Nuts, Peanuts Linked to Reduced Risk of Death from Cancer, Other Diseases

11 Jun 2015 --- A new study has found that consuming nuts and peanuts may protect against death from numerous diseases, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The research showed that men and women who eat at least 10 grams of nuts or peanuts per day have a lower risk of dying from several major causes of death than people who don’t consume these foods – but the study found no protective effect for peanut butter.

The study, which was conducted by Professor Piet van den Brandt and colleagues, from Maastricht University in the Netherlands, is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Peanuts and nuts are a good source of omega-3, fiber, vitamin E, antioxidants and "good" fats. As such, they have been associated with a number of health benefits, particularly for the heart.

Past studies have linked nut consumption to reduced risk of blood clots, lower cholesterol and reduced risk of arrhythmia. 

In this latest study, Prof. Brandt and colleagues found that consuming peanuts and nuts may reduce the risk of dying from a number of diseases, with the association stronger for some diseases than others.

To reach their findings, the researchers assessed data from more than 120,000 men and women aged 55-69 from the Netherlands, who were part of the Netherlands Cohort Study. Nut consumption was assessed by asking about portion size and frequency of intake of peanuts, other nuts (tree nuts), and peanut butter. The researchers from Maastricht University analyzed the relationship with overall and cause-specific mortality since 1986.

All participants were asked how often they consumed peanuts, nuts and peanut butter and in what quantities. They then assessed the link between intake of these foods and cause-specific mortality among participants since 1986, when the study began.

The study results revealed that participants who consumed around 15 grams of nuts or peanuts every day - the equivalent to half a handful - were at lower risk of death from numerous diseases, including cancer, diabetes, respiratory disease, heart disease and neurodegenerative disease, compared with participants who did not consume nuts or peanuts.

The associations between nuts and peanut intake and cardiovascular death confirm earlier results from American and Asian studies that were often focused on cardiovascular diseases. However, in this new study, it was found that mortality due to cancer, diabetes, respiratory, and neurodegenerative diseases was also lowered among users of peanuts and nuts. 

Van den Brandt commented: “It was remarkable that substantially lower mortality was already observed at consumption levels of 15 grams of nuts or peanuts on average per day (half a handful). A higher intake was not associated with further reduction in mortality risk. This was also supported by a meta-analysis of previously published studies together with the Netherlands Cohort Study, in which cancer and respiratory mortality showed this same dose-response pattern.”

In contrast to peanuts, no association was found between peanut butter intake and mortality risk. However, besides peanuts, peanut butter contains also added components like salt and vegetable oils. In the past, it has been shown that peanut butter contains trans fatty acids and therefore the composition of peanut butter is different from peanuts. The adverse health effects of salt and trans fatty acids could inhibit the protective effects of peanuts.