Link Between Walnuts and Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the very frequent cancers among males in the US. The connection between diet and prostate cancer has been properly researched, and dietary fat consumption is of specific interest in this area. Now, a new mouse research from investigators at the University of California-Davis indicates diets rich in walnuts or walnut oil could sluggish prostate cancer development.

The research, which is presented in the Journal of Medicinal Food, notices that earlier research have recommended consumption of tree nuts is connected with decreased cardiovascular illness risk aspects along with cancer.

A 2013 research, for example, demonstrated that taking walnut oil enhances blood vessel functioning and consuming whole walnuts helps “good” cholesterol transport and eliminate additional cholesterol from the body more efficiently.

Scientists from this recent study, lead by researcher and study nutritionist Paul Davis, observe that they have been evaluating the health effects of walnuts for quite a while.

One of their earlier studies revealed that walnuts decreased prostate tumor size in mice, but there were concerns about which areas of the nuts were accountable for this outcome – was it the meat, the oil or the omega-3 fatty acids? If it was the omega-3s, then the advantages could be identified in any food form that contains them.

“For years, the US govt has been on a crusade in opposition to fat, and I believe it is been to our detriment,” states Davis. “Walnuts are a ideal example. While they are higher in fat, their fat does not push prostate cancer development. In reality, walnuts do just the reverse when provided to mice.”

Elements of walnut, not omega-3s, are conferring advantages

To additional analyze which part of the walnut is accountable for its health benefits; the team utilized a blend of fats with the same omega-3 fatty acid content as walnuts for their control diet plan.

Mice were then provided either whole walnuts, walnut oil or the control fat diet plan for 18 weeks.

Outcomes unveiled that the walnuts and walnut oil reduced cholesterol and stunted prostate cancer development, but the control fat diet did not, indicating it is other elements of the walnut, not the omega-3s, that are conferring these advantages.

Though the research could not determine which substances in walnuts sluggish the cancer development, the scientists did rule out fiber, zinc, magnesium and selenium.

“We revealed that it’s not the omega-3s by themselves, though, it could be a mixture of the omega-3s with whatever else is in the walnut oil,” states Davis. “It’s getting progressively clear in nutrition that it’s never proceeding to be just one thing; it’s generally a combination.”

The study also revealed that walnut consumption adjusts specific mechanisms connected to cancer development, reducing insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) – a development hormone formerly suggested as a factor in prostate and breast cancer – “so the cancer cannot develop as fast as it generally would,” notes Davis.

One more added advantage is that the decreased cholesterol deprives cancer cells of it, which means they are not capable to develop as easily.

Walnut intake was also connected to boosts in adiponectin and the tumor suppressor PSP94 and reduces in COX-2, which are all markers for a decreased danger of prostate cancer.

‘Unrealistically high walnut intake levels not needed for advantages’

The scientists say their outcomes recommend integrating walnuts into a healthy diet could provide these health advantages, though they do warning that research in mice do not essentially translate to humans.

Even now, the team states that “walnut’s valuable effects on human cancer do not need un-realistically high intake levels,” which means we usually do not require to dramatically raise consumption to get results.

Davis adds:

“In our research, the mice were consuming the equivalent of 2.6 oz of walnuts. You require to understand that 2.6 oz of walnuts is around 482 calories. That’s not insignificant, but it is much better than consuming a serving of supersized fries, which has 610 calories.

Additionally to the cancer advantage, we think you also get cardiovascular advantages that other walnut study has confirmed.”