Effect on the proliferation of cancer cells by the consumption of phytochemicals from walnuts in patients with cancer

Abstract

Cancer, as a pathology, is not considered unique, as it encompasses more than 200 different types of cancer and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. By 2020, it was estimated that there would be an increase to 19.3 million new cases and 10 million deaths from cancer. In Peru, the cancers with the highest number of new cases were prostate, breast, stomach, colon, and cervical cancer, with prostate, cervical, and stomach cancers having the highest mortality rates. Although cancer is considered a genetically-based disease, nutrition plays an increasingly important role. Reviews cite bioactive compounds in food that serve functions in the body and can promote good health, such as the phytochemicals in walnuts, which are beneficial for coronary diseases, rheumatism, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and certain types of cancer. There is a correlation between the regular consumption of walnuts and a decrease in cancer incidence. Therefore, a critical review was conducted with the aim of determining the effects of bioactive components in walnuts on the proliferation of cancer cells in different types of cancer. A methodology based on the principles of evidence-based nutrition was used; a systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Science Direct for publications from the last 5 years to answer the research question. After selecting the studies, the CASPE tool was applied to determine the level of recommendation and evidence. Finally, the article with the highest level of evidence was selected, and a critical comment was developed to provide a collection of practical recommendations for nutritionists and healthcare professionals.

El cáncer a tomado relevancia a nivel mundial por el numero de casos nuevos y la tasa de mortalidad que tiene. Para el 2020 se estimó un incremento a 19,3 millones de casos nuevos y 10 millones de muertes por cáncer. Respecto a Perú, los cánceres con mayor número de casos nuevos fueron cáncer de próstata, mama, estómago, colon y cervix, y la mayor tasa de mortalidad fue el cáncer de próstata, cervix y estómago. Aunque el cáncer se considera una enfermedad con base genética, la alimentación juega un rol importante. Las revisiones citan compuestos bioactivos de los alimentos que promueven la buena salud; como los fitoquímicos de la nueces, que son de beneficio para distintas enfermedades, incluyendo ciertos tipos de cáncer; y que existe una correlación entre la ingesta regular de nueces y la disminución en la incidencia de cáncer. Por ello, se realizó esta revisión crítica con el objetivo de determinar los efectos de los componentes bioactivos de las nueces en la proliferación de células cancerosas en distintos tipos de cáncer. Se efectuó una búsqueda sistemática en diferentes plataformas, se aplicó la herramienta CASPE, se seleccionó el artículo con el mayor grado de evidencia y se desarrolló el comentario crítico.