Nut consumption for vascular health and cognitive function

doi:10.1017/S0954422414000079

Paper

Nut consumption for vascular health and cognitive function

Published May 27, 2014 · J. Barbour, P. Howe, J. Buckley

Nutrition Research Reviews

Q1 SJR score

51

Citations

5

Influential Citations

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Semantic Scholar

Abstract

Nuts are rich in many nutrients that can benefit multiple cardiometabolic functions, including arterial compliance, blood pressure, inflammation, glucoregulation and endothelial vasodilatation. Impaired vasodilatation may contribute to impaired cognitive performance due to poor cerebral perfusion. The present narrative review examines associations between nut consumption, vascular health and cognitive function. It includes a systematic search which identified seventy-one epidemiological or intervention studies in which effects of chronic nut consumption on blood pressure, glucoregulation, endothelial vasodilator function, arterial compliance, inflammatory biomarkers and cognitive performance were evaluated. Weighted mean changes were estimated where data were available; they indicate that nut consumption reduces blood pressure and improves glucoregulation, endothelial vasodilator function and inflammation, whilst a limited number of studies suggest that nut consumption may also improve cognitive performance. Further clinical trials are warranted to explore relationships between nut consumption, endothelial function and cognitive function.

Systematic Review

Study Snapshot

Key takeawayNut consumption reduces blood pressure, improves glucoregulation, endothelial vasodilator function, and inflammation, and may also improve cognitive performance.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

Nut consumption for vascular health and cognitive function

References

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