Nut Intake May Decrease Pancreatic Cancer

DAVIS, Calif.Women who consume nuts, such as almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts, may have a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer.

In the study, researchers examined 75,680 cancer-free women and monitored their nut intake. Women who consumed a 1 ounce serving of nuts two or more times a week had a significantly reduced risk of pancreatic cancer compared to those who largely abstained from nuts.

"This reduction in risk was independent of established or suspected risk factors for pancreatic cancer including age, height, obesity, physical activity, smoking, diabetes and dietary factors," said lead author, Ying Bao, M.D., ScD, from the department of medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston.

 Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause for cancer-related mortality in the U.S., yet very few modifiable risk factors have been identified. While there may be concern that frequent nut consumption may result in weight gain and thereby increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, the opposite seems to be true.

"In our cohort women who consumed the most nuts tended to weigh less," said  Bao. "Moreover, in a recent analysis of this same cohort, higher nut consumption was associated with a slightly lower risk of weight gain and obesity."

Nut intake has also been associated with a reduced risk of diabetes mellitus, which is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

"Nuts contain a variety of important vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals," states Maureen Ternus, M.S., R.D., executive director of the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research & Education Foundation (INC NREF). "This exciting, new study provides yet another reason to encourage people to eat a handfulor one-third cupof tree nuts every day."