Abstract
The network meta-analysis and systematic review conducted aim to comparatively assess the effects of tree nuts and peanuts on body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (BF%). A systematic search up to 31 December 2020 was performed. A random-effects network meta-analysis was conducted following the PRISMA-NMA statement. A total of 105 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with measures of BW (n = 6768 participants), BMI (n = 2918), WC (n = 5045), and BF% (n = 1226) were included. The transitivity assumption was met based on baseline characteristics. In the comparisons of nut consumption versus a control diet, there was no significant increase observed in any of the adiposity-related measures examined except for hazelnut-enriched diets, which raised WC. Moreover, almond-enriched diets significantly reduced WC compared to the control diet and to the pistachio-, mixed nuts-, and hazelnut-enriched diets. In subgroup analyses with only RCTs, designed to assess whether nut consumption affected weight loss, almonds were associated with reduced BMI and walnuts with reduced %BF. The evidence supports that: (1) tree nut and peanut consumption do not influence adiposity, and (2) compared to a control diet, the consumption of almond-enriched diets was associated with a reduced waist circumference.
Highlights
The increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity that has been observed since the 1980s has made excess weight a major public health concern [1]
Greater weight loss has been reported among overweight and obese individuals who consumed nut-enriched diets compared to their counterparts who consumed an isocaloric control diet [16]
Studies conducted in people with overweight and obesity showed a significant percentage of change in both nut and control groups for body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI); such differences were only significant with longer follow-up periods (>12 weeks)
Summary
The increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity that has been observed since the 1980s has made excess weight a major public health concern [1]. The potential role of nuts in the prevention and treatment of obesity is not yet clear, some possible mechanisms have been suggested to explain these benefits, such as the incomplete absorption of the energy provided by nuts, increased satiety, and the control of hunger due to a large amount of fiber and a prebiotic effect on the gut microbiota [17,18,19] Because of their high energy and fat content, whether nuts are obesogenic foods is a common concern for which the answer remains elusive [20,21]
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