A randomized trial of the effects of an almond-enriched, hypocaloric diet in the treatment of obesity1234 Effect of almonds on insulin secretion and insulin resistance in nondiabetic hyperlipidemic subjects: a randomized controlled crossover trial. Design and methods for testing a simple dietary message to improve weight loss and dietary quality Brazil nuts intake improves lipid profile, oxidative stress and microvascular function in obese adolescents: a randomized controlled trial [Nutrient content and health effects of nuts]. The dose of hazelnuts influences acceptance and diet quality but not inflammatory markers and body composition in overweight and obese individuals. Pistachio Nut Consumption and Serum Lipid Levels Nut Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. Effects of different forms of hazelnuts on blood lipids and α-tocopherol concentrations in mildly hypercholesterolemic individuals A possible protective effect of nut consumption on risk of coronary heart disease. The Adventist Health Study. Postprandial oxidative stress is modified by dietary fat: evidence from a human intervention study. Association of nut and seed intake with colorectal cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. The effect of almonds on anthropometric measurements and lipid profile in overweight and obese females in a weight reduction program: A randomized controlled clinical trial Nut Consumption in Relation to Cardiovascular Disease Incidence and Mortality Among Patients With Diabetes Mellitus High-oleic peanuts: new perspective to attenuate glucose homeostasis disruption and inflammation related obesity. Soy Consumption, Markers of Inflammation, and Endothelial Function Brazilian nut consumption by healthy volunteers improves inflammatory parameters.
Background : Increased consumption of nuts has been advocated because of their health benefits , but the role of nuts in the treatment of obesity is unclear given their high energy density . Objective : This study was design ed to evaluate the effects of a hypocaloric , almond-enriched diet ( AED ) compared with a hypocaloric nut-free diet ( NFD ) on body weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors in the context of an 18-mo behavioral weight-management program . Design : Overweight and obese individuals [ n = 123 ; age = 46.8 y , BMI ( in kg/m2 ) = 34.0 ] were r and omly assigned to consume an AED or NFD and instructed in traditional behavioral methods of weight control .  Anthropometric and metabolic measurements were made at baseline , 6 mo , and 18 mo . Results : Those in the AED group lost slightly but significantly less weight than did those in the NFD group at 6 mo ( −5.5 compared with −7.4 kg ; P = 0.04 ) , but there were no differences at 18 mo . No significant differences in body composition were found between the groups at 6 or 18 mo . The AED , compared with the NFD , was associated with greater reductions in total cholesterol ( P = 0.03 ) , total : HDL cholesterol ( P = 0.02 ) , and triglycerides ( P = 0.048 ) at 6 mo , and no differences were observed between the groups at 18 mo . Conclusions : The AED and NFD groups experienced clinical ly significant and comparable weight loss at 18 mo . Despite smaller weight loss in the AED group at 6 mo , the AED group experienced greater improvements in lipid profiles . This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as NCT00194428 Nuts appear to have a marked effect in cohort studies in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease ( CHD ) , but their demonstrated ability to lower cholesterol can only explain a proportion of the reduction in risk . Our aim was to assess whether improvement in carbohydrate metabolism provides a further explanation for the effect of nuts in reducing CHD . The effects of whole almonds , taken as snacks , were compared with the effects of low saturated fat ( < 5 % energy ) whole-wheat muffins ( control ) in the therapeutic diets of hyperlipidemic subjects . In a r and omized crossover study , 27 hyperlipidemic men and women consumed 3 isoenergetic ( mean , 423 kcal/d ) supplements each for 1 month . Supplements provided 22.2 % of energy and consisted of full-dose almonds ( 73 + /- 3 g/d ) , half-dose almonds plus half-dose muffins , and full-dose muffins . Subjects were assessed at weeks 0 , 2 , and 4 and fasting blood sample s were obtained . Twenty-four-hour urinary output was collected at the end of week 4 on each treatment . Mean body weights differed by less than 300 g between treatments . No differences were seen in baseline or treatment values for fasting glucose , insulin , C-peptide , or insulin resistance as measured by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance . However , 24-hour urinary C-peptide output as a marker of 24-hour insulin secretion was significantly reduced on the half- and full-dose almonds by comparison to the control after adjustment for urinary creatinine output ( P = .002 and P = .004 , respectively ) . We conclude that reductions in 24-hour insulin secretion appear to be a further metabolic advantage of nuts that in the longer term may help to explain the association of nut consumption with reduced CHD risk Background The current food pyramid guidelines have been criticized because of their complexity and the knowledge required for users to underst and the recommendations . Simplification of a dietary message to focus on a single key aspect of dietary quality , e.g. , fiber intake , may make the message much easier to comprehend and adhere , such that respondents can achieve greater weight loss , better dietary quality and overall metabolic health . Methods and design This is a r and omized controlled clinical trial with two equal sized arms . In total , 240 obese adults who meet diagnostic criteria for the metabolic syndrome will be r and omized to one of the two conditions : 1 ) a high fiber diet and 2 ) the American Heart Association ( AHA ) diet .  In the high fiber diet condition , patients will be given instruction only on achieving daily dietary fiber intake of 30 g or more . In the AHA diet condition , patients will be instructed to make the several dietary changes recommended by the AHA 2006 guidelines . The trial examines participant weight loss and dietary quality as well as changes in components of the metabolic syndrome , inflammatory biomarkers , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels , insulin levels , and glycosolated hemoglobin . Potential mediators , i.e. , diet adherence and perceived ease of the diet , and the intervention effect on weight change will also be examined . Discussion sThe purpose of this paper is to outline the study design and methods for testing the simple message of increasing dietary fiber . If the simple dietary approach is found efficacious for weight loss ; and , improves dietary quality , metabolic health , and adherence , it might then be used to develop a simple public health message . Trial registration Background Obesity is a chronic disease associated to an inflammatory process result ing in oxidative stress that leads to morpho-functional microvascular damage that could be improved by some dietary interventions . In this study , the intake of Brazil nuts ( Bertholletia excelsa ) , composed of bioactive substances like selenium , α- e γ- tocopherol , folate and polyunsaturated fatty acids , have been investigated on antioxidant capacity , lipid and metabolic profiles and nutritive skin microcirculation in obese adolescents . Methods Obese female adolescents ( n = 17 ) , 15.4 ± 2.0 years and BMI of 35.6 ± 3.3 kg/m2 , were r and omized 1:1 in two groups with the diet supplemented either with Brazil nuts [ BNG , n = 08 , 15 - 25 g/day ( equivalent to 3 to 5 units/day ) ] or placebo [ PG ( lactose ) , n = 09 , one capsule/day ] and followed for 16 weeks . Anthropometry , metabolic-lipid profiles , oxidative stress and morphological ( capillary diameters ) and functional [ functional capillary density , red blood cell velocity ( RBCV ) at baseline and peak ( RBCVmax ) and time ( TRBCVmax ) to reach it during post-occlusive reactive hyperemia , after 1 min arterial occlusion ] microvascular variables were assessed by nailfold videocapillaroscopy at baseline ( T0 ) and after intervention ( T1 ) . Results T0 characteristics were similar between groups . At T1 , BNG ( intra-group variation ) had increased selenium levels ( p = 0.02 ) , RBCV ( p = 0.03 ) and RBCVmax ( p = 0.03 ) and reduced total ( TC ) ( p = 0.02 ) and LDL-cholesterol ( p = 0.02 ) . Compared to PG , Brazil nuts intake reduced TC ( p = 0.003 ) , triglycerides ( p = 0.05 ) and LDL-ox ( p = 0.02 ) and increased RBCV ( p = 0.03 ) . Conclusion Brazil nuts intake improved the lipid profile and microvascular function in obese adolescents , possibly due to its high level of unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive substances . Trial Registration Clinical Nuts are foods with a high energy density , due in part to its small water content . They also present a low saturated fat content ( < 7 % ) but a high unsaturated fat contribution ( 40 - 60 % ) . They represent one of the richest sources of dietary fiber , which is basically of the insoluble type . The effects of nut intake on health have been widely studied . Several prospect i ve epidemiological studies performed on large cohorts have consistently shown that regular consumption of small amounts of nuts is negatively related to the risk of cardiovascular disease and to the risk of cardiovascular or all-cause mortality . From these studies can be concluded that regular consumption of small amounts of nuts leads to a 30 - 50 % reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease . Additionally , intervention studies have shown a positive effect of nut intake on lipid profile with significant reductions in total and LDL cholesterol levels and small or null effects on the HDL fraction . More recently , some studies have focused on the effect of  nuts on body weight . At present , no evidence s support a detrimental effect of nut consumption on body weight . On the contrary some weight loss studies suggest a beneficial effect of nut intake on body weight regulation Regular nut consumption may improve markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction . The quantity of nuts required to achieve these health benefits without compromising body weight and acceptance is unknown . This study compared the effects of incorporating hazelnuts at 2 different doses with a diet without nuts on inflammatory markers , cell adhesion molecules , and body composition in 107 overweight and obese individuals . This was a r and omized , controlled , parallel 12-wk intervention including 3 treatment arms : no nuts ( control group ) , 30 g/d of hazelnuts , or 60 g/d of hazelnuts .  Blood pressure , body composition , plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( hs-CRP ) , interleukin 6 ( IL-6 ) , intercellular adhesion molecule 1 ( ICAM-1 ) , vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 ( VCAM-1 ) , lipid , and apolipoprotein ( apo ) profiles were assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12 wk . " Desire " and " liking " for nuts were assessed during the intervention . Results showed no significant differences in follow-up clinical outcomes between groups after adjusting for baseline values , age , sex , and BMI ( all P ≥ 0.10 ) , except for a tendency toward improvement in VCAM-1 concentration in the 60-g/d nut group ( P = 0.07 ) . Hazelnut consumption significantly improved diet quality in a dose-response manner . Desire and liking for nuts remained stable in the 30-g/d group , whereas these ratings decreased significantly over time in the 60-g/d group ( both P < 0.001 ) . In conclusion , 12 wk of hazelnut consumption appears to have minimal effect on inflammatory markers and cell adhesion molecules in this group of healthy , normocholesterolemic overweight and obese individuals . Nut consumption improves diet quality without adversely affecting body composition . Consuming 30 g/d of nuts regularly is achievable , whereas 60 g/d appears to compromise desire and liking Objective : Clinical and epidemiological studies have reported the beneficial effects of tree nuts and peanuts on serum lipid levels . We studied the effects of consuming 15 % of the daily caloric intake in the form of pistachio nuts on the lipid profiles of free-living human subjects with primary , moderate hypercholesterolemia ( serum cholesterol greater than 210 mg/dL ) . Methods : Design : R and omized crossover trial . Setting : Outpatient dietary counseling and blood analysis . Subjects : 15 subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia . Intervention : Fours weeks of dietary modification with 15 % caloric intake from pistachio nuts . Measures of Outcome : Endpoints were serum lipid levels of total cholesterol , HDL-C , LDL-C , VLDL-C , triglycerides and apolipoproteins A-1 and B-100 . BMI , blood pressure , and nutrient intake ( total energy , fat , protein , and fiber ) were also measured at baseline , during , and after dietary intervention . Results : No statistically significant differences were observed for total energy or percent of energy from protein , carbohydrate or fat . On the pistachio nut diet , a statistically significant decrease was seen for percent energy from saturated fat ( mean difference , −2.7 % ; 95 % CI , −5.4 % to −0.08 % ; p = 0.04 ) . On the pistachio nut diet , statistically significant increases were seen for percent energy from polyunsaturated fat ( mean difference , 6.5 % ; 95 % CI , 4.2 % to 8.9 % ; p<.0001 ) and fiber intake ( mean difference , 15 g ; 95 % CI , 8.4 g to 22 g ; p = 0.0003 ) . On the pistachio diet , statistically significant reductions were seen in TC/HDL-C ( mean difference , −0.38 ; 95 % CI , −0.57 to −0.19 ; p = 0.001 ) , LDL-C/HDL-C ( mean difference , −0.40 ; 95 % CI , −0.66 to −0.15 ; p = 0.004 ) , B-100/A-1 ( mean difference , −0.11 ; 95 % CI , −0.19 to −0.03 ; p = 0.009 ) and a statistically significant increase was seen in HDL-C ( mean difference , 2.3 ; 95 % CI , 0.48 to 4.0 ; p = 0.02 ) . No statistically significant differences were seen for total cholesterol , triglycerides , LDL-C , VLDL-C , apolipoprotein A-1 or apolipoprotein B-100 . No changes were observed in BMI or blood pressure . Conclusion : A diet consisting of 15 % of calories as pistachio nuts ( about 2–3 ounces per day ) over a four week period can favorably improve some lipid profiles in subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia and may reduce risk of coronary disease BACKGROUND The associations between specific types of nuts , specifically peanuts and walnuts , and cardiovascular disease remain unclear . OBJECTIVES The authors sought to analyze the associations between the intake of total and specific types of nuts and cardiovascular disease , coronary heart disease , and stroke risk . METHODS The authors included 76,364 women from the Nurses ' Health Study ( 1980 to 2012 ) , 92,946 women from the Nurses ' Health Study II ( 1991 to 2013 ) , and 41,526 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study ( 1986 to 2012 ) who were free of cancer , heart disease , and stroke at baseline .  Nut consumption was assessed using food frequency question naires at baseline and was up date d every 4 years . RESULTS During 5,063,439 person-years of follow-up , the authors documented 14,136 incident cardiovascular disease cases , including 8,390 coronary heart disease cases and 5,910 stroke cases . Total nut consumption was inversely associated with total cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors . The pooled multivariable hazard ratios for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease among participants who consumed 1 serving of nuts ( 28 g ) 5 or more times per week , compared with the reference category ( never or almost never ) , were 0.86 ( 95 % confidence interval : 0.79 to 0.93 ; p for trend = 0.0002 ) and 0.80 ( 95 % confidence interval : 0.72 to 0.89 ; p for trend < 0.001 ) , respectively . Consumption of peanuts and tree nuts ( 2 or more times/week ) and walnuts ( 1 or more times/week ) was associated with a 13 % to 19 % lower risk of total cardiovascular disease and 15 % to 23 % lower risk of coronary heart disease . CONCLUSIONS In 3 large prospect i ve cohort studies , higher consumption of total and specific types of nuts was inversely associated with total cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease Background / Objectives : Diets high in nuts reduce cholesterol , probably due to their favorable lipid profile and other bioactive substances . However , the physical form of the nut may be important as the cell wall of intact nuts may limit the hypocholesterolemic effect of nuts by reducing lipid bioavailability . Therefore , we investigated the effects on blood lipids of incorporating three different forms of hazelnuts ( ground , sliced and whole ) into the usual diet . Subjects/ Methods : In a r and omized crossover study with three phases , 48 mildly hypercholesterolemic participants were asked to consume 30 g of ground , sliced or whole hazelnuts for 4 weeks . Body weight , plasma total cholesterol ( TC ) , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) , triacylglycerol ( TAG ) , apolipoprotein ( apo ) A1 , apo B100 and α-tocopherol were measured at baseline and at the end of each dietary phase . Results : There were no significant differences in any outcome variable between the different forms of nuts ( all P⩾0.159 ) . However , compared with baseline , mean values at the end of each hazelnut intervention were significantly higher for HDL-C ( P=0.023 ) and α-tocopherol ( P=0.005 ) , and significantly lower for TC ( P<0.001 ) , LDL-C ( P<0.001 ) , TC : HDL-C ratio ( P<0.001 ) , apo B100 ( P=0.002 ) and apo B100:apo A1 ratio ( P<0.001 ) , with no significant difference in body weight ( P=0.813 ) . Conclusions : The ingestion of three different forms of hazelnuts equally improved the lipoprotein profile and α-tocopherol concentrations in mildly hypercholesterolemic individuals . Hazelnuts can therefore be incorporated into the usual diet as a means of reducing cardiovascular disease risk BACKGROUND Although dietary factors are suspected to be important determinants of coronary heart disease ( CHD ) risk , the direct evidence is relatively sparse . METHODS The Adventist Health Study is a prospect i ve cohort investigation of 31,208 non-Hispanic white California Seventh-Day Adventists . Extensive dietary information was obtained at baseline , along with the values of traditional coronary risk factors . These were related to risk of definite fatal CHD or definite nonfatal myocardial infa rct ion . RESULTS Subjects who consumed nuts frequently ( more than four times per week ) experienced substantially fewer definite fatal CHD events ( relative risk , 0.52 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 0.36 to 0.76 ) and definite nonfatal myocardial infa rct ions ( relative risk , 0.49 ; 95 % CI , 0.28 to 0.85 ) , when compared with those who consumed nuts less than once per week . These findings persisted on covariate adjustment and were seen in almost all of 16 different subgroups of the population . Subjects who usually consumed whole wheat bread also experienced lower rates of definite nonfatal myocardial infa rct ion ( relative risk , 0.56 ; 95 % CI , 0.35 to 0.89 ) and definite fatal CHD ( relative risk , 0.89 ; 95 % CI , 0.60 to 1.33 ) when compared with those who usually ate white bread . Men who ate beef at least three times each week had a higher risk of definite fatal CHD ( relative risk , 2.31 ; 95 % CI , 1.11 to 4.78 ) , but this effect was not seen in women or for the nonfatal myocardial infa rct ion end point . CONCLUSION Our data strongly suggest that the frequent consumption of nuts may protect against risk of CHD events . The favorable fatty acid profile of many nuts is one possible explanation for such an effect Previous evidence supports the concept that increased oxidative stress may play an important role in MetS ( metabolic syndrome)-related manifestations . Dietary fat quality has been proposed to be critical in oxidative stress and the pathogenesis of the MetS. In the present study , we investigated whether oxidative stress parameters are affected by diets with different fat quantity and quality during the postpr and ial state in subjects with the MetS. Patients were r and omly assigned to one of four isoenergetic diets distinct in fat quantity and quality for 12 weeks : a high-saturated-fatty-acid ( HSFA ) diet , a high-mono-unsaturated-fatty-acid ( HMUFA ) diet and two low-fat/high-complex carbohydrate diets [ supplemented with 1.24 g/day of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ( LFHCC n-3 ) or with 1 g/day of sunflower oil high in oleic acid ( LFHCC ) as placebo ] . The HMUFA diet enhanced postpr and ial GSH ( reduced glutathione ) levels and the GSH/GSSH ( oxidized glutathione ) ratio , compared with the other three diets . In addition , after the HMUFA-rich  diet postpr and ial lipid peroxide levels , protein carbonyl concentrations , SOD ( superoxide dismutase ) activity and plasma H2O2 levels were lower compared with subjects adhering to the HSFA-rich diet . Both LFHCC diets had an intermediate effect relative to the HMUFA and HSFA diets . In conclusion , our data support the notion that the HMUFA diet improves postpr and ial oxidative stress in patients with the MetS. These findings suggest that the postpr and ial state is important for underst and ing the possible cardioprotective effects associated with mono-unsaturated dietary fat , particularly in subjects with the A link between unsaturated fatty acids or phytonutrients and reduced risk of colorectal cancer  has been suggested . However , the effects of higher intake of dietary sources of these nutrients , such as the nuts and seeds food group , are less clear . The objective of this study was to determine the effects of nut and seed intake on colorectal cancer risk within the European Prospect i ve Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study , a large prospect i ve cohort study involving 10 European countries .  Total nut and seed intake was determined from country-specific dietary question naires . The data set included 478,040 subjects ( 141,988 men , 336,052 women ) with a total of 855 ( 327 men , 528 women ) colon and 474 ( 215 men , 259 women ) rectal cancer cases . A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model , stratified by center and controlled for fruit intake , dietary fiber , energy , height , weight , sex , age , physical activity , and smoking , was used . The data show no association between higher intake of nuts and seeds  and risk of colorectal , colon , and rectal cancers in men and women combined , but a significant inverse association was observed in subgroup analyses for colon cancer in women at the highest ( > 6.2 g/d ) versus the lowest ( nonconsumers ; hazard ratio , 0.69 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.50 - 0.95 ) category of intake and for the linear effect of log-transformed intake ( hazard ratio , 0.89 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.80 - 0.98 ) , with no associations in men . It is not evident from this data why there may be a stronger association in women or why it may be limited to the colon , suggesting that much further research is necessary Background : Due to the wholesome benefits of nuts increased consumption of them has been recommended . However , because of nut 's high energy density , the role of them in the treatment of overweight and obesity is vague . This current clinical trial study aims to investigate the effects of a balanced hypocaloric almond-enriched diet ( AED ) ( almond group ) in comparison to a balanced hypocaloric nut-free diet ( NFD ) ( nut-free group ) on body weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors in women with body mass index ( BMI ) > 25 for 3-month . Material s and Methods : A total of 108 overweight and obese women were assigned in our 3-month r and omized controlled trial . The subjects were r and omly divided into two groups regarding a balanced hypocaloric diet with or without almond . The planned reduced calorie diets for both groups were identical except for the almond group who consumed 50 g of almonds daily . Anthropometric and laboratory measurements of the participants who completed the study were made prior to and at the end of the study . Results : A total of 100 subjects completed the study .  Weight , BMI , waist circumference , waist to hip circumference ratio , total cholesterol , and triglyceride , total : High density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( HDL-C ) , fasting blood sugar and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the almond group compared to the nut-free group ( P > 0.001 ) . Greater reduction in low density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( P > 0.002 ) and systolic blood pressure ( P > 0.001 ) and greater increase in HDL-C ( P = 0.001 ) were found in the nut-free group . Conclusion : The balanced hypocaloric AED in comparison to the balanced hypocaloric NFD led to a greater weight-loss and overall better improvements in studied cardiovascular disease risk factors Rationale : The evidence regarding the potential health benefits of nut consumption among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus is limited . Objective : To examine intake of total and specific types of nuts , including tree nuts and peanuts , in relation to subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) , including coronary heart disease and stroke , and all-cause and cause-specific mortality among individuals with diabetes mellitus . Methods and Results : This prospect i ve analysis included 16 217 men and women with diabetes mellitus at baseline or diagnosed during follow-up ( Nurses ’ Health Study : 1980–2014 , Health Professionals Follow-Up Study : 1986–2014 ) .  Nut consumption was assessed using a vali date d food frequency question naire and up date d every 2 to 4 years . During 223 682 and 254 923 person-years of follow-up , there were 3336 incident CVD cases and 5682 deaths , respectively . Higher total nut consumption was associated with a lower risk of CVD incidence and mortality . The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios ( 95 % CIs ) for participants who consumed 5 or more servings of total nuts per week ( 1 serving=28 g ) , compared with those who consumed < 1 serving per month , were 0.83 ( 0.71–0.98 ; P trend=0.01 ) for total CVD incidence , 0.80 ( 0.67–0.96 ; P trend=0.005 ) for coronary heart disease incidence , 0.66 ( 0.52–0.84 ; P trend < 0.001 ) for CVD mortality , and 0.69 ( 0.61–0.77 ; P trend < 0.001 ) for all-cause mortality .  Total nut consumption was not significantly associated with risk of stroke incidence or cancer mortality . For specific types of nuts , higher tree nut consumption was associated with lower risk of total CVD , coronary heart disease incidence , and mortality because of CVD , cancer , and all causes , whereas peanut consumption was associated with lower all-cause mortality only ( all P trend < 0.001 ) . In addition , compared with participants who did not change the consumption of total nuts from pre- to post-diabetes mellitus diagnosis , participants who increased consumption of total nuts after diabetes mellitus diagnosis had an 11 % lower risk of CVD , a 15 % lower coronary heart disease risk , a 25 % lower CVD mortality , and a 27 % lower all-cause mortality . The associations persisted in subgroup analyses stratified by sex/cohort , body mass index at diabetes mellitus diagnosis , smoking status , diabetes mellitus duration , nut consumption before diabetes mellitus diagnosis , or diet quality . Conclusions : Higher consumption of nuts , especially tree nuts , is associated with lower CVD incidence and mortality among participants with diabetes mellitus . These data provide novel evidence that supports the recommendation of incorporating nuts into healthy dietary patterns for the prevention of CVD complications and premature deaths among individuals with diabetes mellitus OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of acute and daily consumption of high-oleic peanuts ( HOP ) on inflammation and glucose homeostasis in overweight/obese men . METHODS In a 4-week r and omized clinical trial , males with body mass index of 29.8 ± 2.3 kg/m(2 ) and aged 18 - 50 years were assigned to the groups : control ( CT , n = 22 ) ; conventional peanuts ( CVP , n = 22 ) ; or HOP ( n = 21 ) . They followed a hypocaloric-diet with or without 56 g/day of CVP or HOP . Main outcomes were changes in fasting blood biomarkers and postpr and ial insulin , glucose , tumor necrosis factor-alfa ( TNF-α ) , and interleukin-10 ( IL-10 ) responses after acute peanut intake . RESULTS At baseline , HOP showed significantly lower postpr and ial responses of glucose , insulin , and TNF-α than CVP and CT . Changes in fasting blood biomarkers did not differ between groups after the 4-week intervention . However , within groups , total cholesterol decreased in CT , and all groups reduced High-density lipoprotein ( HDL-c ) . Triglycerides were reduced in HOP and CVP . IL-10 increased significantly in all groups while only the CT and CVP showed increased TNF-α after intervention . CONCLUSION Acute high-oleic peanut consumption leads to stronger moderation of postpr and ial glucose , insulin , and TNF-α concentrations than CVP and control meal intake . Whether daily intake of high-oleic peanuts has additional benefits to CVP remains uncertain OBJECTIVE —To determine the effects of soy consumption on markers of inflammation and endothelial function in postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —This r and omized cross-over clinical trial included 42 postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome . Participants were r and omly assigned to consume a control diet ( Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension [ DASH ] ) , soy protein diet , or soy nut diet , each for 8 weeks . Red meat in the DASH diet ( one serving/day ) was replaced by soy protein in the soy protein diet and by soy nut in the soy nut diet . RESULTS —For nitric oxide levels , the difference from the control diet was 9.8 % ( P < 0.01 ) on the soy nut and −1.7 % ( P = 0.10 ) on the soy protein diets . The difference from the control diet for serum E-selectin was −11.4 % ( P < 0.01 ) on the soy nut consumption and −4.7 % ( P = 0.19 ) on the soy protein diet . Soy nut consumption reduced interleukin-18 compared with the control diet ( difference from the control diet : −9.2 % , P < 0.01 ) , but soy protein did not ( difference from the control diet : −4.6 % , P = 0.14 ) . For C-reactive protein , the difference from the control diet was −8.9 % ( P < 0.01 ) on the soy nut diet and −1.6 % ( P < 0.01 ) on the soy protein diet . CONCLUSIONS —Short-term soy nut consumption reduced some markers of inflammation and increased plasma nitric oxide levels in postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a single dose of Brazil nuts on the inflammatory markers  of healthy individuals . METHOD A r and omized crossover study was conducted with 10 healthy individuals ( mean age 24.7 ± 3.4 y ) . Each individual was tested four times regarding intake of different portions of Brazil nuts : 0 , 5 , 20 and 50 g. At each testing period , peripheral blood was collected before and at 1 , 3 , 6 , 9 , 24 , and 48 h after intake of nuts , as well as at 5 and 30 d after intake of various Brazil nut portions . Blood sample s were tested for high-sensitivity to C-reactive protein , interleukin (IL)-1 , IL-6 , IL-10 , tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α , and interferon (IFN)-γ , aspartate and alanine aminotransferases , albumin , total protein , alkaline phosphatase , gamma-glutamyltransferase , urea , and creatinine . RESULTS Consumption of nuts did not affect biochemical parameters for liver and kidney function , indicating absence of hepatic and renal toxicity . A single intake of Brazil nuts ( 20 or 50 g ) caused a significant decrease in serum IL-1 , IL-6 , TNF-α , and IFN-γ levels ( P < 0.05 ) , whereas serum levels of IL-10 were significantly increased ( P < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION The results indicate a long-term decrease in inflammatory markers after a single intake of large portions of Brazil nuts in healthy volunteers . Therefore , the long-term effect of regular Brazil nut consumption on inflammatory markers should be better investigated
There was no effect on waist circumference , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or blood pressure with the direction of effect favouring tree nuts for waist circumference .
Pooled analyses show a MetS benefit of tree nuts through modest decreases in triglycerides and fasting blood glucose with no adverse effects on other criteria across nut types .
OBJECTIVE To provide a broader evidence summary to inform dietary guidelines of the effect of tree nuts on criteria of the metabolic syndrome ( MetS ) .