Bioavailability of lignans in human subjects

• Published in: Nutrition research reviews Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 187 - 196
• Main Authors: Clavel, Thomas, Doré, Joël, Blaut, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2006; Cambridge University Press (CUP)
• Subjects: Bacteria; bioactive properties; Bioavailability; Biological and medical sciences; Biological properties; excretion; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Flax; Food and Nutrition; food composition; food intake; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; humans; intestinal absorption; intestinal microorganisms; Life Sciences; lignans; literature reviews; metabolism; Nutrition; plant estrogens; Studies; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Enterolignans; Bioavailability; Phyto-oestrogens; Human intestinal microbiota; Lignans; Human; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Phyto-oestrogens: Lignans: Enterolignans: Bioavailability: Human intestinal microbiota; Digestive system; Gut; Estrogen; Lignan; Microflora; Sex steroid hormone; Ovarian hormone; BIOLOGICAL PROPERTY; ENTEROLACTONE; METABOLISM; ENTERODIOL; INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA; LIGNAN; BIOAVAIBILITY
• ISSN: 0954-4224; 1475-2700; 1475-2700
• DOI: 10.1017/S0954422407249704

Dietary lignans are phyto-oestrogens that possibly influence human health. The present review deals with lignan bioavailability, the study of which is crucial to determine to what extent metabolism, absorption and excretion of lignans alter their biological properties. Since intestinal bacteria play a major role in lignan conversion, for instance by producing the enterolignans enterodiol and enterolactone, emphasis is put on data obtained in recent bacteriological studies.