Peanuts are one of the most popular snacks in the world. Many people enjoy them roasted, salted, or mixed into foods such as peanut butter, sauces, and desserts. They are often described as a healthy snack because they contain protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.
For most people, peanuts can be part of a balanced diet. However, new research suggests that people who have cancer may want to think more carefully about eating large amounts of peanuts.
Scientists at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom have been studying how substances in peanuts interact with the human body. Their work has focused on how these substances might affect cancer cells.
Cancer becomes especially dangerous when it spreads from its original location to other parts of the body. This process is known as metastasis, and it is one of the main reasons cancer can become life‑threatening.
The researchers discovered that a natural protein found in peanuts may play a role in this process. The protein is called peanut agglutinin, often shortened to PNA. Proteins are molecules that carry out many different tasks in the body.
Some proteins help build tissues, while others send signals between cells. PNA is a type of protein that can attach to certain sugar molecules found on the surface of human cells.
According to the scientists, when people eat peanuts, some PNA can pass through the digestive system and enter the bloodstream. Once it is in the blood, the protein can interact with cells that line the inside of blood vessels.
These cells normally form a smooth barrier that helps control what moves in and out of the blood. However, the researchers found that PNA may change how these cells behave.
In laboratory experiments, the team observed that PNA caused the body to release higher levels of two signaling molecules called cytokines. Cytokines are small proteins that help the immune system communicate and respond to injury or infection. They are very important for normal health, but sometimes they can also contribute to disease processes.
The two cytokines that increased in the study were interleukin‑6 (IL‑6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein‑1 (MCP‑1). These molecules can affect the cells that line blood vessels.
When their levels rise, the inner surface of blood vessels may become more attractive to circulating cancer cells. In other words, cancer cells traveling through the bloodstream may find it easier to stick to the vessel walls.
This matters because once cancer cells attach to a blood vessel, they may move into nearby tissues and start growing there. That is how many cancers spread from one organ to another. For example, cancer that begins in the colon can later appear in the liver or lungs after cancer cells travel through the bloodstream.
The same research group had previously discovered another way that peanut agglutinin might influence cancer cells. In earlier work, they found that PNA can bind directly to certain sugar molecules on the surface of cancer cells.
When this happens, the cancer cells may clump together. These clusters of cells are harder for the body to break apart or destroy.
When cancer cells stick together in clusters, they may survive longer while traveling in the bloodstream. This increases the chances that some of them will reach new parts of the body and form new tumors. Because of this, the scientists believe that peanut agglutinin could potentially help cancer spread under certain conditions.
The researchers emphasize that their findings do not mean peanuts are dangerous for everyone. For healthy people, peanuts are still widely considered a nutritious food when eaten in normal amounts. They contain plant protein, fiber, and healthy fats that can support heart health.
However, the study suggests that people who currently have cancer, or who are recovering from cancer, may want to be cautious about eating large quantities of peanuts.
The scientists say more research is needed to understand how strong this effect might be in real life. Their experiments mainly examined how peanut proteins behave in laboratory conditions.
The research was led by Professor Lu‑Gang Yu at the University of Liverpool and was published in the scientific journal Carcinogenesis. The team hopes their findings will encourage more studies on how everyday foods may influence cancer behavior in the body.
For now, experts say the best approach for cancer patients is to speak with their doctor or a dietitian before making major changes to their diet. Food choices can sometimes play an important role during cancer treatment and recovery.
Understanding how certain foods interact with the body may help patients make safer and more informed decisions about what they eat.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
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