Sunday Nov 17, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in the British Journal of Cancer suggests that eating tree nuts often may significantly reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer in women.

The study led by Ying Bao, MD, ScD, from the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts and colleagues shows that women eating a one-ounce serving of nuts twice per week or more were 35% less likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, compared to those rarely eating any 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," Bao was cited as saying.

The finding was based on an analysis of data from 75,680 women in the Nurses' Health Study who were not diagnosed with any cancer at the start of the study.   Tree nuts considered in the study include almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias, pine nuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts.

Pancreatic cancer is the most dangerous cancer in the world and fewer than 5% patients live for more than a year after diagnosis.  Thus far, only cigarette smoking and obesity have been known to increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

The study has not established a causal relationship, that is, it is only a possibility, not a certainty that eating tree nuts can reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.   Tree nuts provide healthy nutrients like vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.  That is, it may be a good idea to consume nuts in moderation or as part of a healthy diet.  Overeating nuts like eating anything else can result in weight gain, which can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. (David Liu, PHD)

Bao, Y., F.B. Hu, E.L. Giovannucci, B.M. Wolpin, M.J. Stampfer, W.C. Willett, C.S. Fuchs, 2013. Nut consumption and risk of pancreatic cancer in women. Br J Cancer. doi:10.1038/bjc.2013.665.