title: Association of Nut Consumption with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in the 2008/2009 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey.
abstract: Nut consumption has been associated with improvements in risk factors for chronic disease in populations within North America, Europe and Iran. This relationship has not been investigated in New Zealand (NZ). The associations between nut consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors among New Zealanders were examined. Data from the 24-h diet recalls of 4721 participants from the NZ Adult Nutrition Survey 2008/2009 (2008/2009 NZANS) were used to determine whole and total nut intake. Anthropometric data and blood pressure were collected, as well as blood samples analysed for total cholesterol (total-C) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), C-reactive protein (CRP) and folate. Participants were classified according to their five-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Both whole and total nut consumers had significantly lower weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and central adiposity than non-nut consumers (all p ≤ 0.044). Whole blood, serum and red blood cell folate concentrations were significantly higher among whole nut consumers compared to non-whole nut consumers (all p ≤ 0.014), with only serum folate higher in total nut consumers compared to non-total nut consumers (p = 0.023). There were no significant differences for blood pressure, total-C, HDL-C and HbA1c; however, significant negative associations between total nut consumption and CVD risk category (p < 0.001) and CRP (p = 0.045) were apparent. Nut consumption was associated with more favourable body composition and a number of risk factors, which could collectively reduce chronic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054 New Zealand. rachel.brown@otago.ac.nz.|Nutrition Society of New Zealand, Whanganui 4543, New Zealand. rachel.brown@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Rachel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, 14 Medical Drive, #07-02, Singapore 117599, Singapore. siewling_tey@sics.a-star.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Siew Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tey
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. andrew.gray@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054 New Zealand. alex.chisholm@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chisholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054 New Zealand. claire.smith@otago.ac.nz.|Nutrition Society of New Zealand, Whanganui 4543, New Zealand. claire.smith@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054 New Zealand. liz.fleming@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054 New Zealand. winsome.parnell@otago.ac.nz.|Nutrition Society of New Zealand, Whanganui 4543, New Zealand. winsome.parnell@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Winsome
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Parnell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009754:Nuts; D065840:Protective Factors; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cardiometabolic risk factors; nut intake; population survey