Walnuts lower risk of prostate cancer--study
POSTED March 23, 2010 - 17:02 | POSTED BY Neharika Sabharwal
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on March 23, 2010 - 18:58
A new study claims the nut could be a natural weapon against prostate cancer. According to researchers, eating small portions of the nuts regularly could be vital in holding back the tumors.
Dr Paul Davis, nutritionist in the Department of Nutrition and a researcher with the UC Davis Cancer Center, who led the study, said, “Walnuts should be part of a prostate-healthy diet. They should be part of a balanced diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables.”
Experiment conducted on rodents
In a bid to examine the benefits of walnuts on mice genetically prone to prostate cancer, the researchers fed the rodents an equivalent of 14 actual walnuts daily for two months.
They then compared them to the control group that was fed a similar diet sans walnuts.
"We decided to use whole walnuts in the diet because when a single component of a food linked to cancer prevention has been tested as a supplement, that food's cancer-preventive effects disappear in most cases," said Dr Davis.
Observations by the researchers
At the close of the study the researchers noted the mice on the walnut diet exhibited a reduction in the growth of prostate cancer by 30-40 percent.
Additionally, the tumors grew 30 percent slower.
Moreover, the animals had lower blood levels of the protein, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), which has been linked with prostate cancer.
Dr Davis stated, "This study shows that when mice with prostate tumors consume an amount of walnuts that could easily be eaten by a man, tumor growth is controlled.
"This leaves me very hopeful that it could be beneficial in patients."
However, Dr Helen Rippon of the Prostate Cancer Charity declared, “It is far too early to say whether walnuts can prevent prostate cancer in men as well as in genetically modified mice.
“Nonetheless, dietary modification is of great interest in prostate cancer prevention, particularly as it involves men taking action to support their own health.”
Some risk factors for prostate cancer
Among the risk factors for prostate cancer, age plays an important role. The disease is more prevalent in men over 70 years.
Additionally, genetics, family history of cancer, being obese and African American elevates the risk of the disease.
Davis announced the findings at the annual national meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco.
