Cancer patients should avoid eating peanuts in large quantities as they are suspected of promoting the spread of metastases in the body.
- Too much consumption of peanuts would promote the development of metastases in the body of cancer patients.
- This is due to peanut agglutinin, a plant protein that quickly enters the bloodstream after eating peanuts.
In 2018, 382,000 new cancers were diagnosed in France, according to Public Health France. The majority of them – 54% – involved men. According to a recent study published in the journal Carcinogenesisregular consumption of peanuts could increase the risk of spreading cancer.
A reasonable consumption of peanuts would have no effect…
This is due to peanut agglutinin – also called PNA or Arachis hypogaea lectin – a plant protein that quickly enters the bloodstream after eating peanuts. It interacts with cells in the blood vessel wall to produce molecules called cytokines. The latter generally ensure communication between the cells of the immune system. But some, here IL-6 and MCP-1, promote the development of metastases in the body. Metastases are formed by cancer cells from the primary tumour. Thus, we speak of metastatic cancer when the cancer initially developed by an individual spreads to another part of his body. For example, if colon cancer metastasizes to the liver, it is metastatic colon cancer, not liver cancer.
“Although further research and investigation are still needed, these studies suggest that very frequent consumption of peanuts by cancer patients may increase the risk of metastatic spread, explains Professor Lu-Gang Yu, one of the authors of the study. What is reassuring is that a large US study reported no significant impact of peanut consumption on cancer mortality. In another study, peanut consumption had no significant effect on the life prognosis of men with established prostate cancer. The PNA concentrations that we have analyzed, we have only studied them transiently, that is to say about an hour after the consumption of a large dose – i.e. 250 grams – of peanuts, so it may be that normal consumption of peanuts produces lower NSP concentrations and is harmless”.
…but cancer patients should consume them in moderation
“Nevertheless, we do not rule out the possibility that circulating PNA – at least for the relatively high levels found shortly after a large amount of peanut consumption – may have a significant biological effect on tumor cells, with an increased risk to develop metastasesconcludes Lu-Gang Yu. A large or very frequent consumption of peanuts should therefore still be avoided by cancer patients.“. In the future, the researchers want to continue their research to determine if this food can have an impact on the early mortality of patients with cancers.
In 2018, around 157,000 deaths were linked to cancer according to Santé Publique France. 57% of the victims were men.
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