Plain language summary
Regular consumption of nuts has been associated with healthy changes in blood cholesterol despite the fact that nuts are energy dense and high in fat. The aim of this parallel study was to assess the effects of various, equally dense snacks on body weight and composition, blood lipids, resting metabolic rate, appetite indices and dietary quality in 118 adults. Participants consumed daily portions of hazelnuts, chocolate or potato crisps compared to a control group receiving no snacks for 12 weeks. This study found that after 12 weeks, dietary quality improved significantly in the nut group, and no other outcome measurements were significantly different. Based on these results, the authors conclude that public health policy should continue to encourage regular consumption of nuts among the population promoting cardio-protective effects without weight gain.
Abstract
Previous studies have reported that regular nut consumption reduces cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and does not promote weight gain despite the fact that nuts are energy-dense. However, no studies have investigated the body composition of those regularly consuming nuts compared to similar intakes of other snacks of equal energy density. This parallel study (n = 118) examined the effects of providing daily portions (~1100 kJ/d) of hazelnuts, chocolate, or potato crisps compared to a control group receiving no snacks for twelve weeks. Effects on body weight and composition, blood lipids and lipoproteins, resting metabolic rate (RMR), appetite indices, and dietary quality were compared. At week 12, there was no significant difference in any of the outcome measurements between the groups except for dietary quality, which improved significantly in the nut group. Nuts can be incorporated into the diet without adversely affecting body weight and can improve diet quality.
Methodological quality
Allocation concealment
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