secoisolariciresinoliin

Secoisolariciresinol is a lignan, a type of plant-derived polyphenol, classified as a phytoestrogen due to its ability to interact with estrogen receptors. It is most abundantly found in flaxseed, where the predominant lignan form is secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). In flaxseed and other plant sources, SDG occurs as a glycoside and is hydrolyzed during digestion to the aglycone secoisolariciresinol.

In the human body, gut microbiota metabolize secoisolariciresinol to the mammalian lignans enterodiol and enterolactone. These metabolites are studied for their potential hormonal and antioxidant activities. Secoisolariciresinol and its metabolites are often used as biomarkers of flaxseed intake in nutritional research.

Research on secoisolariciresinol covers possible health effects, including modulation of estrogen signaling, cardiovascular impact, and cancer risk, particularly hormone-related cancers. However, findings across observational studies and clinical trials are mixed, and there is no consensus on definitive health benefits or recommended therapeutic use. Present evidence does not support labeling secoisolariciresinol as a medication, though it remains of interest in nutritional science and as a dietary component of flaxseed-containing products.

Chemically, secoisolariciresinol belongs to the class of lignans with a dibenzylbutane-type skeleton. It is commonly studied in the context of flaxseed phytochemicals, gut metabolism to enterolignans, and its role as a dietary biomarker for flaxseed consumption.