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Melrose Lignan Life 50mg SDG 60
Tablets
* Overview
* About Oestrogen
* About Phytoestrogens
*
Frequently Asked Questions
* Product Sizes
* Research
* References
*
Downloads
Overview
Research has uncovered a natural compound found in flaxseed that
has shown to have promising results on cancer prevention. This compound is lignan. Lignans are
classified as phytoestrogens and have both weak oestrogenic and anti-oestrogenic
actions.
Flax is one of the richest sources of plant lignans; it contains 70-800 times
more lignans than any other plant. The major lignan in flaxseed is secoisolariciresinol
diglycoside (SDG). Following ingestion, plant based lignans are converted in the large intestine
into two mammalian lignans: enterolactone and enterodiol. The two compounds are absorbed from the
intestine and undergo enterohepatic circulation.
A high intake of dietary plant lignans is
associated with high levels of mammalian lignans in blood serum and urine. Therefore, lignans may
act as early biomarkers for the incidence of certain disease states.
Lignans were once
widespread in the diet; the Western diet has eliminated much of the unrefined grains and opted
for process foods. With a strong body of evidence that suggests lignans promote breast health,
the addition of flaxseed or a lignan supplement to the diet is a must to women's
health.
Breast Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in women. One in 11 Australian
women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before they turn 75. More than 11,000 women are
diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Australia. The disease kills about 400,000 women
globally each year. Figures show that 85% of women aged 40-69 are alive, five years after
diagnosis and the survival rate is much lower for younger women.
About
Oestrogen
Oestrogen is critical to women's physical development and functions. Every cell
in the body has oestrogen receptors and oestrogen replenishment is essential for the body to
function normally. Because women are exposed to varying levels of estrogen throughout adulthood,
maintaining a hormonal balance to enable a healthy lifestyle is a complex
challenge.
Oestrogen levels are typically high in women during the childbearing years and
then fall away through the perimenopausal and postmenopausal years. With inadequate oestrogen a
woman can experience symptoms such as hot flushes, mood changes and a loss of bone density. On
the other hand, with too much oestrogen, symptoms can range from PMS to more critical events such
as unhealthy breast tissue.
Breast cells contain specific oestrogen receptors that are
designed like a 'lock' and only the right shaped key will fit the lock. In this case, the key is
"free" oestrogen. Normally, the body's free oestrogen (in the blood) attaches to a breast cell
and naturally occurring enzymes cause the breast cell to grow and divide in an orderly manner so
that worn out or injured tissue is replaced or repaired. The more oestrogen that is available,
the more rapid the growth and division of breast cells. If cells duplicate or grow in an abnormal
way a mass (lump) may develop.
Phytoestrogens - Plant Lignans
Management of oestrogen
levels with plant phytoestrogens has been a topic of research for a number of years.
Isoflavonoids and lignans are two commonly occurring phytoestrogens. Isoflavonoids occur
principally in soy whilst lignans occur in most plants. The richest source is in flaxseed (Linum
usitatissimum), also known as Linseed, with 70-800 times more lignans than any other plant.
Flaxseed has been shown to have numerous protective effects in epidemiological, animal and cell
studies of breast tissue.
The major lignan in flaxseed is secoisolariciresinol (SDG). When
SDG is ingested, it is transformed into the mammalian lignans Enterodiol and Enterolactone by gut
bacteria. Mammalian lignans are believed not only to have chemo protective properties, but to be
potent antioxidants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should take Lignan Life and
why?
Every woman concerned with health, vitality, and longevity should consider taking
Lignan Life. It represents a new paradigm of "proactive breast health" that is dedicated to
addressing breast health before a problem occurs.
Proactive breast health is firmly
founded on the model of the "oestrogen window", and the very real possibility of managing one's
own oestrogen window toward the attainment of optimal breast health.
What can I expect when
taking Lignan Life?
When using Lignan Life you may not feel any noticeable change in your
body. For many women, the satisfaction in knowing that they are taking a proactive step toward
optimal breast health is motivation enough. However, women have also reported a range of
potential side-benefits, and you might experience the following when taking Lignan Life on a
regular basis.
Women have reported a reduction in menopause and PMS related symptoms, such
as reduction in:
* hot flashes
* bloating
* breast
tenderness.
Some women may experience a slight lengthening of their menstrual cycle. For
example, that might mean they experience a 30-day cycle rather than a 28-day cycle. While this
may not appear to be a benefit at all, you may experience fewer periods during your reproductive
years, and decrease your lifetime exposure to oestrogen as a result.
Does Lignan Life have any
adverse effects?
There are no known adverse effects related to lignan supplementation. As
with all nutritional supplements or pharmaceutical drugs, suggested dosages of Lignan Life should
not be exceeded without the advice of a licensed health care professional.
What is the active
ingredient in Lignan Life?
Lignan Life is comprised of a very special and specific plant
lignan which has been isolated, purified, concentrated, standardized, and guaranteed for potency
from flaxseed. Flaxseed is the most highly researched source of plant lignans.
While
flaxseed is the world's most abundant source of lignans, the concentration of lignan from crop to
crop, variety to variety and, for that matter, from seed to seed, can fluctuate up to 300%.
Lignan Life guarantees to deliver an exact dose every time, designed to raise the body's
physiologic concentration of lignans to that of women on a very conscientious, vegetarian diet
and with an excellent history of breast health.
Taking Lignan Life
How many Lignan Life
tablets should I take each day?
Just one per day.
University research was conducted
to determine the optimal oral dosage for Lignan Life, as well as the absorption of lignan in the
body. To maintain peak levels of lignan in the body, it is important to take one Lignan Life
tablet at least once every day.
However, if you happen to miss a day, simply resume taking
the product on a daily basis.
The dosage for Lignan Life was determined by a human, oral
dosing, pharmacokinetic study designed to raise the body's physiologic concentration of lignans
to that of women on a conscientious vegetarian diet and with an excellent history of breast
health. Both epidemiological (blood samples) and urinary data confirm rapid absorption and
metabolism of Lignan Life in the human body consistent with a diet high in plant-based
foods.
Does it matter what time of day Lignan Life is taken?
Life can be taken with
water, juice, or other liquids, with or without food, any time during the day or night.
How
long before Lignan Life starts working?
The effect of Lignan Life is almost immediate.
Within one week of taking Lignan Life, lignan levels equal or slightly exceed those in women who
have demonstrated a high degree of breast health.
What if I stop taking Lignan
Life?
Once you stop taking Lignan Life, supplemental lignan levels and their proactive
effects are gone within 48 to 72 hours.
Supplemental lignan levels are quickly
reestablished once Lignan Life supplementation is reinstated.
Is it possible for Lignan Life
to flush out too much good estrogen?
You do not need to worry about flushing out too much
health-promoting estrogen. Lignans, by nature's design, cannot fully saturate available oestrogen
receptor sites, nor fully displace oestrogen. The result is a delicate balance between body and
nature, just as nature intended.
What if I eat a lignan-rich diet?
Unless you are a
strict vegetarian or consume a macrobiotic diet extremely high in unrefined fruits, vegetables,
grains, and legumes on a daily basis, it is highly unlikely that you will consume the amount of
lignan provided in a single, guaranteed potency tablet of Lignan Life. While lignans are found in
a multitude of natural foods, they are present in extremely minute quantities.
Lignan Life
guarantees to deliver an exact dose every time, designed to raise the body's physiologic
concentration of lignans to that of women on a very conscientious vegetarian diet and with an
excellent history of breast health. Lignan Life is the only product of its kind to have validated
the exact dose with a clinical, human oral dosing, pharmacokinetic study.
Should I take Lignan
Life if I am pregnant or lactating?
Pregnant women or breast-feeding mothers should not
take Lignan Life.
With the exception of early pregnancy, women are exposed to
lower-than-average levels of estrogen while pregnant and lactating. The body effectively closes
the oestrogen window during this time, temporarily negating the need for Lignan
Life.
Further, though no negative side effects have been reported in relation to women,
lignans, pregnancy, and lactation, Lignan Life has not been tested in pregnant or lactating
women. If you are taking Lignan Life and discover after the fact that you are pregnant, simply
discontinue use until after the birth of your child and after lactation/breast feeding has
ceased.
Should I take Lignan Life if I am an adolescent female?
The dosage of Lignan
Life, was carefully researched and developed for the express use by female adults. However,
parents of adolescent girls should take note of lignan rich food sources that contribute to the
positive delay of menarche (first period). A delay in onset of menarche reduces a woman's
exposure to estrogen during her lifetime, perhaps reducing her risk for estrogen related
cancers.
Should I take Lignan Life if I have had my ovaries removed?
You may take
Lignan Life if you have had your ovaries removed. However, if you are on estrogen replacement
therapy, you should consult with your doctor before taking Lignan Life in conjunction with these
medications.
Should I take Lignan Life if I am on birth control pills?
There are no
known contraindications against taking Lignan Life while you are on oral contraceptives. As with
all nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals, do not exceed the suggested product dosage
detailed on the product package.
Should I take Lignan Life if I am undergoing breast, ovarian
or cervical cancer treatment?
Women undergoing breast, ovarian or cervical cancer
treatments should consult with their physician before taking any nutritional supplement including
Lignan Life.
Lignan Life is comprised of natural plant lignans and is therefore not a
pharmaceutical drug. Natural products cannot legally be sold to treat or prevent illness, only to
support the structure or function of the body. However, a physician has the right to use any
means within his or her power to treat or prevent disease Ð including nutritional supplements.
Lignans, isolated, concentrated, purified and standardized for potency in Lignan Life, have been
shown to support the structure and function of the body to ensure healthy breast
tissue.
Should I take Lignan Life if I have been treated for breast cancer?
Maintaining
a healthy diet and lifestyle are important factors to ensure a healthy future. For some
pharmaceuticals such as Tamoxifen® the effectiveness of the drug wanes and should be discontinued
after 5 years. For women interested in the preservation of healthy breast tissue long-term, they
may want to consult with their physician to see If Lignan Life is a good choice for them. As with
all pharmaceuticals or nutritional supplements, you should consult with your physician before use
following or during the treatment of a serious illness.
Should I take Lignan Life if I have a
family history of breast cancer?
Yes, you can take Lignan Life. If you have a strong
family history of breast cancer, you should also be screened for the two known genes that are
strongly linked to hereditary breast cancers - the BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes. If, in
fact, you are identified as possessing either mutated gene, you should be under the close
supervision of a doctor who can explain your options.
The majority of breast cancers are
not hereditary. In fact, only 10% of breast cancers can be owed to a hereditary predisposition.
The remaining 90% of breast cancers are owed to dietary, lifestyle, environmental and unknown
causes.
Product Sizes
Lignan Life contains 60 tablets each with 50mg of
SDG.
Flaxseed Lignan Research
Encouraged by results in animal models, Thompson et al
conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to determine the effect of flaxseed
on 39 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Patients received 25 grams of flaxseed, or a
placebo, daily for an average of 39 days before surgery. The patients who received the flaxseed
had reduced tumor cell proliferation at a rate similar to the effects shown with
Tamoxifen.
Many epidemiological studies have found that women with a high urinary
excretion of lignans have lower risk of developing unhealthy breast tissue than women who excrete
low amounts of lignans.
The protective effects of flaxseed lignans on breast tissue may be
due to several mechanisms including the ability to interfere with oestrogen metabolism.
Experiments over the past 20 years have shown that a large part of the cancer inducing effect of
oestrogen involves the formation of antagonistic metabolites of oestrogen, especially
16-alpha-hydroxyestrone. Other metabolites, such as 2-hydroxyestrone offer protection.12 Studies
in both peri-and postmenopausal women have shown that daily consumption of ground flaxseed
increased 2-hydroxyestrone.
Mammalian lignans have a similar structure to oestrogen which
means that they can fit the same lock on the breast cells and block the entry of free oestrogen.
It is thought that the mammalian lignans increase the naturally occurring enzyme that directs the
break-down of free oestrogen to the 2-hydroxyestrone.
In addition, observation and in
vitro studies suggest lignans may stimulate the synthesis of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG),
a protein that binds more than 95% of steroid sex hormones circulating in the body. An increase
in SHBG would lead to lower free oestrogen concentrations, providing a chemo protective
effect.
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