Effect of diets enriched in almonds on insulin action and serum lipids in adults with normal glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Nuts appear to have cardiovascular benefits but their effect in diabetic patients is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to assess effects of almond-enriched diets on insulin sensitivity and lipids in patients with normoglycemia or type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Study 1 assessed the effect of almonds on insulin sensitivity in 20 free-living healthy volunteers who received 100 g almonds/d for 4 wk. Study 2 was a randomized crossover study that compared 4 diets in 30 volunteers with type 2 diabetes: 1) high-fat, high-almond (HFA; 37% total fat, 10% from almonds); 2) low-fat, high-almond (LFA; 25% total fat, 10% from almonds); 3) high-fat control (HFC; 37% total fat, 10% from olive or canola oil); and 4) low-fat control (LFC; 25% total fat, 10% from olive or canola oil). After each 4-wk diet, serum lipids and oral glucose tolerance were measured.


RESULTS
In study 1, almond consumption did not change insulin sensitivity significantly, although body weight increased and total and LDL cholesterol decreased by 21% and 29%, respectively (P < 0.05). In study 2, total cholesterol was lowest with the HFA diet (4.46 +/- 0.14, 4.52 +/- 0.14, 4.63 +/- 0.14, and 4.63 +/- 0.14 mmol/L with the HFA, HFC, LFA, and LFC diets, respectively; P = 0.0004 for fat level). HDL cholesterol was significantly lower with the almond diets (P = 0.002); however, no significant effect of fat source on LDL:HDL was observed. Glycemia was unaffected.


CONCLUSIONS
Almond-enriched diets do not alter insulin sensitivity in healthy adults or glycemia in patients with diabetes. Almonds had beneficial effects on serum lipids in healthy adults and produced changes similar to high monounsaturated fat oils in diabetic patients.
Lovejoy
Jennifer C
JC
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70808, USA. lovejoj@pbrc.edu
Most
Marlene M
MM
Lefevre
Michael
M
Greenway
Frank L
FL
Rood
Jennifer C
JC
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D027861:Prunus; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D012016:Reference Values
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D005947:Glucose