Intake Of Nuts Research Articles

Dietary Factors and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Prospective Observational Studies.

Dietary factors may be associated with the occurrence of pancreatic cancer. This umbrella review aimed to review and grade the evidence for the associations between dietary factors and pancreatic cancer risk. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and CINAHL for eligible literature. We included meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or prospective observational studies. We used AMSTAR-2, a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews, to evaluate the methodological quality of the included meta-analyses. For each association, we calculated the summary effect size, 95% CI, heterogeneity, number of cases, 95% prediction interval, small-study effect, and excess significance bias. The protocol for this review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42022333669). We included 41 meta-analyses of prospective observational studies describing 59 associations between dietary factors and pancreatic cancer risk. None of the retrieved meta-analyses included RCTs. No association was supported by convincing or highly suggestive evidence; however, there was suggestive evidence of a positive association between fructose intake and pancreatic cancer risk. There was weak evidence for an inverse association of nuts intake or adherence to the Mediterranean diet with pancreatic cancer incidence, and for positive associations between a higher intake of red meat or heavy alcohol intake and pancreatic cancer incidence. The remaining 54 associations were nonsignificant. Consistent with the American Institute for Cancer Research review, this umbrella review found that regular consumption of nuts and reduced intake of fructose, red meat, and alcohol were associated with a lower risk of pancreatic cancer. Emerging weak evidence supported an inverse association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and pancreatic cancer risk. As some associations were rated as weak and most were considered nonsignificant, further prospective studies are needed to investigate the role of dietary factors and risk of pancreatic cancer.

Nut and seed consumption is inversely associated with metabolic syndrome in females but not males: findings from the 2005–2018 NHANES data

PurposeTo assess the association between nut and seed consumption, both combined and separately, and metabolic syndrome and its components, including fasting glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, central obesity, and blood pressure.MethodsThis cross-sectional analysis used data from 22,687 adults (aged ≥ 18 years) involved in seven cycles (2005–2018) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Habitual nut and seed intakes were estimated by the Multiple Source Method using data from two 24-h dietary recalls. Metabolic syndrome was ascertained using biochemical data and self-reported medication use. Sex-specific effect estimates were obtained using logistic and linear regressions adjusting for lifestyle and socioeconomic confounders.ResultsCompared to non-consumers, female, but not male, habitual consumers of either nuts or seeds had lower odds of having metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.83, 95% CI 0.71, 0.97). Both nut intake alone and seed intake alone were inversely associated with high fasting glucose and low HDL-cholesterol in females compared to non-consumers. When restricted to habitual consumers only, the combined intake of nuts and seeds at 6 g/day was associated with the lowest triglycerides and highest HDL-cholesterol in females. Combined consumption of nuts and seeds up to one ounce-equivalent (15 g) per day, but not in higher intake levels, was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome, high fasting glucose, central obesity, and low HDL-cholesterol in females.ConclusionsNut and seed consumption, both separately or combined, below 15 g/day was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome and its component conditions in females but not males.

Endometrial whole metabolome profile at the receptive phase: influence of Mediterranean Diet and infertility.

Several metabolite classes have been identified in human endometrium, including lipids, nucleotides, amino acids, organic acids, and sugars. The first studies suggest the importance of metabolites in endometrial functions, as imbalance in uterine metabolites has been associated with low implantation rate and endometriosis. Nevertheless, most of studies have put emphasis on specific metabolite classes, and we lack the knowledge of the whole metabolome composition in human uterus. Further, a healthy dietary pattern has been shown to potentially protect against different endometrial dysfunctions and is a potential modulator of metabolomic composition and, consequently, the intrauterine microenvironment. The Mediterranean Diet (MD), characterized by a high intake of fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, legumes, fish, and olive oil, and a low consumption of meat, dairy products, and processed foods, has been associated with a wide range of benefits for health. Indeed, the MD pattern has displayed a beneficial role in endometriosis management and fertility; however, the relationship between the MD and the endometrial metabolome is still unknown. In our study, we set out to analyze receptive-phase endometrial metabolome profiles among women with infertility and their associations with MD. The study included women with male factor infertility (n=8), unexplained infertility (n=10), recurrent implantation failure (n=14), and endometriosis (n=13). The endometrial metabolome was analyzed with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (UPLC-MS/MS). The MD adherence of the participants was assessed using the 14-point MEDAS questionnaire of adherence to the MD. We provide the whole metabolome profile of the endometrium, where 925 different metabolites were identified. Among these metabolites, lipids comprised the largest part, where polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) prevailed. Women with endometriosis and recurrent implantation failure were found to have lower levels of PUFAs compared to women with male factor and unexplained infertility (i.e., no clear endometrial alterations), identifying a metabolome profile associated with infertility diagnoses where altered endometrial functions are suspected. Moreover, MD adherence seemed to be associated with the endometrial metabolomic profile in a manner dependent on the health status of the uterus. The study findings provide insight into the molecular background of female infertility and lead to identification of potential molecular biomarkers and possibilities for modulating the endometrial microenvironment and, thereby, endometrial functions involved in embryo implantation and infertility.

The relationship between dietary patterns and insomnia in young women.

There is mounting evidence that eating habits affect sleeping patterns and their quality. The goal of this study was to evaluate the associations between major dietary patterns, identified using principal component analysis (PCA) and insomnia in young women. The study subjects comprised 159 healthy young women aged 18-25 years. Neuropsychological assessment was performed using standard instruments, including a cognitive ability questionnaire (CAQ), depression and anxiety stress scales (DASS-21), insomnia severity index (ISI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), and quality of life questionnaire (QLQ). Dietary patterns were obtained from a 65-item validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in this study, using PCA. Two major dietary patterns were identified that were termed: "Traditional" and "Western." The Western pattern was characterized by a high intake of snacks, nuts, dairy products, tea, fast foods, chicken, and vegetable oils. Subjects with moderate/severe insomnia were found to have lower scores for total cognitive ability task, nocturnal sleep hours, and physical and mental health, but higher scores for depression, anxiety, stress, and daytime sleepiness compared to those without insomnia (p < 0.05). After adjustment for potential confounders, high adherence to the Western dietary pattern was associated with higher odds of insomnia (OR = 5.9; 95% confidence intervals: 1.9-18.7; p = 0.003). Our findings indicated adherence to Western pattern may increase the odds of insomnia. Prospective research is required to determine the feasibility of targeting dietary patterns to decrease the odds of insomnia.

Association of dietary pattern and childhood obesity with cardiovascular disease in patients from Tangail city, Bangladesh

Introduction: Obesity in childhood is a major cause for developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) at adulthood. The present study was a cross-sectional research aimed to examine the relationship between childhood obesity and dietary pattern with CVD in patients (n=100) from Tangail City, Bangladesh. Methods: Dietary patterns, laboratory tests, demographic, and anthropometric interrelated data were measured in patients with stroke and heart attack from five hospitals. The research also used 24-hour recall method and a food frequency questionnaire for assessing daily energy and macronutrient intakes. Results: Weight (p=0.004), body mass index (BMI) (p=0.001), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (p=0.009), and waist circumference (WC) (p=0.030) was significantly different between males and females whereas lipid profile was not significantly different between genders. There were no significant associations between intakes of red meat, salt, fast food, fish, egg, nuts and seeds with heart attack and stroke. On the contrary, there were significant associations between fried food intake with heart attack and stroke (p=0.080 and p=0.020). The results indicated that there was a significant relationship between carbohydrate (p=0.001), protein (p=0.001), and fat (p=0.001) intakes with the total energy intake of respondents. The findings also showed that there was a significant relationship between carbohydrate (p=0.003), protein (p=0.001), and fat (p=0.001) intakes with body mass index of the respondents. Conclusion: CVD diagnosis in adult patients was found to be associated with fried food intake but not with childhood obesity.

Association between nut consumption and prostate cancer risk in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies

AimsData on the association between nut consumption and prostate cancer risk are conflicting. Therefore, this systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis aimed to summarize available findings from observational studies on the associations of nut intake with risk of total, advanced, non-advanced, and fatal prostate cancers. Data synthesisWe searched the online databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science as well as Google Scholar using appropriate keywords to identify eligible articles up to September 2022. In total, 11 articles with a total sample size of 287,786 participants and 32,213 cases of prostate cancer were included in the current systematic review and meta-analysis. By comparing the highest and lowest intake of total nuts, pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for total, advanced, non-advanced, and fatal prostate cancers were 0.94 (95% CI: 0.85–1.04, P = 0.22), 1.10 (95% CI: 0.98–1.24, P = 0.12), 0.97 (95% CI: 0.85–1.11, P = 0.69), 0.97 (95% CI: 0.79–1.18, P = 0.73), respectively, which indicated non-significant inverse associations for total, non-advanced, and fatal prostate cancers and a non-significant positive association for advanced prostate cancer. In the dose-response analyses, we found no evidence of a linear or non-linear association between total nut intake and prostate cancer risk. Data on other types of nuts, including walnut, tree nuts, peanut, and peanut butter, were not sufficient for performing a meta-analysis. ConclusionWe found no significant association between nut intake and risk of total, advanced, non-advanced, and fatal prostate cancer. Further studies are required to confirm our findings. Prospero registration codeCRD42022347094. Ethical approvalNot required.

Association of legumes and nuts consumption with metabolic health status in Iranian overweight and obese adolescents

Limited data are available on the association of legumes and nuts consumption with health status in pediatrics. So, we assessed the relation of legumes and nuts intake with metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents. A random sample of overweight/obese adolescents aged 12 to 18 years was included in this cross-sectional study. Dietary intakes were gathered using a validated 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). We measured metabolic indices including blood pressure, lipid profile, glycemic and anthropometrics indices. Two strategies were used for classification of adolescents to metabolically healthy obese (MHO) or unhealthy obese (MUO): International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and combination of IDF with Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Information on 203 overweight/obese adolescents (50.2% girls and 49.8% boys) with an average age of 13.98 (± 1.61) years and a mean weight of 73.48 (± 11.60) kg/m2 was evaluated. Based on the IDF and IDF/HOMA-IR definition, higher consumption of legumes and nuts consumption was related to a 66% and 61% decreased odds of MUO in crude model (OR = 0.34, 95%CI 0.17–0.69), (OR = 0.39, 95%CI 0.19–0.80); but in fully-adjusted model, these relations disappeared. After adjustment for potential cofounders, an inverse association was found between legumes and nuts consumption and odds of hyperglycemia (OR = 0.35, 95%CI 0.16–0.78). Moreover, although inverse significant associations were found between legumes and nuts consumption and odds of MUO in girls and overweight subjects in crude models, these associations disappeared after adjustment for all confounders. After taking potential confounders into account, no significant association was found between consumption of legumes and nuts and MUO in Iranian adolescents. The findings should be affirmed by further prospective studies.

Habitual adherence to a traditional Mediterranean diet and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a longitudinal analysis

Evidence on habitual Mediterranean diet (MD) and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and COVID-19 is limited. 1,520 participants from the Moli-sani Study (2017-2020) were tested during January-September 2021 and adherence to MD was ascertained through the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS). SARS-CoV-2 infection cases were determined through serology, and previous clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 disease was self-reported. Results were presented as odd ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The MDS was not associated with the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR= 0.94; 95% CI: 0.83–1.06) and COVID-19 (OR= 0.82; 95% CI: 0.62–1.10) diagnosis. High consumption of cereals was associated with lower odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.83–1.00; for each 25 g/d increase). Likelihood of having being diagnosed with COVID-19 disease decreased in association with increasing olive oil intake (OR= 0.10; 95% CI: 0.01–0.79; for each additional 10 g/d), moderate alcohol consumption (OR= 0.18; 95% CI: 0.04–0.82) and higher intakes of fruits and nuts (OR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.79–0.99). Our findings emphasise the adoption and maintenance of a balanced MD as a key strategy to reduce the risk of future SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19.

Dried Fruits, Nuts, and Cancer Risk and Survival: A Review of the Evidence and Future Research Directions.

Dried fruits and nuts contain high amounts of nutrients and phytochemicals-all of which may have anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. This narrative review summarizes the evidence for dried fruits and nuts and cancer incidence, mortality, and survival and their potential anticancer properties. The evidence for dried fruits in cancer outcomes is limited, but existing studies have suggested an inverse relationship between total dried fruit consumption and cancer risk. A higher consumption of nuts has been associated with a reduced risk of several site-specific cancers in prospective cohort studies, including cancers of the colon, lung, and pancreas, with relative risks per 5 g/day increment equal to 0.75 (95% CI 0.60, 0.94), 0.97 (95% CI 0.95, 0.98), and 0.94 (95% CI 0.89, 0.99), respectively. A daily intake of total nuts of 28 g/day has also been associated with a 21% reduction in the rate of cancer mortality. There is also some evidence that frequent nut consumption is associated with improved survival outcomes among patients with colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer; however, further studies are needed. Future research directions include the investigation of additional cancer types, including rare types of cancer. For cancer prognosis, additional studies with pre- and postdiagnosis dietary assessment are warranted.

Relationship between nutrient-related dietary pattern and mild cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly people in 15 provinces of China

Objective: To explore the relationship between nutrient-related dietary pattern and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in middle-aged and elderly people. Methods: A total of 6 444 middle-aged and elderly people aged ≥55 years were selected in 2018 China Health and Nutrition Survey. MCI was evaluated by Mini-Mental State Examination, and the intakes of various foods were obtained by consecutive 3-day 24-hour dietary survey and weighing method. The intakes of various nutrients and total dietary energy were calculated based on the food composition table. Demographic and social information, lifestyle and health status of the respondents were obtained through questionnaire survey and physical measurements. In this study, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, iron, copper and selenium were selected as dependent variables. Nutrient-related dietary patterns were extracted by reduced rank regression method, and the relationship between dietary patterns and MCI was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Six dietary patterns were extracted in this study, and dietary pattern 1 with the highest explanatory degree was selected for subsequent analysis. Dietary pattern 1 was characterized by higher intakes of legume products, vegetables, fruits, nuts, pork, aquatic products and plant oil. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of MCI was lower in Q4 dietary score group than in Q1 dietary score group (OR=0.69, 95%CI: 0.49-0.98) in the 55-64 age group. In people with sleep duration of 8 hours per day, the risk of MCI was reduced in Q2, Q3 and Q4 dietary score groups compared with the Q1 dietary score group, with OR values of 0.68 (95%CI: 0.51-0.92), 0.67 (95%CI: 0.49-0.92) and 0.65 (95%CI: 0.45-0.92), respectively. Interaction analysis showed that the risk for MCI increased in those aged 65-74 years and ≥75 years compared with those aged 55-64 years in Q1 dietary score group. However, the risk for MCI decreased in both age groups as dietary pattern scores increased. Compared with those with sleep duration less or more than 8 hours per day in Q1 dietary score group, those with sleep duration of 8 hours per day in Q2 and Q3 dietary score groups had a reduced risk for MCI. Conclusion: Dietary patterns with higher intakes of legume products, vegetables, fruits, nuts, pork, aquatic products, and plant oil are negatively associated with MCI in people aged 55-64 years and those who slept 8 hours per day, and may reduce the risk of MCI with aging.

Individual nutrients and serum klotho levels in adults aged 40-79 years.

Several dietary factors (including adherence to the Mediterranean diet or higher nut intake) seem to positively affect circulating antiaging Klotho protein levels; yet, a description of possible relationships between individual nutrients and Klotho activity has not been evaluated. We analyzed the association of dietary intake of individual macro- and micronutrients and nonnutritive food components with circulating Klotho levels in a sample of 40- to 79-year-old US adults. Data from the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Nutrient/food component intakes were calculated in relation to total energy intake using the nutrient density method, and available pristine serum samples were analyzed for serum Klotho concentrations. The final study sample consisted of 2637 participants (mean age 59.0 ± 10.7 years; 52% women). Higher Klotho concentrations were found with higher intake of carbohydrates (p < .001), total sugars (p < .001), dietary fibers (p < .001), vitamin D (p=.05), total folates (p=.015), and copper (p=.018). The results of the regression analysis with a crude model showed significant associations among five nutrients/food components (carbohydrates, alcohol, total sugars, dietary fibers, and niacin) and soluble Klotho levels across the sample. After adjusting the models for age and gender, the nutrient/food component-Klotho association remained significant for carbohydrates, total sugars, and alcohol (p < .05). Dietary exposure to individual nutrients and nonnutritive food components appears to be associated with Klotho activity; however, additional research is needed to investigate the relationship between cause and effect in diet composition-Klotho interplay.

Evaluate the dietary quality of pregnant women using the adjusted diet balance index for pregnancy

To update the Chinese diet balance index for pregnancy(DBI＿P), evaluate the dietary quality of pregnant women at different stages of pregnancy and analyze the influencing factors. The DBI＿P was adjusted according to the recommended intake of various foods for pregnant women at different stages in the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents(2022) and and the balanced dietary pagoda for pregnant women. A total of 521 pregnant women in Taicang were investigated by questionnaire and 3-day food records method. Their basic information and food intake in the first, second and third trimester were collected. Low bound score(LBS), high bound score(HBS), diet quality distance(DQD) of DBI＿P were used to evaluate the dietary quality of each stage of pregnancy and multiple linear regression method was used to analyze the influencing factors of dietary quality. There was insufficient intake of cereals, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, soy nuts, aquatic products and food categories at all stages of pregnancy. The intake of eggs was sufficient at each stage of pregnancy. The intake of meat and poultry was excessive at all stages of pregnancy. The proportion of pregnant women with insufficient vegetable intake in the first, second and third trimester all exceeded 70%. The proportion with insufficient daily food categories in each term was more than 90%. The proportion with excessive intake of meat and poultry increased from 74.5% in the first trimester to 84.1% in the third trimester. The mean of LBS in each stage of pregnancy were 16.0, 15.5 and 15.1, and the proportion with moderate to severe insufficient intake were 14.2%, 12.2% and 9.2%, respectively. The mean of HBS in each stage of pregnancy were 4.3, 4.8 and 4.9, and the proportion with moderate to severe excessive intake were 4.3%, 5.4% and 4.5%, respectively. The mean of DQD in each stage of pregnancy were 20.3, 20.3 and 20.0, and the proportion with moderate to severe imbalanced intake were 26.9%, 26.1% and 21.7%, respectively. The proportion of pregnant women with low imbalanced intake or balanced diet during the whole pregnancy was 51.1%. Compared with pregnant women under 25 years of age, pregnant women ≥25 years of age had a lower degree of insufficient and unbalanced dietary intake(β=-0.99, 95%CI-1.94--0.03). With the increase of education level, the degree of insufficient and unbalanced dietary intake of pregnant women showed a downward trend, while the degree of excessive intake increased only in college graduates(β=0.66, 95%CI 0.11-1.22). Compared with pregnant women living in rural areas, pregnant women living in urban areas had a lower degree of excessive dietary intake(β=-0.59, 95%CI-0.97--0.21). The dietary structure of pregnant women in Taicang is imbalanced, and the dietary quality is affected by sociodemographic characteristics.

Abstract P212: Plasma Metabolomics of Dietary Intake of Protein-Rich Foods and Kidney Disease Progression in Children

Introduction: There is inconsistent evidence on the efficacy of a low-protein diet for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and there is a lack of objective biomarkers of dietary intake. The purpose of this study was to identify plasma metabolites associated with dietary intake of protein among children with CKD and to assess whether protein-related metabolites are associated with CKD progression. Methods: We conducted non-targeted metabolomics using plasma samples from 484 Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) participants. Multivariable linear regression estimated the cross-sectional association between 949 known, non-drug metabolites and dietary intake of dairy, nuts and beans, red and processed meat, fish, chicken, and eggs, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and dietary covariates. Cox proportional hazards regression models assessed the prospective association between protein-related metabolites and CKD progression defined as kidney replacement therapy or 50% eGFR reduction, adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates. We used a false discovery rate &lt;0.05 as the statistical significance threshold to account for multiple comparisons. Results: Fifty-seven unique metabolites were significantly associated with dietary protein intake (dairy: n=21; nuts and beans: n=13; red and processed meat: n=20; fish: n=2; chicken: n=3; eggs: n=0). Among them, ten metabolites were significantly associated with CKD progression (TABLE) , including one amino acid, one cofactor and vitamin, four lipids, two nucleotides, one peptide, and one xenobiotic. 1-(1-enyl-palmitoyl)-2-oleoyl-GPE (P-16:0/18:1) was positively associated with dietary intake of red and processed meat and CKD progression, and 3-ureidopropionate was inversely associated with dietary intake of red and processed meat and CKD progression. Conclusion: Untargeted plasma metabolomic profiling revealed metabolites associated with dietary intake of protein and CKD progression in a pediatric population.

Differences in all-cause mortality risk associated with animal and plant dietary protein sources consumption

The relationship between protein intake and mortality is still controversial. We prospectively examined the associations of dietary protein sources with all-cause mortality risk in the Isfahan cohort study (ICS). A total of 5431 participants, aged ≥ 35 years, were enrolled in the ICS, in 2001 and followed through 2013. The frequency of protein intakes from different sources was estimated through a validated food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Any new case of death was recorded over the follow-up duration. Hazard ratio (HR)s and 95% confidence interval (CI)s were estimated through Cox proportional hazards regression models. During a median follow-up of 11.3 years, 483 deaths were documented. Higher intakes of plant proteins (HR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.46, 0.91) and animal proteins (HR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.13, 2.05) were associated with a decreased and increased risk of mortality, respectively. Additional adjustment for some mediators did not considerably affect the associations for animal protein (HR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.15, 2.09), whereas led to a tendency towards lower risk for plant protein in the top quintile compared with the bottom one (HR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.48, 0.95; P trend = 0.06). Among specific major sources, higher intakes of nuts and fish were associated with a 27% (95% CI 0.58, 0.93) and 21% (95% CI 0.62, 1.01) lower risk of mortality, respectively. The inverse association between plant protein and mortality risk might be mediated by some metabolic disorders. However, our results suggest an independent positive association for animal protein and all-cause mortality.

Nuts, Energy Balance and Body Weight.

Over several decades, the health benefits of consuming nuts have been investigated, resulting in a large body of evidence that nuts can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. The consumption of nuts, being a higher-fat plant food, is restricted by some in order to minimize weight gain. In this review, we discuss several factors related to energy intake from nuts, including food matrix and its impact on digestibility, and the role of nuts in regulating appetite. We review the data from randomized controlled trials and observational studies conducted to examine the relationship between nut intake and body weight or body mass index. Consistently, the evidence from RCTs and observational cohorts indicates that higher nut consumption does not cause greater weight gain; rather, nuts may be beneficial for weight control and prevention of long-term weight gain. Multiple mechanisms likely contribute to these findings, including aspects of nut composition which affect nutrient and energy availability as well as satiety signaling.

Composition of Nuts and Their Potential Health Benefits-An Overview.

The possibility that nut intake may defend human health is an interesting point of view and has been investigated worldwide. Consequently, nuts are commonly promoted as healthy. In recent decades, the number of investigations proposing a correlation between nut consumption and a decrease in the risk of key chronic diseases has continued to increase. Nuts are a source of intake of fiber, and dietary fiber is associated with a reduced occurrence of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Nuts likewise provide minerals and vitamins to the diet and supply phytochemicals that function as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and phytoestrogens agents and other protective mechanisms. Therefore, the main goal of this overview is to summarize current information and to describe the utmost new investigation concerning the health benefits of certain nuts.

Relationship between the Mediterranean diet and risk of hepatic fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional analysis of the RaNCD cohort.

Despite evidence supporting the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on hepatic steatosis in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the relationship of the MedDiet with hepatic fibrosis is as yet unclear. The aim of the present study was to explore this association in Iranian adults with NAFLD. This cross-sectional study included 3,325 subjects with NAFLD from the Ravansar Noncommunicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort. Dietary intake data were collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The MedDiet score was computed based on a nine-point scale constructed by Trichopoulou et al. Fatty liver index (FLI) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index were used to predict hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in the population. Multivariate regression models were applied to determine associations. Subjects in the highest tertile of MedDiet score had a higher platelet and a lower weight, total cholesterol (TC), LDL-c, and FLI than those in the lowest tertile (p-value < 0.05). Adherence to the MedDiet was associated with a 7.48 (95%CI: 5.376 to 9.603; p-value: 0.001) × 103/μl; -0.417 (95%CI: -0.819 to -0.014; p-value: 0.042) kg, -2.505 (95%CI: -3.835 to -1.175; p-value: 0.001) mg/dl; and -1.93 (95%CI: -2.803 to -1.061; p-value: 0.001) mg/dl change in platelet, weight, TC, and LDL-c for each SD increase in the score, respectively. A significant linear trend was observed in odds of hepatic fibrosis across the tertiles of the MedDiet score (P-trend: 0.008). This linear trend was attenuated but remained significant after the adjustment of the relevant confounders (P-trend: 0.032). Adherence to the MedDiet was independently associated with about 16% lower odds of having hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD for each SD increase in the score. Adherence to the MedDiet characterized by a high intake of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and fish was associated with a lower risk of having hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. Further studies are required to elucidate the causal relationship of observed association in individuals of all ages, ethnicities, and etiologies of hepatic steatosis.

Effect of Nuts on Markers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: A Narrative Review.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are mediators in the pathophysiology of several non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Tree nuts and peanuts lower risk factors of cardiometabolic disease, including blood lipids, blood pressure and insulin resistance, among others. Given their strong antioxidant/anti-inflammatory potential, it is plausible that nuts may also exert a favorable effect on inflammation and oxidative stress. Evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest a modest protective effect of total nuts; however, the evidence is inconsistent for specific nut types. In this narrative review, the state of evidence to date is summarized for the effect of nut intake on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and an attempt is made to define the gaps in research while providing a framework for future research. Overall, it appears that some nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, may favorably modify inflammation, and others, such as Brazil nuts, may favorably influence oxidative stress. There is a pressing need for large RCTs with an adequate sample size that consider different nut types, and the dose and duration of nut intervention, while evaluating a robust set of biomarkers for inflammation and oxidative stress. Building a stronger evidence base is important, especially since oxidative stress and inflammation are mediators of many NCDs and can benefit both personalized and public health nutrition.

Differences in dietary intake between Turkish vegans and omnivores: a cross-sectional study

Background: Veganism is gaining more interest in Turkey, however, there is limited data on the nutritional intake of Turkish vegans. Aims: This cross-sectional online study aimed to evaluate the nutritional intake of Turkish vegans and compare their macro and micronutrient intake with Turkish omnivores. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional online study was conducted in İstanbul from October 2019, until December 2019. 108 Turkish adult vegans and 108 omnivores completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and a 3-day dietary recall online. The energy, macro-, and micronutrient intake were evaluated from the dietary recall via the dietary analysis program BEBIS 8.1, using the Turkish Food composition database. The dietary intake was compared to the Turkey Dietary Guideline. The Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI – 2015) was calculated as a diet quality indicator. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 22.0. Results: Mean protein intake was 66.16 ± 21.69 g in vegan women and 74.87 ± 21.90 g was in omnivorous women (p &lt; 0.05), and 75.53 ± 29.09 g in vegan men and 88.89 ± 28.48 g in omnivorous men (p &gt; 0.05). Both male and female vegans had significantly higher dietary intakes of thiamine, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, potassium, and copper; with significantly lower intakes of riboflavin, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iodine, phosphorus, zinc compared to omnivores of both sexes. Vitamin B12, riboflavin and calcium intakes were below the recommendations in vegans as compared to omnivores for both sexes (p &lt; 0.001). Vegan participants showed a significantly higher intake of total fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes compared to omnivorous participants (p &lt; 0.001). HEI – 2015 scores were 58.18 ± 13.20 in vegans and 68.74 ± 7.72 in omnivores (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Turkish vegans, in our study, had a well-balanced and healthy macronutrient intake with lower saturated fatty acids (SFA) and higher fiber intake. However, vegans showed a lower intake of micronutrients such as vitamin B12 and calcium. This indicates a need for greater care toward ensuring recommended daily intake of these specific micronutrients. Further research is required to evaluate dietary intake and nutritional biomarkers in Turkish vegans for the long-term effects of vegan diets. Keywords: dietary assessment, dietary intake, macronutrients, micronutrients, vegan diet.

Nuts and seeds consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and their risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We aimed to systematically review studies and evaluate the strength of the evidence on nuts/seeds consumption and cardiometabolic diseases and their risk factors among adults. A protocol was pre-registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021270554). We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Scopus up to September 20, 2021 for prospective cohort studies and ≥12-week randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Main outcomes were cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and type 2 diabetes (T2D), secondary total-/low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, blood pressure and glycaemic markers. Data extraction and risk of bias (RoB) assessments (using RoB 2.0 and RoB-NObS) were performed in duplicate. Effect sizes were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses and expressed as relative risk (RR) or weighted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CI); heterogeneity quantified as I 2. One-stage dose-response analyses assessed the linear and non-linear associations with CVD, CHD, stroke and T2D. The strength of evidence was classified per the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. After screening 23,244 references, we included 42 papers from cohort studies (28 unique cohorts, 1,890,573 participants) and 18 RCTs (2,266 participants). In the cohorts, mainly populations with low consumption, high versus low total nuts/seeds consumption was inversely associated with total CVD (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.75, 0.86; I 2 = 67%), CVD mortality (0.77; 0.72, 0.82; I 2 = 59.3%), CHD (0.82; 0.76, 0.89; I 2 = 64%), CHD mortality (0.75; 0.65, 0.87; I 2 = 66.9%) and non-fatal CHD (0.85; 0.75, 0.96; I 2 = 62.2%). According to the non-linear dose-response analyses, consumption of 30 g/day of total nuts/seeds was associated with RRs of similar magnitude. For stroke and T2D the summary RR for high versus low intake was 0.91 (95% CI 0.85, 0.97; I 2 = 24.8%) and 0.95 (0.75, 1.21; I 2 = 82.2%). Intake of nuts (median ~50 g/day) lowered total (-0.15 mmol/L; -0.22, -0.08; I 2 = 31.2%) and LDL-cholesterol (-0.13 mmol/L; -0.21, -0.05; I 2 = 68.6%), but not blood pressure. Findings on fasting glucose, HbA1c and insulin resistance were conflicting. The results were robust to sensitivity and subgroup analyses. We rated the associations between nuts/seeds and both CVD and CHD as probable. There was limited but suggestive evidence for no association with stroke. No conclusion could be made for T2D. There is a probable relationship between consumption of nuts/seeds and lower risk of CVD, mostly driven by CHD, possibly in part through effects on blood lipids. More research on stroke and T2D may affect the conclusions. The evidence of specific nuts should be further investigated.