NEW DELHI (PRNewswire) — New research published in Cancer Investigation, indicates eating 2 oz. of walnuts may prevent prostate cancer tumor incidence and progression.
Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio found that only 18% of mice fed a walnut enriched diet developed prostate cancer tumors compared to 44% on the non-walnut control diet. In addition, of those that did develop cancer, the tumors were one-fourth the average size compared to the control diet. The primary investigator for the study, Russel Reiter, Ph.D. professor of cellular and structural biology shares, "The walnut portion was not a large percentage of the diet," "It was the equivalent to a human eating about 2 ounces, or two handfuls, a day, which is not a lot of walnuts."
The findings are significant, for prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in American men, with one in six being diagnosed. A healthy, predominantly plant-based diet is a key factor for cancer prevention according to recommendations by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). "Certain components in walnuts including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid, antioxidants and phytosterols, may offer potential cancer fighting properties in a synergistic manner," states study co-author W. Elaine Hardman, Ph.D., Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. A one ounce (28 gram) serving of walnuts provides 2.5 grams of ALA.
"We found the results to be stunning because there were so few tumors in animals consuming the walnuts and these tumors grew much more slowly than in the other animals," says Dr. Reiter, "We were absolutely surprised by how highly effective the walnut diet was in terms of inhibition of human prostate cancer."
The role of walnut consumption in cancer prevention has been demonstrated through several research projects. "The data to date suggest that using walnuts on a regular basis in the diet may be beneficial to defer, prevent or delay some types of cancer, including breast and prostate," Dr. Reiter said. These study findings provide evidence that walnuts can play a role in cancer prevention. For full study for details visit: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/07357907.2013.800095