New Research Suggests Walnuts May Help Fight Prostate Cancer

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Jan 25, 2012, 09:00 ET

FOLSOM, Calif., Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Prostate cancer is a major health concern for men that strikes approximately one in six men and is a leading cause of male cancer deaths in the United States(1). New research offers hope in this fight – according to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition, walnuts may help reduce prostate cancer risk. Researchers at the University of California – Davis and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Western Regional Research Center in Albany, California found that prostate tumors in mice fed the human equivalent of three ounces per day of walnuts were approximately 50% smaller and grew 30% slower than prostate tumors in control mice. In addition to lower plasma Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a biomarker strongly associated with prostate cancer, walnut fed mice had lower LDL (bad) cholesterol as well as distinct differences in their liver metabolome, a chemical inventory of what the liver – a major source of both IGF-1 and cholesterol – is doing.

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"These results make me very hopeful that walnuts may be beneficial both in terms of avoiding cancer and slowing cancer growth and therefore should be included in a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables," states Dr. Davis. Walnuts are widely recognized as being heart-healthy and now, this research in prostate cancer along with previous published research from Marshall University reporting that walnuts slow the development and growth of breast cancer tumors in mice, show that walnuts maybe a weapon in the fight against cancer as well.

Lead researcher Dr. Paul Davis believes that their findings are not a result of one isolated component, but due to the multiple ingredients found in walnuts that work together. "Walnuts are a whole food that provides a rich package of healthful substances, including omega-3 fatty acids, gamma tocopherol (a form of vitamin E), polyphenols, and antioxidants. These likely then work synergistically," states Dr. Davis.

Karen Collins, RD a nutrition consultant for American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), suggests these findings offer further support to include plant-based foods, such as walnuts, regularly in the diet. "Nutrition is a key factor in the prevention and treatment of cancer," states Collins. In fact, "it is estimated that we can prevent about 11% of prostate cancer cases in the Unites States. A healthy diet, participating in regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight form a three-part strategy recommended to reduce prostate and other cancers."

According to the National Cancer Institute(2):

Approximately 241,740 estimated new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2012
An estimated 28,170 men will die of prostate cancer in 2012
Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men

TOOLS AVAILABLE:

Full study: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8476591
Walnut Photo with Blue Ribbon
Health Professional Resource Guide
Cancer Prevention Walnut Recipes/Photos
Video B-roll (Walnuts and Cancer experts)
Interviews with:
- Dr. Paul Davis – University of California - Davis: Research Nutritionist, Nutrition Department
- Karen Collins, RD - Consultant for the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR)
- Chef Rebecca Katz author of the Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

California Walnut Commission

The California Walnut Commission, established in 1987, is funded by mandatory assessments of the growers. The Commission is an agency of the State of California that works in concurrence with the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The CWC is mainly involved in health research and export market development activities.

Non-Discrimination Statement

The California Walnut Board (CWB) and California Walnut Commission (CWC) prohibit discrimination in all programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance programs. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the CWB / CWC offices at (916) 922-5888. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). CWB/CWC is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

The California Walnut Board and Commission offices are located at 101 Parkshore Dr., Ste. #250, Folsom, CA 95630

(1) http://www.pcf.org/site/c.leJRIROrEpH/b.5800851/k.645A/Prostate_Cancer_FAQs.htm

(2) http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate

SOURCE California Walnut Commission