Lack of effect of walnut on serum levels of prostate specific antigen: A brief report

• Date posted:  01/01/2007 
• Posted In:
• Walnuts,
• Reproductive Health,

Simon J., J. Sabaté, J. Tanzman, 2007. Lack of effect of walnut on serum levels of prostate specific antigen: A brief report. AJCN. 26; 4; 317-320.

Objective: To examine whether the short-term consumption of walnuts, a food rich in α-linolenic acid, affects levels of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker of prostate enlargement, inflammation, and cancer. Methods: Using data from a 12-month randomized crossover study examining the effect of walnut consumption on body composition, we examined whether increased walnut consumption (mean 35 grams daily, 12% total energy) affected serum PSA levels among 40 middle-aged men. Results: There was no significant difference between mean PSA level at the conclusion of the 6-month walnut-supplemented diet (1.05 μg/L, 95% CI [0.81, 1.37]) and the conclusion of the 6-month control diet (1.06 μg/L, 95% CI [0.81, 1.38]) (P = 0.86) (or a mean proportional decrease in PSA of -1%). Conclusions: Our results suggest that short-term consumption of walnuts is unlikely to affect PSA levels adversely among otherwise normal men.