Chapter 31 - Nut Consumption and Noncommunicable Diseases: Evidence From Epidemiological Studies

Abstract

Nut consumption has been hypothesized to be responsible for health benefits toward chronic noncommunicable diseases. There is evidence that nut consumption is associated with decreased risk of several cardiovascular risk factors and better metabolic health. In fact, despite their high content in energy, nut consumption has been associated with lower risk of weight gain and obesity over time. Nuts may improve glycemic control and blood lipids levels (including low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol), while the association with blood pressure is unclear. However, there is a consistent association between nut consumption and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease up to 30%. Evidence on cancer risk is more scattered, as findings rely on relatively small amount of studies showing significant results on colorectal, endometrial, and pancreatic cancers. Regarding cognitive and affective disorders, diets high in nut content have been inversely associated with cognitive decline, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, and depression. However, further studies are needed to corroborate such findings.