Effects of a flaxseed-derived lignan supplement on C-reactive protein, IL-6 and retinol-binding protein 4 in type 2 diabetic patients.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Lignans in the context of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma in this randomized controlled trial publication.

Phytoestrogens (including lignans and isoflavones) may enhance the management of diabetes and are hypothesized to act through inflammation pathways.

The present study explored the effects of flaxseed-derived lignan on inflammatory factors and RBP4 concentrations in type 2 diabetics, who have higher levels of these biomarkers.

Who Took Part

The age groups tagged for this paper are middle-aged adults and older adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

Because people in this Lignans study were split into groups at random, differences between the groups are less likely to reflect who happened to join each one.

As a double-blind Lignans study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.

A placebo (an inactive look-alike) gave the Lignans group a baseline to be compared against.

In the crossover set-up each of the participants took both Lignans and the comparison in turn, acting as their own control.

What Was Measured

The present study explored the effects of flaxseed-derived lignan on inflammatory factors and RBP4 concentrations in type 2 diabetics, who have higher levels of these biomarkers.

The participants maintained their habitual diets and levels of physical activity.

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Biomarkers, C-Reactive Protein, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Dietary Supplements, Flax, Inflammation Mediators and Interleukin-6.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Lignans in people with diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

The publication is from 2009 (The British journal of nutrition), a journal based in England.

More context: Diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma research.