People who regularly consume nuts and peanuts may have a reduced risk of dying from a number of different diseases, including cancer and diabetes, a new study has found.

However, the consumption of peanut butter does not appear to affect mortality rates.

Researchers in the Netherlands used data from a study involving over 120,000 men and women aged between 55 and 69, which has been ongoing since 1986.

Nut consumption was assessed among the participants, including the consumption of peanut butter.

Previous US and Asian studies have suggested that nut consumption can reduce deaths from cardiovascular causes. While this latest study appears to confirm those results, it also found that men and women who consumed just a half a handful of nuts or peanuts each day had a lower risk of death from cancer, diabetes, respiratory diseases and neurodegenerative diseases.

"It was remarkable that substantially lower mortality was already observed at consumption levels of 15g of nuts or peanuts on average per day (half a handful). A higher intake was not associated with further reduction in mortality risk," the researchers from Maastrict University said.

They pointed out that nuts and peanuts contain different compounds that can benefit health, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and fibre. However, peanut butter contains added compounds, such as vegetable oils, salt, and sometimes trans fatty acids.

As a result, the composition of peanut butter is different and these differences could have an impact on the apparent protective effect of peanuts.

Details of these findings are published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

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