Compositions and methods for treating lung diseases

Abstract

The invention relates compositions and methods for treating pathological lung conditions using whole-grain flaxseed or flaxseed lignans. Specifically, the invention relates to the dietary use of flaxseed lignans.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for therapeutically treating a radiation-induced lung disease in a subject, the method comprising: administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of flaxseed, its bioactive ingredient, or a metabolite thereof, thereby treating said radiation-induced lung disease in said subject. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flaxseed is a whole grain flaxseed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said metabolite is a flaxseed lignan metabolite. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bioactive ingredient is a flaxseed lignan complex (FLC) that comprises a plant lignan precursor, a seciosolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), a mammalian lignan enterodiol, an enterolactone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein administering comprises increasing dietary intake of flaxseed, its bioactive ingredient, or a metabolite thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said radiation-induced lung disease is a lung inflammation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said radiation-induced lung disease is a pulmonary fibrosis. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said radiation-induced lung disease is a lung injury. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said lung injury is the result of acute or oxidative lung injury. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject is an individual exposed to inhaled radioisotope or incidental radiation. 
     
     
         11 . A composition for therapeutically treating a radiation-induced lung disease in a subject, the composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of flaxseed, its bioactive ingredient, or a metabolite thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said flaxseed is a whole grain flaxseed. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said metabolite is a flaxseed lignan metabolite. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said bioactive ingredient is a flaxseed lignan complex (FLC) that comprises a plant lignan precursor, a seciosolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), a mammalian lignan enterodiol, an enterolactone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the composition is a dietary composition. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said radiation-induced lung disease is a lung inflammation. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said radiation-induced lung disease is a pulmonary fibrosis. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said radiation-induced lung disease is a lung injury. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said lung injury is the result of acute or oxidative lung injury. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said subject is an individual exposed to inhaled radioisotope or incidental radiation. 
     
     
         21 . A method for therapeutically treating a radiation-induced pneumonopathy in a subject, the method comprising: administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of flaxseed, its bioactive ingredient, or a metabolite thereof, thereby treating said radiation-induced pneumonopathy in said subject. 
     
     
         22 . A method for therapeutically treating a radiation pneumonitis in a subject, the method comprising: administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of flaxseed, its bioactive ingredient, or a metabolite thereof, thereby treating said radiation pneumonitis in said subject. 
     
     
         23 . A method for improving survival of a subject having a radiation-induced lung disease, said subject exposed to an inhaled radioisotope or incidental radiation, the method comprising: administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of flaxseed, its bioactive ingredient, or a metabolite thereof, thereby improving survival of said subject.