New Peanut Study Shows Promise for Childhood Leukemia

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Sep 17, 2024, 10:55 ET

ALBANY, Ga., Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent study conducted by the University of Wisconsin – Madison and published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition has found that the skins of peanuts may inhibit the growth and proliferation of childhood leukemia cells. In lab tests, researchers discovered that the polyphenols in peanut skins successfully reduced the proliferation of the cancer cells for up to 72 hours after application.¹

"While the data is still preliminary, this study adds to the growing body of evidence that suggests the bioactive compounds in peanuts and their skins can contribute to improving our health, and that including peanuts regularly in the diet may even be protective against cancer," says Dr. Samara Sterling, a nutrition scientist and research director for The Peanut Institute.

The paper-thin skins of peanuts contain polyphenolic compounds, including resveratrol, phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavonols and isoflavones that may help prevent the development of certain cancers. The skins also have bioactive compounds, including antioxidants, that help neutralize cell-damaging molecules in the body called free radicals. Plus, they are packed with protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Some snack peanuts, as well as in-shell and boiled peanuts, are available with the skins on.

Cancer Fighting Compounds
It's believed several compounds in peanuts work together in a synergistic way to help stop cancer cells from developing.²Specifically, procyanidins, phytosterols and resveratrol, which are bioactive compounds that are naturally in plants, have shown cancer-preventative qualities.

Evidence also suggests that phytosterols may prevent cancer cells from growing and spreading and may cut off the blood flow to cancers, inhibiting lung, stomach, ovarian, prostate, colon and breast cancers.

Like phytosterols, resveratrol has been found to cut off the blood supply to growing cancers and to inhibit cancer cell growth. It has shown promise in helping fight breast, lung, colorectal, prostate, brain and bladder cancers. A 2017 study observed that resveratrol accomplishes this in breast cancer by preventing cancerous cell invasion.³

Other studies have found:

Regularly eating nuts like peanuts was associated with a lower cancer risk.⁴
Just two weekly servings of peanuts or peanut butter reduced the risk of benign breast disease (BBD) in young adulthood by up to 39%.⁵
Procyanidins, found in peanuts, appear to reduce inflammation and kill cancer cells by preventing them from growing and dividing.⁶

Cancer Fighting Foods
Peanuts are one of many "cancer fighting foods."⁷ Other beneficial foods are broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, berries, oranges, grapefruit, beans, peas and lentils.

"Incorporating nuts, fruits and vegetables into a daily diet is smart because these plant-based foods contain phytochemicals that can help prevent chronic diseases like cancer and can help you live a longer, healthier life," says Dr. Sterling. "Adults should have a handful of peanuts and five servings of fruits and vegetables a day."

The Peanut Institute has created a helpful guide on Healthy Nutrition for Cancer Prevention & Support that can be downloaded. The website also contains a page on What and How to Eat During Cancer.

"Just a small amount of peanuts can deliver significant benefits. Plus, peanuts and peanut butter are affordable and convenient so they're easy to incorporate into a child or adult's daily diet," adds Dr. Sterling.

For more health news, visit PeanutInstitute.com or follow Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Based in Albany, Ga., The Peanut Institute is a non-profit organization supporting nutrition research and developing educational programs to encourage healthful lifestyles that include peanuts and peanut products. The Peanut Institute pursues its mission through research programs, educational initiatives and the promotion of healthful lifestyles to consumers of all ages. As an independent forum, The Peanut Institute is uniquely positioned to work with all segments of the food industry, the research community, academia, consumer organizations and governmental institutions.

Sources

Pornpat (Aom) Jantip, Chandra K Singh, Yaa Asantewaa K Klu, Bradley Bolling, Peanut Polyphenols Are Bioaccessible and Inhibit Proliferation of Cultured Jurkat Leukemia Cells, Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 8, Supplement 2, 2024, 102631, ISSN 2475-2991, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102631.
Falasca M, Casari I, Maffucci T. Cancer chemoprevention with nuts. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2014 Sep 10;106(9). pii: dju238. doi: 10.1093/jnci/dju238. Print 2014 Sep. Review. PubMed PMID: 25210199.
Andreani C, Bartolacci C, Wijnant K, Crinelli R, Bianchi M, Magnani M, Hysi A, Iezzi M, Amici A, Marchini C. Resveratrol fuels HER2 and ERα-positive breast cancer behaving as proteasome inhibitor. Aging (Albany NY). 2017 Feb 26;9(2):508-523. doi: 10.18632/aging.101175. PubMed PMID: 28238967; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5361678.
Naghshi S, Sadeghian M, Nasiri M, Mobarak S, Asadi M, Sadeghi O. Association of Total Nut, Tree Nut, Peanut, and Peanut Butter Consumption with Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Adv Nutr. 2021 Jun 1;12(3):793-808. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmaa152. PMID: 33307550; PMCID: PMC8166551.
Berkey CS, Willett WC, Tamimi RM, Rosner B, Frazier AL, Colditz GA. Vegetable protein and vegetable fat intakes in pre-adolescent and adolescent girls, and risk for benign breast disease in young women. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2013 Sep;141(2):299-306. doi: 10.1007/s10549-013-2686-8. Epub 2013 Sep 17. PMID: 24043428; PMCID: PMC3903425.
Lee Y. Cancer Chemopreventive Potential of Procyanidin. Toxicol Res. 2017 Oct;33(4):273-282. doi: 10.5487/TR.2017.33.4.273. Epub 2015 Oct 15. PMID: 29071011; PMCID: PMC5654195.
Underferth, D. (2019, March). 36 foods that may help lower your cancer risk. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. MDAnderson.org.