Isocaloric Snacks Research Articles

Effects of almond consumption compared with the consumption of traditional isocaloric cereal/pulse-based snacks on glycaemic control and gut health in adults with pre-diabetes in rural India: protocol for a 16-week, parallel-arm, cluster randomised controlled trial

IntroductionAlmonds have prebiotic potential to maintain gut health and regulate glycaemia. Western studies have shown their positive effects on preventing non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, there is...

Can snacking on almonds displace discretionary foods in the diets of habitual snackers?

Snacking frequency has increased in recent years, with many snack options being nutrient-poor and likely contributing to excessive energy intakes (1,2). At the same time, nut intakes have remained low(3). While almonds, like many other snacks, are high in fat and energy, they are rich in beneficial unsaturated fats, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Snacking on almonds may offer substantial health advantages, including improving energy balance and overall diet quality, compared to typical modern snack foods. The healthier diets observed among nut consumers may be partially explained by addition of nuts to the diet leading to displacement of other, less desirable foods. We aimed to compare the effects of consuming a snack of almonds vs sweet biscuits or savoury crackers daily for one year on displacement of discretionary foods and food group patterns. We used a randomised controlled parallel study design involving 136 non-obese habitual discretionary snack consumers aged 18–65. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a snack of either almonds, or biscuits, daily for one year. These isocaloric snacks provided either 10% of participants’ total energy requirements or 1030 kJ (equivalent to 42.5 g almonds), whichever was higher. Dietary intake was measured using three-day weighed diet records record at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Of the participants, 101 (74%) were female, with a mean (SD) age of 35.6 (13.4) years and BMI of 23.7 (3.0) kg/m2. Those assigned to the almond group increased their percentage total energy (%TE) from nuts and seeds from 1.4% (baseline) to 13.8% (12 months), while those assigned to the biscuit group increased %TE from biscuits and crackers from 5.1% to 12.4%. There was a non-statistically significant (p = 0.053) decrease in %TE from discretionary foods to 12-months for almond group compared to the biscuit group. %TE from discretionary foods decreased significantly in the almond group from baseline to 12-months (mean (95% CI) difference: −4.9% (−8.3, −1.5) p = 0.005), with no evidence of a change observed in the biscuit group (−0.0% (−3.6, 3.6) p = 0.994). Regular consumption of nuts as a snack food may improve diet quality by displacing discretionary food intake among regular discretionary snack consumers. However, the observed displacement was incomplete relative to the energy provided by the study snack. Snacking is driven by factors beyond simply satisfying hunger, including flavour, texture, and overall eating experience. We hypothesise that – among this group of discretionary snack consumers – partial displacement, and hence the continued consumption of other snack foods, was likely due to the sensory properties of consuming almonds alone being insufficient to fulfil hedonic satiation. Strategies to improve sensory appeal of almonds to discretionary snack consumers may assuage subsequent snack-seeking behaviour and provide important advantages in terms of both energy balance and diet quality.

Timing and Nutrient Type of Isocaloric Snacks Impacted Postprandial Glycemic and Insulinemic Responses of the Subsequent Meal in Healthy Subjects.

The aim of the study was to explore the impact of both the macronutrient composition and snacking timing on the postprandial glycemic insulinemic responses and food intake. Seventeen healthy female volunteers completed the randomized crossover trials. The volunteers were provided a standard breakfast and lunch at 8:00 and 13:00, respectively, and an ad libitum dinner at 18:00. Provided at either 10:30 (midmorning) or 12:30 (preload), the glycemic effects of the three types of 70 kcal snacks, including chicken breast (mid-C and pre-C), apple (mid-A and pre-A), and macadamia nut (mid-M and pre-M), were compared with the non-snack control (CON), evaluated by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The mid-M showed increased insulin resistance after lunch compared with CON, while the pre-M did not. The pre-A stabilized the glycemic response in terms of all variability parameters after lunch, while the mid-A had no significant effect on postprandial glucose control. Both the mid-C and pre-C improved the total area under the glucose curve, all glycemic variability parameters, and the insulin resistance within 2 h after lunch compared with CON. The pre-C attained the lowest energy intake at dinner, while the mid-A and the mid-M resulted in the highest. In conclusion, the chicken breast snack effectively stabilized postprandial glycemic excursion and reduced insulin resistance while the macadamia snack did not, regardless of ingestion time. Only as a preload could the apple snack mitigate the glucose response after the subsequent meal.

FRI391 A Metabolomics Analysis Of Moderate Energy Restriction In Healthy Lean Women

Abstract Disclosure: L. Levine: None. K. Overdahl: None. S. Molsberry: None. S. Shekhar: None. A. Jarmusch: None. J.E. Hall: None. Introduction: Metabolomics can elucidate metabolic responses to dietary interventions and has been used in energy restriction studies, primarily in overweight/obese men and women. Although the menstrual cycle affects the metabolome, most dietary intervention studies have not controlled for menstrual cycle phase, nor have they examined the effect of moderate, short-term energy restriction on the metabolic profile of healthy, normal-weight women. Objective: To characterize metabolomic changes in response to a 55% reduction in dietary intake during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Methods: Study participants included 19 healthy women aged 18-28 years who were of normal BMI and fitness, not restricting nutritional intake and with biochemically confirmed regular ovulatory menstrual cycles. Participants underwent 5-day dietary interventions in the early follicular phase of two menstrual cycles. The first diet consisted of neutral energy availability (NEA; 45 kcal/kg*lean body mass/day) and the second of deficient energy availability (DEA; 20 kcal/kg*lean body mass/day) without changes in macronutrient composition. On the 5th day of each diet, serum was collected at ∼8am following an overnight fast, and immediately before and every 10 minutes for 60 minutes after the consumption of a standardized isocaloric snack at ∼4pm. Untargeted metabolomic profiling was performed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Univariate statistics were performed on all metabolites, using t-tests with Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate adjusted p-values to account for multiple testing (p-value ≤ 0.05). Log2-fold change was calculated for all chemical features. Results: At baseline, participants had a weight of 61.9±2.75 kg (mean±SEM), BMI of 23.96±0.69 kg/m2 (mean±SEM), and percent body fat of 28.01±1.61% (mean±SEM). DEA resulted in a 1.25±0.13 kg (mean±SEM) decrease in body weight (p<0.01). While few statistically significant differences were present between fasted NEA and DEA samples, numerous chemical features were significantly upregulated in DEA post-snack samples. Specifically, 11 carnitines, 7 phosphocholines, and 8 fatty acids or fatty acid intermediates exhibited a log2fold change of 0.5 or higher (>40% increase; p ≤ 0.05) in post-snack DEA samples compared to NEA samples. Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that following isocaloric intake, moderate energy restriction in normal-weight, healthy women is associated not only with the use of fat as an energy source, but also with cellular membrane breakdown. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023

Comparing the Effects of Consuming Almonds or Biscuits on Body Weight in Habitual Snackers: A 1-Year Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Almonds are nutrient rich, providing a healthier alternative to many snacks. Studies report health benefits with regular almond consumption without adverse weight gain. However, most interventions have been relatively short or have included additional dietary advice. ObjectivesTaking a pragmatic approach, we compared consumption of almonds compared with biscuits on body weight and other health outcomes in a population of regular snackers of discretionary foods, hypothesizing the almonds will displace some of the less-healthful snacks in their current diets. MethodsWe randomly assigned 136 nonobese habitual discretionary snackers to receive almonds or biscuits daily for 1 y. These isocaloric snacks provided either 10% of participants’ total energy (TE) requirements or 1030 kJ (equivalent to 42.5 g almonds), whichever was greater. Anthropometry, blood biomarkers, diet, appetite, sleep, and physical activity were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 mo, and body composition and RMR at baseline and 12 mo. ResultsThe difference in changes for body weight from baseline to 12 mo was not statistically significant (geometric means: 67.1 and 69.5 kg for almonds and 66.3 and 66.3 kg for biscuits, P = 0.275). There were no statistically significant differences in changes for body composition or other nondietary outcomes (all P ≥ 0.112). Absolute intakes of protein; total, polyunsaturated, and monosaturated fat; fiber; vitamin E; calcium; copper; magnesium; phosphorous; and zinc, and % TE from total monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fat statistically significantly increased from baseline (all P ≤ 0.033), whereas % TE from carbohydrate and sugar statistically significantly (both P ≤ 0.014) decreased from baseline, in the almond compared with the biscuit group. ConclusionsAlmonds can be incorporated into the diets of habitual snackers to improve diet quality, without evidence for changes in body weight, compared with a popular discretionary snack food. This trial was registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375610&isReview=true), registration number ACTRN12618001758291.

Consuming Almonds or Biscuits for 1-Year: Effects on Body Weight, Satiety, and Diet Quality

ObjectivesGiven almonds are rich in unsaturated fat, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, they may provide health benefits over other common snack foods. Many studies report health benefits with regular almond consumption, with no evidence for adverse effects on body weight. However, most interventions have been relatively short and longer studies are needed to support recommendations. Our 12-month trial compared the effects of consuming almonds versus biscuits on body weight and composition, satiety, and diet quality. MethodsWe randomly assigned 136 community-living adults (74% female, mean age 36 years, BMI < 30 kg/m2) who reported that they regularly snacked on discretionary foods to receive almonds or biscuits daily for one year. These isocaloric snacks provided either 10% of participants’ total energy requirements or 1030 kJ (equivalent to 42.5 g almonds), whichever provided greater energy. Body composition, assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and anthropometry were measured at baseline and 12 months. Diet quality was measured by 3-day weighed diet records at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months, along with subjective appetite ratings before and after consuming their study snack using visual analogue scales. ResultsIn intention to treat analyses, there was no evidence that body weight changed differently from baseline to 12 months (geometric means 67.1 kg and 69.5 kg in the almond group and 66.3 kg and 66.3 kg in the biscuit group, p = 0.275). There was also no evidence of differences for changes in waist circumference, lean body mass, % body fat, or visceral fat between the groups (all p ≥ 0.180). Subjective appetite ratings did not differ between groups (all p ≥ 0.112). Absolute intakes of protein, fibre, vitamin E, calcium, copper, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, and the % energy from total fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat significantly increased in the almond compared to the biscuit group (all p ≤ 0.033). Conversely, the percentage of energy from carbohydrate (p = 0.004) and sugar (p = 0.014) significantly decreased for the almond compared to the biscuit group. ConclusionsProviding almonds as snacks amongst regular consumers of discretionary snack foods for 12 months did not adversely affect body weight and composition, but improved diet quality compared to providing biscuits. Funding SourcesAlmond Board of California.

Simulated Night-Shift Schedule Disrupts the Plasma Lipidome and Reveals Early Markers of Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

IntroductionThe circadian system coordinates daily rhythms in lipid metabolism, storage and utilization. Disruptions of internal circadian rhythms due to altered sleep/wake schedules, such as in night-shift work, have been implicated in increased risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders. To determine the impact of a night-shift schedule on the human blood plasma lipidome, an in-laboratory simulated shift work study was conducted.MethodsFourteen healthy young adults were assigned to 3 days of either a simulated day or night-shift schedule, followed by a 24-h constant routine protocol with fixed environmental conditions, hourly isocaloric snacks, and constant wakefulness to investigate endogenous circadian rhythms. Blood plasma samples collected at 3-h intervals were subjected to untargeted lipidomics analysis.ResultsMore than 400 lipids were identified and quantified across 21 subclasses. Focusing on lipids with low between-subject variation per shift condition, alterations in the circulating plasma lipidome revealed generally increased mean triglyceride levels and decreased mean phospholipid levels after night-shift relative to day-shift. The circadian rhythms of triglycerides containing odd chain fatty acids peaked earlier during constant routine after night-shift. Regardless of shift condition, triglycerides tended to either peak or be depleted at 16:30 h, with chain-specific differences associated with the direction of change.DiscussionThe simulated night-shift schedule was associated with altered temporal patterns in the lipidome. This may be premorbid to the elevated cardiovascular risk that has been found epidemiologically in night-shift workers.

Snack Package Size and Variety Differentially Influence Energy Intake and Food Choices in Healthy Adults

BackgroundWhile energy and nutritional content of snacks can contribute to overconsumption, other factors within the modern food environment may also influence the amount and types of snacks consumed. ObjectivesThe aim was to examine whether snack package size and variety influence free-living snacking behavior in healthy adults. The impact of intuitive eating score on snacking behavior was also examined. MethodsThirty adults [age: 23.6 ± 0.8 y; BMI (kg/m2): 22.8 ± 0.5] participated in a randomized crossover-design study. Participants were provided, in randomized order, with the following isocaloric snack exposures to consume for 3 d/exposure—1) CONTROL: highly appealing/appetizing snacks (e.g., dessert snacks, candy, savory snacks, fruits and vegetables, protein snacks); 2) LARGE-PACKAGE: similar snacks as CONTROL but in larger package sizes; and 3) VARIETY: larger variety of snacks. The primary outcomes included the 3-d average ad libitum snack energy, macronutrient content, and food choices for each snack exposure. The secondary outcome was the intuitive eating score and snacking behavior. ResultsLARGE-PACKAGE increased snack intake by 11.9% (1150 ± 81 kcal) compared with CONTROL (1030 ± 71 kcal, P = 0.04), whereas VARIETY snack intake (1030 ± 69 kcal) was no different from CONTROL (P = 1.0). LARGE-PACKAGE increased consumption of desserts compared with CONTROL (P = 0.03) and VARIETY (P = 0.02). Alternately, VARIETY increased consumption of fruits and vegetables compared with LARGE-PACKAGE (P = 0.01) and CONTROL (P = 0.01). Intuitive eating score was not significantly associated with snack intake or snack choice (all, P > 0.05). ConclusionsSnack package size and variety differentially influence energy intake and food choices in healthy adults. This trial was registered atclinicaltrials.gov (NCT03940105).

Snacking on Almonds Lowers Glycaemia and Energy Intake Compared to a Popular High-Carbohydrate Snack Food: An Acute Randomised Crossover Study.

Consuming nuts may have advantages over other snack foods for health and body-weight regulation. Suggested mechanisms include increased satiety and lower glycaemia. We used an acute randomised crossover trial to assess glycaemic and appetite responses to consuming two isocaloric snacks (providing 10% of participants’ total energy requirements or 1030 kJ (equivalent to 42.5 g almonds), whichever provided greater energy): raw almonds and sweet biscuits among 100 participants with available data (25 males and 75 females) following 106 being randomised. Two hours after consuming a standardised breakfast, participants consumed the snack food. Finger-prick blood samples measuring blood glucose and subjective appetite ratings using visual analogue scales were taken at baseline and at 15 or 30 min intervals after consumption. Two hours after snack consumption, an ad libitum lunch was offered to participants and consumption was recorded. Participants also recorded food intake for the remainder of the day. The mean area under the blood glucose response curve was statistically and practically significantly lower for almonds than biscuits (mean (95% CI) difference: 53 mmol/L.min (45, 61), p < 0.001). Only the composite appetite score at 90 min was higher in the almond treatment compared to the biscuit treatment (45.7 mm vs. 42.4 mm, p = 0.035 without adjustment for multiple comparisons). There was no evidence of differences between the snacks for all other appetite ratings or for energy intake at the ad libitum lunch. However, mean energy intakes following snack consumption were significantly lower, both statistically and in practical terms, for the almond treatment compared to the biscuit (mean (95% CI) diff: 638 kJ (44, 1233), p = 0.035). Replacing popular snacks with almonds may have advantages in terms of glycaemia and energy balance.

The endogenous circadian system worsens asthma at night independent of sleep and other daily behavioral or environmental cycles

Asthma often worsens at night. To determine if the endogenous circadian system contributes to the nocturnal worsening of asthma, independent of sleep and other behavioral and environmental day/night cycles, we studied patients with asthma (without steroid use) over 3 wk in an ambulatory setting (with combined circadian, environmental, and behavioral effects) and across the circadian cycle in two complementary laboratory protocols performed in dim light, which separated circadian from environmental and behavioral effects: 1) a 38-h "constant routine," with continuous wakefulness, constant posture, 2-hourly isocaloric snacks, and 2) a 196-h "forced desynchrony" incorporating seven identical recurring 28-h sleep/wake cycles with all behaviors evenly scheduled across the circadian cycle. Indices of pulmonary function varied across the day in the ambulatory setting, and both laboratory protocols revealed significant circadian rhythms, with lowest function during the biological night, around 4:00 AM, uncovering a nocturnal exacerbation of asthma usually unnoticed or hidden by the presence of sleep. We also discovered a circadian rhythm in symptom-based rescue bronchodilator use (β2-adrenergic agonist inhaler) whereby inhaler use was four times more likely during the circadian night than day. There were additive influences on asthma from the circadian system plus sleep and other behavioral or environmental effects. Individuals with the lowest average pulmonary function tended to have the largest daily circadian variations and the largest behavioral cycle effects on asthma. When sleep was modeled to occur at night, the summed circadian, behavioral/environmental cycle effects almost perfectly matched the ambulatory data. Thus, the circadian system contributes to the common nocturnal worsening of asthma, implying that internal biological time should be considered for optimal therapy.

Abstract P199: Circadian Contributions To Blood Pressure Variation Under Constant Conditions

The circadian clock is an endogenous biological timekeeper that responds to environmental changes and governs various physiological processes over a 24-hour cycle. Blood pressure (BP) variation is thought to be controlled by the circadian clock, but few studies have examined circadian control of BP in humans. Moreover, it is unknown whether nighttime BP dipping is driven by the circadian system or by external factors. We investigated whether the circadian system drives 24-hour rhythms in BP, including nighttime BP dipping, using a 30-hour constant routine (CR) protocol. The CR protocol controls for external factors, allowing circadian rhythms to be isolated and measured, by having participants lie in a semi-recumbent posture in dim light (&lt;10 lux) at a constant temperature, consume isocaloric snacks every 2 hours, and maintain wakefulness. To measure the BP rhythm, ambulatory BP was measured every 30 minutes (SpaceLabs 90227), and to measure the central circadian rhythm, core body temperature was measured every 10 seconds using an ingestible, wireless sensor (HQInc Core Body Temperature Wireless Data Record and Sensor). To date, 17 normotensive African American participants (13 females and 4 males), with a mean age of 37 (± 11.3) years and body mass index (BMI) of 32.5 kg/m 2 , have completed the study. Approximately 59% of participants (10 of 17) had non-dipping systolic BP at screening, defined as a &lt;10% decrease in mean systolic BP from daytime to nighttime. Under constant conditions, 94% of participants (16 of 17) had a non-dipping BP phenotype. Median systolic BP dipping was 0.8% for females and 2.2% for males. There was a robust rhythm in participants’ core body temperature but not BP, suggesting that the circadian clock may not contribute substantially to a nighttime decrease in BP in normotensive African Americans. Instead, the non-dipping BP phenotype is likely more so a result of behavioral and/or physiological sleep-related processes. Future research and interventions for non-dipping BP may need to target these underlying behavioral and physiological processes.

Effects of Fresh Mango Consumption on Blood Glucose, Insulin, and Other Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese Adults

Abstract Objectives Mangos contain many beneficial dietary compounds including vitamins, minerals, fiber, and are a unique source of certain polyphenols such as mangiferin. Accumulating evidence from in vitro and animal studies have demonstrated that mangos may have antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties. However, the effects of fresh mango consumption in humans are less clear. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of fresh mango consumption compared to an isocaloric snack (low-fat cookies) on body weight, body fat, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, lipid profiles, liver function enzymes, inflammation, and antioxidant activity in overweight and obese adults. Methods In a randomized crossover design, 27 overweight and obese adults (11 females, 16 males, age 26 ± 8.1 years) consumed 100 Kcal of fresh mangos (166g) or isocaloric low-fat cookies (24g) daily for 12 weeks. Following an overnight fast, a venous blood draw was taken at baseline, week 4, and week 12. Blood samples were analyzed for glucose, insulin, lipid profiles, liver function enzymes, C-reactive protein (CRP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). At each visit, body weight, body fat percentage, and blood pressure were measured. Results Twelve weeks of daily mango consumption significantly decreased blood glucose, CRP, and aspartate transaminase (AST) activity while TAC significantly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05). There were no significant changes in body weight, body fat percentage, blood pressure, insulin, lipid profile, or other liver function enzymes following mango consumption. Cookie consumption significantly increased insulin, CRP, and triglycerides (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusions Mango consumption improved certain chronic disease risk factors including reductions in fasting glucose and inflammation while lipid profiles and anthropometric measurements were not affected. These results suggest that relative to the control snack, daily mango consumption may improve certain risk factors associated with overweight and obesity and should be considered for future research as they contain unique bioactive compounds. Funding Sources This study was funded by the National Mango Board.

133 The Effects of Chronic Sleep Restriction on Human Oculomotor Behavior

Abstract Introduction Oculomotor behavioral metrics change according to time awake and circadian phase following a distinct pattern of impairment. Acute sleep deprivation (ASD) causes large decreases in pursuit initiation and steady-state gain, and a compensatory increase in saccadic rate without any systematic change in saccadic size. It also causes large deficits in visual processing of direction and speed, and impaired saccade dynamics. Such deterioration likely reflects changes in both higher cortical and brainstem function, explaining in-part how sleep loss and circadian misalignment affect cognition. It is unclear how oculomotor behavior might change according to chronic sleep restriction (CSR). Here, we measured the same eye-movement metrics during CSR. Methods Twelve healthy participants (6 females) kept a fixed wake-time sleep-wake schedule, at home for four weeks (weeks 1 and 3 = 9h time in bed (TIB); weeks 2 and 4 randomized to 5h or 9h TIB; actigraphy confirmed). Following weeks two and four, participants completed a 13-hour laboratory visit under dim light (&amp;lt;15 lux), where they maintained a semi-recumbent posture and were provided with hourly isocaloric snacks. A visual tracking task was performed hourly to assess pursuit and saccadic responses and visual motion processing. Performance metrics were computed using MATLAB, including pursuit gain (eye speed/target speed), the rate and amplitude of catch-up saccades, and the accuracy and precision of direction and speed processing. Results As expected, we found a small but significant (t(11)=-2.17, p&amp;lt;0.03) reduction in pursuit gain (mean+/-SEM: -0.028 +/-0.013 with a large (t(11)=2.96, p&amp;lt;0.01) increase in saccadic rate (0.37 +/-0.13 Hz). However, surprisingly, we found a significant (t(11)=-2.52, p&amp;lt;0.03) decrease in the amplitude of catch-up saccades (-0.15 +/-0.06 deg). The only systematic alteration to visual motion processing was a small reduction in horizontal-vertical asymmetry, which was previously observed with ASD. Conclusion A week of CSR to 5h is associated with only mild impairment in smooth pursuit eye movements with little impact on visual motion processing. However, CSR caused a maladaptive decrease in saccade amplitude that was not observed during ASD. Eye-movement metrics reveal differential neurological effects of CSR versus ASD. Support (if any) Force Health Protection Program, ONR (SAA2402925-1), NASA Human Research Program, and agreement NNX17AE07A

Effect of chicory inulin-type fructan–containing snack bars on the human gut microbiota in low dietary fiber consumers in a randomized crossover trial

The low intake of dietary fiber compared to recommended amounts has been referred to as the dietary fiber gap. The addition of fiber to snack foods could favorably alter gut microbiota and help individuals meet intake recommendations. Our objective was to examine the effect of low- and moderate-dose fiber-containing snack bars, comprising mainly chicory root inulin-type fructans (ITF), on gut microbiota in healthy adults with habitual low dietary fiber intake using 16S ribosomal RNA-based approaches. In 2 separate 4-wk, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trials, 50 healthy adults with low dietary fiber intake were randomly assigned to receive isocaloric snack bars of either moderate-dose fiber (7 g/d) or control in Trial 1 (n=25) or low-dose fiber (3 g/d) or control in Trial 2 (n=25), with 4-wk washout periods. Fecal microbiota composition and inferred function, fecal SCFA concentration, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, dietary intake, and quality of life were measured. Compared with the control group, the moderate-dose group showed significant differences across multiple microbial taxa, most notably an increased relative abundance of the Bifidobacterium genus from (mean±SEM) 5.3%±5.9% to 18.7%±15.0%. With low-dose ITF, significant increases in Bifidobacterium were no longer present after correction for multiple comparisons but targeted analysis with qPCR showed a significant increase in Bifidobacterium. Predictive functional profiling identified changes in predicted function after intake of the moderate- but not the low-dose bar. Fecal SCFAs were affected by time but not treatment. There were no between-group differences in GI symptoms. Importantly, fiber intake increased significantly with the moderate- and low-dose bars. In healthy adults, adding 3 or 7 g ITF to snack bars increased Bifidobacterium, a beneficial member of the gut microbial community. The addition of ITF to food products could help reduce the dietary fiber gap prevalent in modern life.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03042494.

Effect of Almond Consumption on Metabolic Risk Factors - Glucose, Hyperinsulinemia, Inflammatory Markers: A Randomized Controlled Trial in 16–25 year olds in Mumbai City

Abstract Objectives A large percentage of Indian population has diabetes or is at risk of pre-diabetes. Almond consumption has shown benefits on cardio metabolic risk factors in adults. The present study explored the effect of almond consumption on determinants of metabolic dysfunction - blood glucose, insulin, selected inflammatory markers and oxidant damage in adolescents and young adults aged 16–25 years from Mumbai city. Daily almond consumption will reduce insulin levels, selected pro-inflammatory markers, improve lipid profile of 16–25 year old persons. Methods This cluster randomized trial was conducted on individuals with impaired levels of glucose (fasting glucose (5.6–6.9 mmol/L), 2 h post-glucose (7.8–11.0 mmol/L) and/or insulin (fasting insulin(≥15 mIU/ml)/glucose challenge insulin(≥80 mIU/ml). 421 individuals were selected after screening 1313 individuals. The almonds group (n = 107) consumed 56gm almonds daily for 90 days and was compared with a control group (n = 112) who consumed an iso-caloric snack for the same period. Blood samples were analysed at baseline, endline for glucose, insulin, HbA1C, LDL, HDL, TC, ox-LDL, TG, hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, adiponectin, leptin. Body fat (%), visceral fat, weight, were measured. HOMA-IR, FG: FI ratio, BMI, WHR, WHtR were calculated. Dietary intakes were assessed at baseline, endline using 24-hour recall. Results Baseline values for all measurements, macronutrient intakes did not differ significantly between the two groups. Changes in anthropometric measurements between baseline and endline were not significantly different in both groups. Percent body fat increased in both groups but was four times more in the control than the almonds group. Almond consumption significantly decreased HbA1C, total cholesterol, LDL-C, IL-6. Stimulated insulin decreased post-intervention in both groups, but was greater in almonds group. FG: FI ratio decreased in almonds group. TNF-α decreased in almonds group while it increased in control group. Conclusions The present study shows the directionality for almond consumption to reduce inflammatory markers, total, LDL cholesterol levels and HbA1C levels in adolescents and young adults who were at risk for developing diabetes. Thus, almonds can be considered as one of the food-based strategies for preventing pre-diabetes. Funding Sources Research grant from Almond Board of California.

Circadian Rhythm of Substrate Oxidation and Hormonal Regulators of Energy Balance.

The circadian system provides an organism with the ability to anticipate daily food availability and appropriately coordinate metabolic responses. Few studies have simultaneouslyassessed factors involved in both the anticipation of energy availability (i.e., hormones involved in appetite regulation) and subsequent metabolic responses (such as energy expenditure and substrate oxidation) under conditions designed to reveal circadian rhythmicity. Eight healthy adults (four females; age: 28.0 ± 2.3 years; BMI: 24.3 ± 2.9 kg/m2 ) participated in a 26-hour constant routine protocol involving continuous wakefulness with constant posture, temperature, dim light, and hourly isocaloric snacks. Indirect calorimetry was performed every 3 hours for measurement of energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. Subjective hunger was obtained hourly using questionnaires. Saliva and plasma were obtained hourly to assess melatonin (circadian phase marker) and hormones (leptin, ghrelin, and peptide YY). Fat and carbohydrate oxidationwas highest in the biological evening and morning, respectively. Subjective hunger ratings peaked during the middle of the biological day. Significant circadian rhythms were identified for ghrelin and peptide YY with peaks in the biological evening and morning, respectively. These findings support a role for the circadian system in the modulation of nutrient oxidation, subjective measures of appetite, and appetitive hormones.

0254 The Effects of Chronic Sleep Restriction on Multiple Object Tracking

Abstract Introduction The ability to simultaneously track numerous moving objects in the presence of irrelevant stimuli is essential for successfully carrying out a variety of tasks. Sleep loss impairs neurocognitive functioning and, as a result, attentional processing capacity is reduced. The objective of the current study was to determine if performance on the multiple object tracking (MOT) task was adversely impacted by a week of chronic sleep restriction (CSR). Methods Twelve healthy participants (6 males, 6 females) kept a fixed sleep-wake schedule, with a constant waketime, at home for four weeks (actigraphy confirmed compliance). During weeks one and three, participants maintained 9 hours in bed. During weeks two and four, participants were randomly assigned to 5 and 9 hours of sleep. Following weeks two and four, participants completed a 13-hour laboratory visit under dim light (&amp;lt; 15 lux), where they maintained a constant posture and were provided with hourly isocaloric snacks. MOT was presented at approximately 6 and 8 hours after waking. Participants were required to track four, five, or six moving targets in the presence of identical distractors (always 12 total objects). Results Participants slept significantly less when assigned to 5 (M = 4.43 hours, SD = 0.33 hours), compared to 9 hours of sleep (M = 7.42 hours, SD = 0.42 hours; F (1, 22) = 206.89, p = 0.00). The proportion of correct MOT responses was significantly lower following 5 (M = 0.70, SD = 0.15) compared to 9 hours of sleep (M = 0.77, SD = 0.12; F (1, 22) = 10.29, p &amp;lt; .05). Conclusion A week of CSR adversely impacted MOT performance compared to a week of sleep satiation. These findings have implications for individuals, such as air traffic controllers and truck drivers, who must visually track multiple moving objects, often while chronically sleep deprived. Support Supported by the Force Health Protection Program of the Office of Naval Research (SAA2402925-1, Contract Award no. N0001418IP00050).

Almond Snacking for 8 wk Increases Alpha-Diversity of the Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Decreases Bacteroides fragilis Abundance Compared with an Isocaloric Snack in College Freshmen

ABSTRACTBackgroundChanges in gut microbiota are associated with cardiometabolic disorders and are influenced by diet. Almonds are a rich source of fiber, unsaturated fats, and polyphenols, all nutrients that can favorably alter the gut microbiome.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine the effects of 8 wk of almond snacking on the gut (fecal) microbiome diversity and abundance compared with an isocaloric snack of graham crackers in college freshmen.MethodsA randomized, controlled, parallel-arm, 8-wk intervention in 73 college freshmen (age: 18–19 y; 41 women and 32 men; BMI: 18–41 kg/m2) with no cardiometabolic disorders was conducted. Participants were randomly allocated to either an almond snack group (56.7 g/d; 364 kcal; n = 38) or graham cracker control group (77.5 g/d; 338 kcal/d; n = 35). Stool samples were collected at baseline and 8 wk after the intervention to assess primary microbiome outcomes, that is, gut microbiome diversity and abundance.ResultsAlmond snacking resulted in 3% greater quantitative alpha-diversity (Shannon index) and 8% greater qualitative alpha-diversity (Chao1 index) than the cracker group after the intervention (P < 0.05). Moreover, almond snacking for 8 wk decreased the abundance of the pathogenic bacterium Bacteroides fragilis by 48% (overall relative abundance, P < 0.05). Permutational multivariate ANOVA showed significant time effects for the unweighted UniFrac distance and Bray–Curtis beta-diversity methods (P < 0.05; R2 ≤ 3.1%). The dietary and clinical variables that best correlated with the underlying bacterial community structure at week 8 of the intervention included dietary carbohydrate (percentage energy), dietary fiber (g), and fasting total and HDL cholesterol (model Spearman rho = 0.16; P = 0.01).ConclusionsAlmond snacking for 8 wk improved alpha-diversity compared with cracker snacking. Incorporating a morning snack in the dietary regimen of predominantly breakfast-skipping college freshmen improved the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03084003.

Carbohydrate and lipid consumption before a training session changed the fat mass in health-physically active adults: a controlled and randomized clinical trial

The effect of exercise on fat-acid oxidation depends on its intensity and duration. Pre-training ingest of carbohydrates (CH) decreases the rate of fat oxidation. In contrast, the effect of pre-consumption of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) is less known. the aim of this study was to compare the effect of pre-consumption of two isocaloric snacks in a standardized exercise session during a period of nine weeks and to quantify their impact in the fat oxidation and decrease of fat mass in healthy and physically active adults. randomized, placebo-control clinical trial study. A total of 19 subjects between 20 and 39 years old were randomly distributed in three groups: CH group, with snack of high content of complex CH; FAT group, with snack of high content of MUFA; and control group, with a minimum fast for three hours before the training session. The measurements were rate of fat oxidation, body composition, and endurance training with continuing and intervallic modalities. the control group showed a tendency to fat mass decrease at the end of the intervention. The fat oxidation of group had a higher tendency than the CH and control group, before and after the intervention. Nevertheless, statistical differences of fat oxidation were not found between the groups. the fat oxidation and the decrease of fat mass may not be influenced by the type of food previously consumed before exercise.

Altered diurnal states in insomnia reflect peripheral hyperarousal and metabolic desynchrony: a preliminary study.

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that is associated with a range of adverse outcomes. Patients with insomnia exhibit hyperarousal in multiple domains, including an elevated metabolic rate, but specific metabolic molecular perturbations are unknown. Furthermore, objective clinical markers of insomnia are not available and current assessment of pathological extent relies on self-report. Here, we provide preliminary evidence that chronic insomnia is remarkably reflected in the periphery through detailed metabolic assessments. Serum from confirmed patients with insomnia and matched good sleepers (n = 15 per group) was sampled at high temporal resolution (every 2 hr over 48 hr). Food intake was controlled by providing hourly isocaloric snacks, and sleep architecture was assessed by overnight polysomnography. Quantitative metabolic assessments were conducted using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Global metabolic profiles differentiated patients with insomnia from healthy controls, with elevated amino acid and energy metabolites and reduced branched-chain amino acid catabolic products. Strikingly, branched-chain amino acid catabolism was found to be specifically altered during the night with ~10 per cent increased accumulation of glucose in insomnia patients. Rhythmicity analysis revealed 11 metabolites that cycled diurnally across both groups, with phase advances noted for acetone and delays for lactate and branched-chain amino acids and their products. These preliminary observations suggest that insomnia is associated with quantitative metabolic dysregulation and supports the hyperarousal hypothesis. Furthermore, we posit that these changes lead to a state of metabolic desynchrony in insomnia that is involved in the pathophysiology of the disorder and/or mediates its impact on health outcomes. NCT01957111.