Flax Seed Muffins Fight Breast Cancer

BBC News, 12/09/2000

Muffins coated with seeds from the flax plant may be able to hold back the growth of breast tumours, claims a researcher.

Canadian specialist Dr. Paul Goss suggests that increasing dietary intake of products containing flax-seed could even prevent the disease.

However, his study involved only 25 women eating his flax seed muffins, and he has called for more research to be carried out to prove his theory.

The muffins included 50 grams of ground flax seed - other patients were given normal muffins to compare the results.

The women's breast tumours were later removed to see how fast the cancer cells were growing.

The group eating the flax seed muffins had tumours, which were growing significantly less than the others.

This inhibitory effect had been suggested beforehand by studies using animals.

Dr. Goss, who presented the results at a Texan cancer conference, said: "It encourages us to believe this is a very significant biological effect in women and we are heading towards more definitive proof that dietary flax seed may prevent breast cancer."

"Our results are exciting because this is the first time anyone has demonstrated these changes in breast cancer with any dietary component."

The different varieties of flax cultivated commercially are used either to make clothing, or as an edible foodstuff when ground down.

Many health claims have been made on behalf of edible flax seed, including protection from heart disease and stroke.

A spokesperson for Imperial Cancer Research Fund said: "The evidence presented here that flaxseed may help treat cancer appears to be encouraging."