Metabolisable energy from nuts and patterns of nut consumption in the Australian population: a secondary analysis of the 2011-12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey.

BACKGROUND: Nut intake is not associated with increased body weight, which may be explained by their metabolisable energy, among other factors. Therefore, total energy intake may be overestimated among nut consumers. This study aimed to describe the metabolisable energy from nuts and nut consumption patterns in the Australian population. METHODS: A nut-specific database was expanded to include metabolisable energy of nuts (based on nut type and form) and applied to the 2011-12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS). Participants were Australians aged 2 years and older from the 2011-12 NNPAS (n = 12,153, with n = 4,765 nut consumers). Mean metabolisable energy intake was compared with mean energy intake using Atwater factors in nut consumers. Additionally, nut consumption patterns were explored, including the proportion of nuts consumed at meals and snacks. RESULTS: Among nut consumers, mean metabolisable energy from nuts based only on nut type was 241.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 232.0, 250.5) kJ/day and mean metabolisable energy considering both nut type and form was 260.7 (95% CI: 250.2, 271.2) kJ/day. Energy intake from nuts using Atwater factors was 317.6 (95% CI: 304.8, 330.3) kJ/day. Nuts were more likely to be consumed at snack occasions, with approximately 63% of nut intake occurring as a snack. CONCLUSION: Application of metabolisable energy to the 2011-12 NNPAS has a significant impact on calculation of energy intake from nuts. Nut consumption patterns identified a majority of nut consumption occurring as snacks. These findings may inform strategies to support nut consumption in Australia.

Nut consumption and academic performance among adolescents: the EHDLA study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between nut consumption and academic performance in Spanish adolescents and to explore the role of sociodemographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle covariates on this association. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a food frequency questionnaire for estimating nut consumption in the number of 20-30 g servings per week, and academic performance data were obtained from school records. Analyses of covariance were adjusted for sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle covariates, including total energy intake. RESULTS: Among the 846 adolescents included in the analyses (55.3% girls, age range from 12 to 17 years), the mean ± standard deviation consumption of nuts was 2.7 ± 2.8 servings per week, while the mean of all school grades recorded was 6.5 ± 2.0. Furthermore, compared to no consumption, the consumption of ≥ 3 nut servings per week was consistently associated with higher grades in language (p for trend = 0.005), combination of language and math (p for trend = 0.026), grade point average (p for trend = 0.039), and combination of all school records (p for trend = 0.046). These associations were observed regardless of all covariates considered, although sex and socioeconomic level played a significant role in the completely adjusted models. CONCLUSION: Nut consumption is associated with higher academic performance in a representative sample of Spanish adolescents. These cross-sectional results should be confirmed in longitudinal and intervention studies.

Association between nut consumption and frailty in the elderly: a large sample cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Limited literature has addressed the impact of nut consumption in mitigating frailty. This study aimed to investigate the association between nut consumption and frailty among Americans aged above 60 years, employing two 24-h dietary recalls for analysis. METHODS: The data sets of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2003-2018) and the Food Patterns Equivalents Database were utilised for a weighted multiple logistic regression model to evaluate the association between nut consumption and frailty in elderly adults. Furthermore, a restricted cubic spline model was employed to investigate the nonlinear relationship between nut intake and frailty. Besides, stratified and interaction analyses were conducted to explore the sensitivity of nut consumption in reducing the risk of frailty in diverse subgroups. RESULTS: The research study comprised 10,033 individuals aged 60 years or above, of whom 3591 were classified as frailty and 5302 consumed nuts. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis that adjusted for covariates, the weighted multivariate adjusted odds ratios demonstrated that the prevalence of frailty was lower in the nut intake group than in nonconsumers. The stratified analysis indicated that nearly all subgroups who consumed nuts had a significantly lower risk of frailty compared to nonconsumers, and an interaction was observed between nut intake and nonhypertensive populations. The optimal threshold for nut intake to decrease the risk of frailty was identified as 1.02 ounces. CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that nut consumption has a constructive impact on averting frailty in elderly adults, particularly in nonhypertensive individuals. Nut intake of ~1.02 ounces per day is advantageous in improving the quality of life in elderly adults.

Nut consumption in association with overall mortality and recurrence/disease-specific mortality among long-term breast cancer survivors.

High nut consumption is associated with reduced total and certain cause-specific mortality in general populations. However, its association with cancer outcomes among long-term breast cancer survivors remains unknown. We examined the associations of nut consumption (including peanuts and tree nuts), assessed at 5-year postdiagnosis, with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) among 3449 long-term breast cancer survivors from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, applying Cox regression analysis. During a median follow-up of 8.27 years post dietary assessment, there were 374 deaths, including 252 breast cancer deaths. Among 3274 survivors without previous recurrence at the dietary assessment, 209 developed breast cancer-specific events, that is, recurrence, metastasis or breast cancer mortality. At 5-year post dietary assessment (ie, 10-year postdiagnosis), regular nut consumers had higher OS (93.7% vs 89.0%) and DFS (94.1% vs 86.2%) rates. After multivariable adjustment, nut consumption was positively associated with OS (Ptrend  = .022) and DFS (Ptrend  = .003) following a dose-response pattern, with hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of 0.72 (0.52-1.05) for OS and 0.48 (0.31-0.73) for DFS, for participants with greater than median nut intake compared with nonconsumers. The associations did not vary by nut type. Stratified analyses showed that the associations were more evident among participants with a higher total energy intake for OS (Pinteraction  = .02) and among participants with early stage (I-II) breast cancers for DFS (Pinteraction  = .04). The nut-DFS associations were not modified by estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor status or other known prognostic factors. In conclusion, nut consumption was associated with better survival, particularly DFS, among long-term breast cancer survivors.

Cumulative average nut consumption in relation to lower incidence of hypertension: a prospective cohort study of 10,347 adults.

PURPOSE: Maintaining optimal blood pressure (BP) levels can be an effective preventive strategy for reducing disease burden. Nut consumption may play a preventive role against hypertension, which is a lifelong condition. We aimed to prospectively examine the association between cumulative average nut consumption and the incidence of hypertension in Korean adults aged 40 years and older. METHODS: A total of 10,347 participants who were free of hypertension at baseline, were included. Hypertension was defined as having a physician diagnosis and taking antihypertensive medications or having abnormal BP (systolic ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic ≥ 90 mmHg). As an exposure, cumulative average nut consumption was calculated using repeated food-frequency questionnaires (mean: 2.1). We used a modified Poisson regression model with a robust error estimator to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for hypertension. RESULTS: We identified 2047 incident cases of hypertension during 44,614 person-years of follow-up. Among both men and women, an average nut consumption of ≥ 1 serving/week (15 g/week]) was inversely associated with hypertension incidence (IRR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.58-0.96, p for trend = 0.013 for men; IRR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.59-0.88, p for trend = 0.002 for women) and these significant associations were consistently observed across the strata of potential confounders. CONCLUSION: An average consumption of at least one serving (15 g) per week of peanuts, almonds, and/or pine nuts may be inversely associated with the risk of hypertension among Korean adults aged 40 years and older, in a dose-response manner.

Tree nut consumption and prevalence of carotid artery plaques: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study.

PURPOSE: While tree nut consumption has been shown to be cardioprotective, a few studies have examined the relationship between tree nut consumption and carotid atherosclerosis. We tested the hypothesis that tree nut consumption would be inversely related with carotid atherosclerosis in adults. METHODS: We cross-sectionally analyzed data from 4536 participants of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Family Heart Study conducted in the United States. Dietary patterns among participants were variable, tree nut consumption was self-reported using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and B-mode ultrasound of the carotid arteries was used to assess for the presence of carotid artery plaques (primary outcome) and carotid intima media thickness (cIMT). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of prevalent carotid artery plaques and linear regression was used to estimate adjusted mean cIMT across categories of nut consumption. RESULTS: The mean age was 52.3 years (SD = 13.6), 95.6% of the participants were white, and 54% were female. The median tree nut intake was 1-3 servings/month. Odds ratios (95% CI) for prevalent carotid artery plaques were 1.0 (reference), 1.03 [0.86, 1.4], 0.89 [0.70, 1.13], and 0.96 [0.73, 1.26] for tree nut consumption of almost never, 1-3 times/month, 1/week, and 2+/week, respectively, adjusting for age, sex, race, field center, BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption, creatinine, energy intake, fruit and vegetable consumption, exercise, and education. In secondary analysis, there was a suggestive inverse association of tree nut consumption with cIMT in the internal carotid artery, but not the common carotid or bifurcation. CONCLUSION: Our data showed no association between tree nut consumption and prevalence of carotid artery plaques in adults.

The Role of Nut and Seed Consumption in Colorectal Cancer: A Narrative Review.

Given the increased incidence of colorectal cancer worldwide, especially in developed and developing countries, is comes as no surprise that researchers are concentrating on methods to combat this public health issue, through investigating both lifestyle interventions and treatment options. Although treatment options are being constantly discovered and developed, researchers have also begun investigating the influence that nutrition and lifestyle have on CRC. Among the food categories, nuts and seeds boast numerous beneficial effects for cardiovascular health and metabolic balance and they contain a plethora of phytochemicals and antioxidants. The present narrative review aims to offer a broad perspective to date on the known effects of this consumption on colorectal cancer. For this purpose, articles were identified by conducting a search in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, using search phrases such as ″nut intake and colorectal cancer″ and ″seed consumption and colorectal cancer", narrowing the search pool to those articles published between 2019 and 2022. The search returned eight relevant papers, all of which were validated by a second author. While the existing research is divided between those studies which have found no significant link between nut consumption and colorectal cancer protection and those which have, there is a consensus regarding the necessity for further research on this subject, as well as the possible mechanisms which might be involved in the protective effect observed by some researchers.

Metabolic Syndrome Features and Excess Weight Were Inversely Associated with Nut Consumption after 1-Year Follow-Up in the PREDIMED-Plus Study.

BACKGROUND: High nut consumption has been previously associated with decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) regardless of race and dietary patterns. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess whether changes in nut consumption over a 1-y follow-up are associated with changes in features of MetS in a middle-aged and older Spanish population at high cardiovascular disease risk. METHODS: This prospective 1-y follow-up cohort study, conducted in the framework of the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED)-Plus randomized trial, included 5800 men and women (55-75 y old) with overweight/obesity [BMI (in kg/m2) ≥27 and <40] and MetS. Nut consumption (almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and other nuts) was assessed using data from a validated FFQ. The primary outcome was the change from baseline to 1 y in features of MetS [waist circumference (WC), glycemia, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure] and excess weight (body weight and BMI) according to tertiles of change in nut consumption. Secondary outcomes included changes in dietary and lifestyle characteristics. A generalized linear model was used to compare 1-y changes in features of MetS, weight, dietary intakes, and lifestyle characteristics across tertiles of change in nut consumption. RESULTS: As nut consumption increased, between each tertile there was a significant decrease in WC, TG, systolic blood pressure, weight, and BMI (P < 0.05), and a significant increase in HDL cholesterol (only in women, P = 0.044). The interaction effect between time and group was significant for total energy intake (P < 0.001), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) (P < 0.001), and nut consumption (P < 0.001). Across tertiles of increasing nut consumption there was a significant increase in extra virgin olive oil intake and adherence to the MedDiet; change in energy intake, on the other hand, was inversely related to consumption of nuts. CONCLUSIONS: Features of MetS and excess weight were inversely associated with nut consumption after a 1-y follow-up in the PREDIMED-Plus study cohort. This trial was registered at isrctn.com as ISRCTN89898870.

Nut consumption in a representative survey of Australians: a secondary analysis of the 2011-2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Nut consumption is associated with a range of health benefits. The current study aimed to examine nut consumption in the 2011-2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) and to investigate associations between nut intake, nutrient intake and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the 2011-2012 NNPAS. Usual consumption of nuts in the 2011-2012 NNPAS was determined, and nut consumption was compared with population recommendations of 30 g nuts per day. The relationship between nut consumption and intakes of key nutrients, anthropometric outcomes (weight, BMI and waist circumference) and blood pressure was examined using linear regression for participants aged over 18 years. SETTING: Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Australians (2 years and older, n 12 153) participating in the representative 2011-2012 NNPAS. RESULTS: Mean nut intake was 4·61 (95 % CI: 4·36, 4·86) g/d, with only 5·6 % of nut consumers consuming 30 g of nuts per day. Nut consumption was associated with significantly greater intakes of fibre, vitamin E, Fe, Mg and P. There was no association between nut consumption and body weight, BMI, waist circumference, or blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Exploration of nut consumption in a representative sample of Australians identified that nut intake does not meet recommendations. Higher nut consumption was not adversely associated with higher body weight, aligning with the current evidence base. Given the current levels of nut consumption in Australia, strategies to increase nut intake to recommended levels are required.

Relationship Between Nut Consumption and Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Objective: Our aim was to examine the relationship between nut consumption and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: The electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched up to November 2018 for observational studies on the relationship between nut consumption and MetS. The pooled relative risk (RR) of MetS for the highest versus lowest category of nut consumption, as well as their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: A total of 11 observational studies (6 cross-sectional and 5 prospective cohort studies), which involved a total of 89,224 participants, were identified for this meta-analysis. The overall multivariable adjusted RR showed that nut consumption was negatively associated with MetS (RR = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.76-0.92; p < 0.001). Of interest, subgroup analysis confirmed that such findings existed in tree nuts (RR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94-1.00; p = 0.04), but not in peanuts (RR = 1.01; 95% CI, 0.96-1.06; p = 0.68). Conclusions: The existing evidence suggested that nut consumption was negatively associated with MetS. However, such an inverse relationship only existed in tree nuts, not in peanuts. More well-designed studies with detailed specifications of nut varieties are needed to further elaborate the issues examined in this study.

Association between walnut consumption and diabetes risk in NHANES.

BACKGROUND: Dietary interventions and cohort studies relating tree nut consumption to blood glucose levels suggest a possible effect of walnuts. OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between walnut consumption and diabetes risk using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. METHODS: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data on adults conducting 24-hour dietary recall was pooled across the years 1999 through 2014. Diabetes status or risk was based on self-report, medication use, fasting plasma glucose levels, and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c ) levels. Individuals were characterized based on reported consumption of walnuts, mixed-nuts, or no nuts. RESULTS: After adjustment for covariates, walnut consumers showed lower risk for diabetes compared with non-nut consumers based on self-report (odds ratio of 0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31-0.72) as well as fasting blood glucose (relative risk ratio 0.32, CI 0.17-0.58) and HbA1c (relative risk ratio 0.51, CI 0.27-0.99). For each standard deviation of increase in walnut intake, prevalence of diabetes dropped 47%. The gender by walnut interaction suggests that the effect may be more potent among women than men (dose response P = .061). CONCLUSIONS: Both among individuals with known diabetes and those diagnosed based on elevated diabetes blood markers, the prevalence of individuals with diabetes was significantly lower among the walnut consumers. A possible gender-specific effect invites further attention.

Current nut recommendation practices differ between health professionals in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVE: Despite evidence linking regular nut consumption with reduced chronic disease risk, population-level intakes remain low. Research suggests nut-promoting advice from doctors facilitates regular nut consumption. However, there is no information on current nut recommendation practices of health professionals. The aim of the present study was to examine the advice provided by health professionals regarding nut consumption. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, participants were invited to complete a survey including questions about their nut recommendation practices. SETTING: New Zealand (NZ). SUBJECTS: The NZ Electoral Roll was used to identify dietitians, general practitioners and practice nurses. RESULTS: In total 318 dietitians, 292 general practitioners and 149 practice nurses responded. Dietitians were more likely (82·7 %) to recommend patients increase consumption of nuts than general practitioners (55·5 %) and practice nurses (63·1 %; both P<0·001). The most popular nuts recommended were almonds, Brazil nuts and walnuts, with most health professionals recommending raw nuts. The most common recommendation for frequency of consumption by dietitians and practice nurses was to eat nuts every day, while general practitioners most frequently recommended 2-4 times weekly, although not statistically significantly different between professions. Dietitians recommended a significantly greater amount of nuts (median 30 g/d) than both general practitioners and practice nurses (20 g/d; both P<0·001). CONCLUSIONS: Dietitians were most likely to recommend consumption of nuts in accordance with current guidelines, but there are opportunities to improve the adoption of nut consumption recommendations for all professions. This may be a viable strategy for increasing population-level nut intakes to reduce chronic disease.

Barriers to and facilitators and perceptions of nut consumption among the general population in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVE: Despite considerable evidence supporting the health benefits of regular nut consumption, nut intakes remain lower than recommended among many populations. Understanding how the general population perceives nuts could inform strategies to promote regular nut consumption and increase intakes among the general public. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Participants were invited to complete a questionnaire which included information on nut consumption and knowledge and perceptions of nuts. SETTING: The study was set in New Zealand (NZ). SUBJECTS: Participants (n 1600), aged 18 years or over, were randomly selected from the NZ electoral roll. RESULTS: A total of 710 participants completed the questionnaire (response rate 44 %). More than half of the respondents believed that nuts are healthy, filling, high in protein and high in fat. The most common reason cited by consumers for eating nuts was taste (86 % for nuts, 85 % for nut butters), while dental issues was the most frequent reason for avoidance. About 40 % of respondents were not aware of the effects of nut consumption on lowering blood cholesterol and CVD risk. CONCLUSIONS: Despite overall basic knowledge of the nutritional value of nuts, a substantial proportion of the general population was unaware of the cardioprotective effects of nuts. The present study identified common motivations for eating and avoiding nuts, as well as perceptions of nuts which could affect intake. These should guide the content and direction of public health messages to increase regular nut consumption. The public's knowledge gaps should also be addressed.

Consumption of nuts and risk of total and cause-specific mortality over 15 years.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The published literature shows that nut consumption has a favorable impact on health. We aimed to assess the association between nut consumption and risk of 15-year total mortality, and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) (including ischemic heart disease, IHD, and stroke), and cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: Prospective analyses involved 2893 participants aged ≥49 years at baseline. Dietary data were collected by using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire, and nut intakes were calculated. Deaths and cause of death were confirmed by data linkage with the Australian National Death Index. Over 15 years, 1044 participants had died, of these 430 had died from stroke and another 430 had died from IHD. Participants in the second tertile of nut consumption versus those in the first tertile of intake had reduced risk of total mortality: multivariable-adjusted HR 0.76 (95% CI 0.65-0.89). Participants in the second tertile compared to those in the first tertile had 24% and 23% reduced risk of 15-year CVD and IHD mortality, respectively. Associations were more marked in women compared to men. Women in the second versus first tertile of nut consumption had 27%, 39%, 34% and 49% reduced risk of death from all causes (n = 489), CVD (n = 258), IHD (n = 188) and stroke mortality (n = 101), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Nut consumption was independently associated with a decreased risk of overall and vascular-disease mortality, particularly in women.

Longer-term mixed nut consumption improves brain vascular function and memory: A randomized, controlled crossover trial in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Nut consumption may reduce age-related cognitive decline, but underlying mechanisms are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate in older adults longer-term effects of mixed nut consumption on brain vascular function, which may underlie improvements in cognitive performance. METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy individuals (age [mean ± SD]: 65 ± 3 years; BMI: 27.9 ± 2.3 kg/m2) were included in a randomized, single-blinded, cross-over trial with a 16-week intervention (60 g/d mixed nuts: walnuts, pistachio, cashew, and hazelnuts) and control period (no nuts), separated by 8 weeks of washout. Participants followed the Dutch food-based dietary guidelines. At the end of each period, cerebral blood flow (CBF), a marker of brain vascular function, was quantified using arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging. Effects on endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and the retinal microvasculature were also assessed. Cognitive performance was measured using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. RESULTS: Body weight remained stable during the study. As compared to the control period, the mixed nut intervention resulted in a higher regional CBF in the right frontal and parietal lobes (treatment effect: 5.0 ± 6.5 mL/100 g/min; P < 0.001), left frontal lobe (5.4 ± 7.1 mL/100 g/min; P < 0.001), and bilateral prefrontal cortex (5.6 ± 6.6 mL/100 g/min; P < 0.001). Carotid artery reactivity (0.7 PP; 95%CI: 0.2 to 1.2; P = 0.007), brachial flow-mediated vasodilation (1.6 PP; 95%CI: 1.0 to 2.2; P < 0.001) and retinal arteriolar calibers were higher (2 µm; 95%CI: 0 to 3; P = 0.037), and carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity lower (-0.6 m/s; 95%CI: -1.1 to -0.1; P = 0.032). Further, visuospatial memory (-4 errors [16%]; 95%CI: -8 to 0; P = 0.045) and verbal memory (+1 correct [16%]; 0 to 2; P = 0.035) improved, but executive function and psychomotor speed did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Longer-term mixed nut consumption as part of a healthy diet beneficially affected brain vascular function, which may relate to the observed beneficial effects on memory in older adults. Moreover, different characteristics of the peripheral vascular tree also improved.

Effect of Nut Consumption on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Although previous epidemiological studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between nut consumption and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the evidence remains inconclusive and contentious. The aim of our study was to further conduct a meta-analysis of observational studies to explore the latest evidence of the influence of nut consumption on NAFLD. This meta-analysis included a comprehensive search of all articles published in the PubMed and Web of Science online databases as of April 2023. A total of 11 articles were included, comprising 2 prospective cohort studies, 3 cross-sectional studies, and 7 case-control studies, and a random effects model was used to evaluate the relationship between nuts and NAFLD. Results showed that the odds ratio (OR) of NAFLD was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81-0.99, p < 0.001) when comparing the highest and lowest total nut intake, indicating a significant negative correlation. Furthermore, subgroup analysis revealed that the protective effect of nuts on NAFLD was more significant in females (OR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.78-0.98, I2 = 76.2%). In summary, our findings provide support for a protective relationship between nut intake and risk of NAFLD. Further exploration of the association between other dietary components and NAFLD is an important avenue for future research.

Perceptions of Nut Consumption amongst Australian Nutrition and Health Professionals: An Online Survey.

Habitual nut consumption is associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases; however, consumption levels in Australia are below recommendations. This study examined perceptions and knowledge regarding nut consumption among Australian healthcare professionals and their provision of nut consumption recommendations. A cross-sectional online survey of Australian health professionals was conducted in February-April 2020. Questions in the survey included demographic details, participants' perceptions of nut consumption, and nut consumption recommendations they may make to clients and patients. A total of 204 health professionals completed the survey, of which 84% were dietitians or nutritionists. Health professionals demonstrated basic nutritional knowledge regarding nut consumption; however, non-dietitians/nutritionists lacked knowledge of long-term benefits of nut consumption. Dietitians/nutritionists were more likely to agree that nuts are healthy and do not cause weight gain when compared to non-dietitians/nutritionists (p = 0.021). A total of 63% of health professionals advised at least some of their clients to eat more nuts, and this was higher among dietitians/nutritionists (68%) than non-dietitians/nutritionists (31%). While basic nutritional knowledge regarding nut consumption was observed among all health professionals, there is scope for further education, particularly for non-dietitians/nutritionists, to ensure that nutrition information provided to patients and clients is accurate and reflects the current evidence base.

Beneficial Effects of Nut Consumption on Cognitive Function Among Elderly: Findings From a 6-Year Cohort Study.

Objective: To evaluate the longitudinal association of nut consumption with cognitive function in Chinese elderly. Methods: We analyzed the data from Zhejiang Ageing and Health Cohort Study including 9,028 participants. Nut consumption was evaluated in baseline questionnaire beginning at 2014. Cognitive function was assessed repeatedly through the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline and three waves of follow-up (2015, 2016, and 2019-2020). Cognitive impairment was defined using education-specific cut-off points. Log-binomial regression models with the generalized estimating equations, controlled for an extensive range of potential confounders, were utilized to evaluate the association and estimate relative risk (RR). Results: After 6 years of follow-up, 3,266 (36.18%) participants were indicated as cognitive impairment by MMSE at least once. Compared with non-consumers or less-than-weekly consumers, participants consuming ≥70 g/week of nuts had 17% lower risks of cognitive impairment (RR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.91), whereas no association was found in those consuming <70 g/week of nuts. Moreover, relatively infrequent higher-amount consuming (≥70 g within one consuming day each week) was not associated with better cognitive performance. Furthermore, we did not observe significant effect modification caused by frequency of other food intake. Conclusion: Higher nut consumption was prospectively related to a lower risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese elderly.

Walnut Intake Interventions Targeting Biomarkers of Metabolic Syndrome and Inflammation in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Biomarkers of metabolic syndrome and inflammation are pathophysiological predictors and factors of senescence and age-related diseases. Recent evidence showed that particular diet components, such as walnuts rich in antioxidant bioactive compounds and with a balanced lipid profile, could have positive outcomes on human health. A systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases was performed to retrieve randomized controlled trials published from the beginning of each database through November 2021, reporting on the outcomes of walnut consumption over 22 metabolic syndrome and inflammatory markers in middle-aged and older adults. The search strategy rendered 17 studies in the final selection, including 11 crossover and 6 parallel trials. The study revealed that walnut-enriched diets had statistically significant decreasing effects for triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol concentrations on some inflammatory markers and presented no consequences on anthropometric and glycemic parameters. Although further studies and better-designed ones are needed to strengthen these findings, the results emphasize the benefits of including walnuts in the dietary plans of this age group.

Nut Consumption Is Associated with Lower Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Type 1 Diabetes.

Although nut consumption has been associated with several health benefits, it has not been investigated in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, our aim was to assess nut consumption and its association with metabolic syndrome in adult individuals with type 1 diabetes taking part in the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study. The nut intake of the 1058 participants was assessed from 3-day food records that were completed twice, and the number of weekly servings, assuming a serving size of 28.4 g, was calculated. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of ≥3 of the cardiovascular risk factors: central obesity, high blood pressure (≥130/85 mmHg or use of antihypertensive medication), high triglyceride concentration (≥1.70 mmol/L or use of lipid-lowering medication), low HDL-cholesterol concentration (<1.00 mmol/L in men and <1.30 mmol/L in women or use of lipid-lowering medication), and hyperglycaemia. Overweight/obesity was defined as a BMI ≥25 kg/m2. HbA1c > 59 mmol/mol (>7.5%) was used as a criterion for suboptimal glycaemic control. Of the 1058 (mean age 46 years, 41.6% men) participants, 689 (54.1%) reported no nut intake. In the remaining sample, the median weekly nut intake was 40.8 g. In the adjusted models, higher nut intake, as the continuous number of weekly servings and the comparison of those with <2 and ≥2 weekly servings, was associated with lower metabolic syndrome score, waist circumference, HbA1c, and BMI. Nut consumption as a continuous variable was negatively associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome, its blood pressure, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol components, and suboptimal glycaemic control. Consumption of ≥2 weekly servings was associated with lower odds of suboptimal glycaemic control (by 51.5%), overweight/obesity (by 33.4%), and metabolic syndrome (by 51.8%) and meeting the waist (by 37.3%), blood pressure (by 44.5%), triglyceride (by 37.7%), and HDL-cholesterol (by 36.2%) components of the metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, a weekly nut intake of ≥2 servings was beneficially associated with all the components of the metabolic syndrome in type 1 diabetes. The causality of this association will need to be investigated.