Cancer patients consuming peanuts on a regular basis may increase the risk of spreading the cancer.
Highlights:
Cancer patients consuming peanuts on a regular basis may increase the risk of spreading the cancer, reveal a study by University of Liverpool researchers.//
The study, published in Carcinogenesis shows that Peanut agglutinin (PNA) – a carbohydrate-binding protein that rapidly enters into the blood circulation after peanuts are eaten – interacts with blood vascular wall (endothelial) cells to produce molecules called cytokines.- Frequent consumption of peanuts by cancer patients may increase risk of cancer spread
- Cytokines (IL-6 and MCP-1) produced are the key promoters of cancer metastasis
- Normal peanut consumption lowers peanut agglutinin (PNA) concentrations and is harmless to the body
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Peanut Butter, a thick spread made from grounded peanuts is blended to get a fine and smooth paste. You can have peanut butter without worrying about calories. Read on to know why.
Peanut Butter, a thick spread made from grounded peanuts is blended to get a fine and smooth paste. You can have peanut butter without worrying about calories. Read on to know why.
‘Heavy or very frequent peanut consumption should be avoided by cancer patients to prevent cancer metastasis.’
The cytokines in question, IL-6 and MCP-1 are well-known promoters of cancer metastasis. The increased cytokine production causes other endothelial cells to express more cell surface adhesion molecules, making them more attractive to the circulating tumor cells and thus potentially promoting metastasis.
In an earlier study, Corresponding Author Professor Lu-Gang Yu and colleagues reported that circulating PNA binds to a special sugar chain, which occurs mainly on pre-cancerous and cancer cells, and interacts with a larger protein expressed on the surface of tumor cells in the bloodstream.
This interaction triggers changes in the larger protein, resulting in underlying adhesion molecules on the surface of the cancer cell to become exposed, making the cancer cells stickier and easier to attach themselves to the blood vessels. It also allows the cancer cells to form small clumps that prolong the survival of cancer cells in the body’s circulation.
Clinical Guidelines to Prevent & Deal With Peanut Allergy
Emerging data suggests that peanut allergy can be prevented by the early introduction of peanut-containing foods to children.
Emerging data suggests that peanut allergy can be prevented by the early introduction of peanut-containing foods to children.
Professor Lugang Yu said: “Although further research and investigation are still needed, these studies suggest that very frequent consumption of peanuts by cancer patients might increase the risk of metastatic spread.
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In our previous healthy volunteer study, substantial blood concentrations of PNA were only seen transiently one hour or so after consumption of a large dose (250g) of peanuts, so it may be that ‘normal’ peanut consumption yielding lower PNA concentrations is harmless.
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People with peanut allergies can eat tree nuts but choose to avoid it. The most common reason for avoidance was to minimize the risk of cross-contact, reports a new study.
People with peanut allergies can eat tree nuts but choose to avoid it. The most common reason for avoidance was to minimize the risk of cross-contact, reports a new study.
The possible impact of heavy peanut consumption by cancer patients on survival will need to be investigated in further population-based epidemiological studies.
This study was supported by the American Institute for Cancer Research.
Source-Eurekalert
