A trial that has run for more than 2 decades has claimed that starchy foods such every bit green bananas could help prevent cancers in those who have a hereditary risk.

The study looked at people with Lynch syndrome – a genetic condition which leads people to be predisposed to a range of cancers, and for which around ane in 300 people are a carrier.

Analysing data from almost 1,000 patients, researchers from institutes including the Universities of Newcastle and Leeds institute that the risks for certain cancers may be reduced over a long period of time by starch.

Published in Cancer Prevention Inquiry, the study showed that a regular dose of resistant starch taken for an average of two years may reduce risks of certain cancers.

Starch, which tin exist found in oats, cereal, beans and slightly dark-green bananas, did not impact cancers in the bowel but did reduce information technology in other parts of the torso by more than half.

The outcome was particularly pronounced for upper gastrointestinal cancers including oesophageal, gastric, biliary tract, pancreatic and duodenum cancers, which can be difficult to detect.

The remarkable effect was seen to last for 10 years after stopping taking the supplement and experts hope the resistant starch findings were beneficial to the general population, not simply people with Lynch syndrome.

Rolled oats in wooden bowl on old wooden table. Rustic style. Healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, dieting and fitness menu concept

Oats tin also be loftier in resistant starch.

John Mathers, professor of human nutrition at Newcastle University, said: "We found that resistant starch reduces a range of cancers by over 60 percent.

"The effect was most obvious in the upper role of the gut. This is important as cancers of the upper GI tract are difficult to diagnose and often are not defenseless early on.

"Resistant starch tin exist taken every bit a powder supplement and is institute naturally in peas, beans, oats and other starchy foods.

"The dose used in the trial is equivalent to eating a daily banana; before they become too ripe and soft, the starch in bananas resists breakdown and reaches the bowel where it tin change the blazon of bacteria that live there."

He added: "Resistant starch is a blazon of carbohydrate that isn't digested in your minor intestine, instead information technology ferments in your large intestine, feeding beneficial gut bacteria – it acts in event, like dietary fibre in your digestive organisation.

"This type of starch has several health benefits and fewer calories than regular starch.

"Nosotros think that resistant starch may reduce cancer development by irresolute the bacterial metabolism of bile acids and reducing those types of bile acids that can damage our Deoxyribonucleic acid and eventually crusade cancer.

"Nonetheless, this needs further research."

Previous enquiry published every bit part of the same long-term trial also revealed that aspirin reduced the gamble of cancer of the big bowel by l pct.

Professor Sir John Fire, from Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust who ran the trial with Professor Mathers, said: "When we started the studies over twenty years ago, we idea that people with a genetic predisposition to colon cancer could help united states to test whether nosotros could reduce the take chances of cancer with either aspirin or resistant starch.

"Patients with Lynch syndrome are high risk as they are more likely to develop cancers so finding that aspirin tin can reduce the risk of large bowel cancers and resistant starch other cancers by half is vitally of import.

"Based on our trial, NICE now recommend aspirin for people at high genetic adventure of cancer, the benefits are articulate – aspirin and resistant starch work."

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