Matairesinol
Encyclopedia
Matairesinol is a plant lignan
Lignan
The lignans are a group of chemical compounds found in plants. Lignans are one of the major classes of phytoestrogens, which are estrogen-like chemicals and also act as antioxidants. The other classes of phytoestrogens are the isoflavones and coumestans...

. It occurs with secoisolariciresinol
Secoisolariciresinol
Secoisolariciresinol is a lignan, a type of phenylpropanoids....

 in numerous foods such as oil seeds, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.

The plant lignans are precursors of the enterolignans (mammalian lignans). A number of plant lignans are metabolized to the enterolignans (enterodiol
Enterodiol
Enterodiol is a lignan formed by the action of intestinal bacteria on lignan precursors found in plants....

 and enterolactone
Enterolactone
Enterolactone is a lignan formed by the action of intestinal bacteria on lignan precursors found in plants. It acts as a phytoestrogen....

) that can potentially reduce the risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

Although there are studies which indicate the disease prevention (cardio-protective and hormone associated cancers like breast cancer) benefits of lignans, the results are not yet conclusive.
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