Peanuts are one of the world’s most popular snacks. Many people enjoy them roasted, salted, or mixed into foods like peanut butter, candy, and desserts.
They are rich in protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, and are often considered part of a healthy diet. But new research from the University of Liverpool has raised questions about whether peanuts could affect people who have cancer.
The study focused on a natural peanut protein called Peanut Agglutinin, also known as PNA. Researchers discovered that after people eat peanuts, a small amount of this protein may enter the bloodstream. Once inside the body, PNA may interact with blood vessels and cancer cells in ways that could help cancer spread.
The findings were published in the scientific journal Carcinogenesis.
Cancer becomes especially dangerous when it spreads from one part of the body to another. This process is called metastasis. Many cancer deaths happen not because of the original tumor itself, but because cancer cells move into other organs such as the lungs, liver, or brain.
For cancer to spread, cancer cells must first break away from the main tumor. Then they travel through the bloodstream before attaching themselves somewhere else in the body and growing into new tumors. Scientists have spent many years trying to understand what helps cancer cells survive this difficult journey.
The University of Liverpool researchers found that PNA may make this process easier.
Inside the body, blood vessels are lined with a very thin layer of cells that normally acts like a protective barrier. These vessel walls carefully control what enters and leaves the bloodstream. Under healthy conditions, they help stop harmful substances and cells from moving freely through the body.
However, the researchers discovered that when PNA is present, it may cause the body to release certain chemicals known as cytokines. Cytokines are substances used by cells to communicate with each other. They help control inflammation and immune responses.
Two important cytokines identified in the study were IL-6 and MCP-1. Previous research has already linked both chemicals to cancer growth and cancer spread. According to the scientists, PNA appears to increase the levels of these cytokines in the body.
Higher levels of IL-6 and MCP-1 may change how blood vessel walls behave. The vessel walls can become easier for cancer cells to stick to and pass through. This could allow cancer cells traveling in the bloodstream to move into new tissues more easily, increasing the chance of metastasis.
The researchers also built on findings from their earlier studies. In previous work, they discovered that PNA can attach itself to special sugar molecules found more often on the surface of cancer cells than on normal healthy cells. When this happens, cancer cells may clump together.
This clumping effect may help cancer cells survive while traveling through the bloodstream. Normally, the bloodstream can be a very harsh environment for cancer cells. Many die before reaching another organ. But when cancer cells group together, they may protect each other and become more likely to survive.
Once these groups of cancer cells settle in a new area of the body, they may begin forming new tumors.
The findings do not mean peanuts are harmful for everyone. For healthy people without cancer, peanuts still provide many nutritional benefits. They contain healthy fats that support heart health, plant protein that helps build muscles, and important nutrients such as vitamin E, magnesium, and fiber.
Many studies have even suggested that nuts, including peanuts, may help lower the risk of heart disease when eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Still, the new research suggests that the situation could be different for people who already have cancer, especially cancers that are known to spread easily. The scientists say more research is needed before firm conclusions can be made, but the findings are important enough to deserve further study.
The research team, led by Dr. Lu-Gang Yu, explained that scientists still do not fully understand how much PNA enters the bloodstream after eating peanuts or how long the effects may last. Future studies will try to answer these questions.
Researchers also want to learn whether the effects are stronger in certain types of cancer or certain groups of patients. It is possible that some cancers may react more strongly to PNA than others.
Experts say patients should not panic because of this study. One laboratory study alone cannot prove that peanuts directly cause cancer to spread in people. Cancer is extremely complex, and many different factors affect how tumors behave inside the body.
However, the study may encourage doctors and nutrition experts to look more carefully at diet choices during cancer treatment. Some patients may decide to discuss their peanut intake with their doctor or a nutritionist, especially if they have cancers that already carry a high risk of spreading.
The findings are another reminder that food and health are closely connected in ways scientists are still discovering. Even foods that are considered healthy can sometimes affect the body differently under certain medical conditions.
As researchers continue studying the link between peanuts and cancer spread, doctors hope to better understand how diet may influence cancer behavior and how patients can make the safest choices during treatment.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that artificial sweeteners are linked to higher cancer risk, and how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and results showing vitamin D supplements strongly reduces cancer death.
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