title: Effects of walnut consumption on cognitive performance in young adults.
abstract: Walnuts contain a number of potentially neuroprotective compounds like vitamin E, folate, melatonin, several antioxidative polyphenols and significant amounts of n-3 α-linolenic fatty acid. The present study sought to determine the effect of walnuts on verbal and non-verbal reasoning, memory and mood. A total of sixty-four college students were randomly assigned to two treatment sequences in a crossover fashion: walnuts-placebo or placebo-walnuts. Baseline data were collected for non-verbal reasoning, verbal reasoning, memory and mood states. Data were collected again after 8 weeks of intervention. After 6 weeks of washout, the intervention groups followed the diets in reverse order. Data were collected once more at the end of the 8-week intervention period. No significant increases were detected for mood, non-verbal reasoning or memory on the walnut-supplemented diet. However, inferential verbal reasoning increased significantly by 11.2 %, indicating a medium effect size (P = 0.009; d = 0.567). In young, healthy, normal adults, walnuts do not appear to improve memory, mood or non-verbal reasoning abilities. However, walnuts may have the ability to increase inferential reasoning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Wellness, Andrews University, 8475 University Boulevard, Marsh Hall 313, Berrien Springs, MI 49104-0210, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pribis
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, Andrews University, 4195 Administration Drive, Bell Hall 159, Berrien Springs, MI 49104, USA.
authors.forename: Rudolph N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, Andrews University, 4195 Administration Drive, Bell Hall 159, Berrien Springs, MI 49104, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, Andrews University, 4270 Administration Drive, Halenz Hall 327, Berrien Springs, MI 49104, USA.
authors.forename: Marcia A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kilsby
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Wellness, Andrews University, 8475 University Boulevard, Marsh Hall 313, Berrien Springs, MI 49104-0210, USA.
authors.forename: Magaly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Wellness, Andrews University, 8475 University Boulevard, Marsh Hall 313, Berrien Springs, MI 49104-0210, USA.
authors.forename: Winston J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, Andrews University, 4195 Administration Drive, Bell Hall 159, Berrien Springs, MI 49104, USA.
authors.forename: Tevni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grajales
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, 11234 Anderson Street, Nichol Hall 2005, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Shavlik
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, 11234 Anderson Street, Nichol Hall 1102, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sabatè
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D031324:Juglans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009754:Nuts; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents