse. In such women, blood stagnation occurs in the pelvic area, and the blood vessels remain in a tense state for a long time. All this eventually leads to a violation of the hormonal balance in the body of a woman.

Until ultrasonography became universally available, the diagnosis of fibroids was made on the basis of heavy and prolonged menstruation, since the relatively small size of this tumor made it difficult to detect by other methods.

However, the level of modern medicine makes it possible not only to determine the size of myoma nodes, but also allows you to accurately determine their location, determine their exact number, and also give a complete and specific picture of the disease itself.

Symptoms of uterine fibroids appear differently and individually for each woman.

The only thing that unites these various symptoms in different patients is a drawing pain (which periodically occurs in the lower abdomen in all sick women) and profuse bleeding from the uterus.

As secondary manifestations, there is also an increased frequency of urination and, conversely, a rare stool. In some cases, such formations can cause infertility.

What are fibroids?

Uterine fibroids happen:

submucosal;
interstitial;
intramural.

Among other types of neoplasms, submucosal is the most serious disease. Its development takes place in the uterus itself, very deeply. Diagnosis of this type of disease is possible only with the help of a thorough ultrasound examination. Neoplasms appear both on the outer part of the uterus and on the outer cavity of the pelvis.

The main signs of interstitial fibroids are heavy menstruation, as well as impaired urination and stool. During the development of this type of disease, a uniform increase in the size of the uterus is observed. In the case of the rapid development of this disease, there is a pulling pain in the lower abdomen. With this type of fibroid, the fibroid nodes are usually located on the inside of the uterine muscles.

The intramural type of the disease is characterized by failures in the monthly cycle, constant pain in the pelvic area and a significant increase in the size of the uterus itself.

For the effective treatment of all three types of uterine fibroids, first of all, a responsible attitude of the patient to herself is necessary. Only a qualified licensed physician should treat this disease.

And, of course, the key to a successful recovery is a timely appeal to a specialist!

During embryogenesis, the female sex glands (ovaries) are formed from the coelonic epithelium (the outer cortical layer is the female part of the gonad), mesenchyme (the inner medulla is the male part of the gonad) and germ cells of gonocytes migrating to the female or male part of the gonad. In a chromosomal male fetus 46 XY, functional hormonally active testicular structures (Leydig cells, Sertoli cells) are formed from the inner layer, and gonocytes turn into spermatozoa. In a chromosomal female fetus 46 XX, functional structures of the ovary (granulosa cells, theca cells, stroma) are formed from the outer layer, an oocyte is formed from gonocytes; the male part of the gonad is preserved as a rudimentary formation at the hilum of the ovary. Hormonally active ovarian tumors are neoplasms originating from the hormonally active structures of the "female" and "male" parts of the gonads, secreting estrogens or androgens, respectively, causing the development of feminizing or virilizing symptoms.

Feminizing ovarian tumors (characterized by slow growth):

Granulosa cell tumors develop from granulosa cells of atreziruyuschie follicles. In the vast majority of cases, the tumor develops in postmenopausal women. Histological types of granulosa cell tumors:

Microfollicular type

macrofollicular type

Trabecular type

Sarcomatous type (malignant);

Theca cell tumors - are formed from ovarian theca cells, are found more often in postmenopausal age, sometimes secrete androgens, are not prone to malignancy;

Granulosa cell tumors - consist of both types of cells that secrete mainly estrogen.

Clinical picture of feminizing ovarian tumors:

1) in girls of the first decade of life:

Premature puberty - an increase in the external and internal genital organs, the appearance of sexual hair growth, an increase in the mammary glands;

Bloody discharge of an acyclic nature;

2) in women of reproductive age:

Violation of the menstrual cycle most often by the type of acyclic uterine bleeding, less often heavy and prolonged menstruation;

Hyperplastic processes in the endometrium;

3) in postmenopausal women:

The resumption of "menstruation" (anovulatory), due to hyperplastic processes of the endometrium;

Perhaps the development of glandular cystic hyperplasia, endometrial polyposis, atypical hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma;

A symptom of "rejuvenation" is an increase in skin turgor, engorgement of the mammary glands, the resumption of libido, the disappearance of atrophic changes in the mucous membrane of the vagina and vulvar skin.

Diagnosis of feminizing ovarian tumors:

1) Anamnesis - recurrent hyperplastic processes of the endometrium, especially if their therapy is ineffective;

2) Clinical picture

3) ultrasound - enlargement of the ovaries;

4) Hysteroscopy;

5) Diagnostic curettage of the uterus;

6) Hysterosalpingography;

7) Laparoscopy;

8) Determination of estrogen in the blood

Treatment of feminizing ovarian tumors - surgical:

If changes in the endometrium are not malignant, it should be limited to the removal of the appendages of the affected side in women in menopause and postmenopause;

At a young age, partial resection of the ovaries within healthy tissue can be performed.

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Lignans- a group of biologically active compounds that are present in plants. They belong to the class of natural phytoestrogens.
They are found in large quantities in flax and sesame seeds, and in much lower concentrations in seeds of other plants, vegetables and fruits.
The husk of flax seeds is the richest source of lignans in the plant kingdom (800 µg/g). Lignans are compounds that form the building blocks of plant cell walls. At the same time, flax seed oil does not contain lignans.

How do lignans work in the body?

When you eat foods that contain lignans, bacteria in your gut convert them into metabolites (enterodiol and enterolactone) that circulate in your blood. Lignans and their biotransformation products in the human body - enterodiol (END) and enterolactone (ENL) are structurally similar to estradiol, which gives them estrogenic or antiestrogenic properties.
Lignans are phytoestrogens that help regulate estrogen levels in the body. When endogenous estrogen levels are too high, lignans act as antagonists of their own estrogens. In this case, lignans bind to estrogen receptors, blocking excess endogenous estrogen. When estrogen levels are low, enterolactone (lignan metabolite) provides estrogen support, i.e. acts as an agonist. Although lignans mimic estrogen and bind to its receptors, they do not have the same estrogen antagonistic effects.
Hormonal regulation also depends on the concentration of phytoestrogens: the higher it is, the more pronounced the antiestrogenic effect.
Studies have shown that lignan phytoestrogens reduce the risk of developing hormone-dependent tumors (cancer of the breast and prostate, colon, uterus, as well as endometriosis and mastopathy) by blocking estrogenic activity.
The ability of phytoestrogens to stimulate the formation of sex hormone-binding globulins (SHBG) in the liver has been revealed. The more estrogen is bound by globulins, the less its activity.
Lignans provide high antioxidant protection. Their action as antioxidants is more powerful than that of vitamin E. Such protection resists free radical attacks, which may be responsible for some types of cancer.
Lignans have been found to block the aromatase enzyme, which promotes the conversion of testosterone to estrogen.
Lignans provide cardiovascular support, reduce blood lipid oxidation, lower LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, have a cardioprotective effect, reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, offering antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection.
Lignans reduce blood levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (a biomarker for vascular endothelial inflammation and atherosclerosis).
Support healthy glucose metabolism
Maintain a healthy body weight.
Reduce hair loss and speed up hair restoration. Hair loss can be caused by the action of the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Flaxseed lignans inhibit the production of an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT.
Lignans are sources of dietary fiber, and therefore fiber-rich foods
Lignans inhibit the enzyme 11-HSD (11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase), which converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol. Thus, the negative impact on the body of the stress hormone cortisol is reduced.

How do lignans affect tumor growth?

1. Reduce the proliferation (growth) of tumor cells.
2. They block the blood supply to the tumor, reducing the production of the growth factor necessary to stimulate angiogenesis.
3. Reduce estrogen levels by blocking aromatase.
4. Block estrogen receptors.
5. Reduce the risk of metastasis.
6. Stimulate apoptosis (death) of cancer cells.

When is lignans indicated?

Hormone-dependent diseases and conditions:
Mastopathy
endometriosis
BPH
Cancer of the uterus, ovaries, breast, colon, prostate
Climax. Lignans are a safe and natural alternative (as opposed to synthetic hormone therapy) to compensate for hormonal fluctuations during menopause. A recently completed US clinical study showed that taking 50 mg of lignans per day for 4 weeks reduced hot flashes and night sweats by 53%.
Osteoporosis
Cardiovascular pathology
Hyperlipidemia

How much lignans should be consumed to maintain good health?
Most of us do not eat enough unrefined grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes to provide the body with plant lignans. The average consumption of lignans in the US is approximately 1 mg per day. But researchers say we should consume at least 50 to 100 milligrams of lignans a day.

What interferes with the absorption of lignans?
Dysbacteriosis, which lacks beneficial gut bacteria needed to convert plant lignans into metabolites that the body can use.
A food allergy that interferes with the conversion and assimilation process.
Inflammatory bowel disease.
High fat content in food.

Why have lignans gained so much attention in recent years?
Currently, the world is experiencing a significant increase in the number of hormone-dependent (estrogen-dependent) tumors and other diseases, which has already acquired the character of an epidemic.
In this regard, natural means of combating these ailments have acquired particular relevance, because. chemical drugs have a lot of undesirable side effects.
These natural remedies include phytoestrogens - substances of plant origin, the chemical structure of which is similar to estrogens. Because of this similarity, they can bind to estrogen receptors and mimic some of the effects of estrogen. But they can also block these receptors, thereby reducing their exposure to the body's more powerful own estrogens.

Until recently, most research on phytoestrogens has focused on soy isoflavones. The ability to study lignans was limited due to the complexity of their isolation from plants. But the emergence of new methods for extracting lignans has allowed them to be studied in more depth.

As a result of experimental studies, as well as clinical observations, scientific evidence has emerged that flax seed lignans can reduce the risk of developing hormone-dependent tumors.

Note! When talking about the antitumor effect of flax seeds, we are talking exclusively about the action of specific chemical components - lignans, isolated and studied in pure form, but this effect is not entirely correct to attribute to a whole food product, because. it is not standardized for the number of lignans.