The effects of whole almond snack consumption on fasting blood lipids and insulin sensitivity: a randomised controlled trial in adults
Published 2020 · V. Dikariyanto, S. Berry, L. Smith
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
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Abstract
Sub-optimal dietary patterns associated with many snack foods, such as consumption of high-fat, high-refined carbohydrate foods that are low in fibre and nutrients, present an easily identifiable target to improve cardio-metabolic health. The potential health benefits of snacking on almonds may be the result of displacement of other snacks high in refined carbohydrates, the addition of nutrients and non-nutritive bioactive compounds into the diet, and/or low lipid bioaccessibility. A recent meta-analysis of prospective epidemiological studies found that increased nut consumption is associated with lower CVD risk and another meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials reported that almonds reduced LDL-cholesterol whilst maintaining HDL-cholesterol. The impact of almond snack consumption on insulin sensitivity and related circulating markers of metabolic health remains unclear. A 6-week randomised, controlled, parallel trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02907684) in regular snack consumers at moderate risk of CVD (aged 30–70 y) was conducted aiming to investigate whether replacing habitual snacks (20% estimated daily energy requirements) with whole roasted almonds had any impact on blood lipid levels and insulin sensitivity. Control snacks (sweet and savoury mini-muffins) were developed to simulate the average UK snack nutrient profile, which was calculated from snack foods identified in the UK NDNS database. One hundred and nine volunteers were randomised to treatment (77 females, 32 males) with minimisation for age, sex, ethnicity, cardiometabolic score and whether or not they consented to undertake MRI scanning; 106 completed the study. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and the end of week-6. Total plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, glucose, insulin and markers related to insulin sensitivity, including adiponectin, leptin, resistin and fetuin-A were analysed. HOMA-IR was calculated as an index of insulin resistance. Statistical analysis was performed on changes from baseline using ANCOVA adjusted for age, sex, baseline body mass index and baseline variable value. Plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations were 0.25 mmol/L (95% CI -0.47, -0.03) lower following almonds relative to control, but there were no statistically significant treatment differences for HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, glucose, nor HOMA-IR. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between treatment groups for serum adiponectin, leptin, resistin and fetuin-A. Estimated marginal means for changes from baseline following both treatments are presented in Table 1.