Folsom, Calif., (March 30, 2015) - Multiple new research abstracts suggest walnuts may have the potential to positively affect several important health factors. From their impact on colon cancer and certain aspects of cognitive aging, to their positive effect on both gut health and vascular health, the research findings presented at Experimental Biology 2015 (EB) detail our latest understanding of walnuts' inner workings. Running March 28 through April 1 in Boston, this annual meeting attracts an international audience of over 14,000 leading research scientists and exhibitors.
"These findings help advance the understanding of the many advantages of eating walnuts as part of a healthy diet, and add to the more than 159 published papers over 20 years that have shown how walnuts affect heart health, diabetes, cancer, cognition, fertility and weight management," said Dennis A. Balint, CEO, California Walnut Commission.
There are numerous possible active ingredients in walnuts that may be contributing factors in providing these health benefits. One component that differentiates walnuts is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. Walnuts are the only nut that contain a significant amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) with 2.5 grams per one ounce serving.
While scientific conclusions cannot yet be drawn from the abstracts presented at EB 2015, the following summaries share the latest findings:
Findings like these pave the way for additional research aimed at understanding walnuts' role in disease prevention and management.
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About California Walnut Commission
The California Walnut Commission, established in 1987, is funded by mandatory assessments of the growers. The Commission is an agency of the State of California that works in concurrence with the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The CWC is mainly involved in health research and export market development activities. For more industry information, health research and recipe ideas, visit http://www.walnuts.org .
Non-Discrimination Statement
The California Walnut Commission (CWC) prohibits discrimination in all programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance programs. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the CWC offices at (916) 922-5888. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). CWC is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
The California Walnut Commission offices are located at 101 Parkshore Dr., Ste. #250, Folsom, CA 95630
Resources:
1. Kim YS, Choi SW, Min SJ, Lee J, Kim Y. Walnut Phenol Extracts Inhibit Stemness of Colon Cancer Stem Cells in Vitro. FASEB J April 2015 29:752.10.
2. Byerley L, Ponder M, Lorenzo B, Banks S, Taylor C, Luo M, Blanchard E, Welsh D. Walnut Consumption Changes the Relative Abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes in the Gut. FASEB J April 2015 29:1006.1.
3. Poulose S, Bielinski D, Crott J, Roe A, Thangthaeng N, Shukitt-Hale B. Effects of Aging and Walnut-Rich Diet on DNA Methylation and Expression of Immediate-Early Genes in Critical Brain Regions. FASEB J April 2015 29:749.7.
4. Holt R, Yim SJ, Shearer G, Keen C, Djurica D, Newman J, Hackman R. The Change in Human Microvascular Function and its Relationship to Plasma Epoxide Content After Short-Term Walnut Intake. FASEB J April 2015 29:923.9.