Improving colonic health, cancer risk with walnuts
by ADA Huddles

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Consuming walnuts could help mitigate the risk of colorectal cancer, according to a news report from UConn Today.

In a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, researchers examined the benefits of walnut intake among participants aged 40 to 65 years at risk of developing colorectal cancer. They collected blood, urine and fecal samples from the participants and asked them to complete the National Institutes of Health Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Previous studies have found that polyphenol compounds present in walnuts, known as ellagitannins, are converted into the anti-inflammatory metabolites urolithins. In the recent study, the researchers discovered that these ellagitannins could hold anticancer properties after a follow-up of three weeks. For instance, the heightened formation of urolithin A following walnut consumption signified declines in inflammatory markers across the study samples as well as reductions in proteins found in colon polyps.

The findings indicated the potential colonic health benefits of supplementing walnuts into the diet.