AACR: Pistachios Increase Levels of Gamma-Tocopherol

Study suggests that a daily pistachio treat could help prevent lung and other cancers

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Daily consumption of pistachios -- a rich dietary source of gamma-tocopherol -- may help reduce the risk of lung and other cancers, according to research presented this week at the American Association for Cancer Research's Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held from Dec. 6 to 9 in Houston.

Ladia M. Hernandez, a registered dietician from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and colleagues randomly assigned 36 healthy volunteers to either add 68 grams (about 2 ounces) of pistachios per day to their regular diet or continue with their regular diet.

After four weeks of intervention, the researchers found that the pistachio-diet group had a significantly increased energy-adjusted dietary intake of gamma-tocopherol, and significantly increased cholesterol-adjusted serum gamma-tocopherol compared to the regular-diet group.

"Pistachios are one of those 'good-for-you' nuts, and 2 ounces per day could be incorporated into dietary strategies designed to reduce the risk of lung cancer without significant changes in body mass index," Hernandez said in a statement.

Abstract B3
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