Funded in part by International Nut and Dried Fruit Council
Mixed nut consumption improves brain insulin sensitivity: a randomized, single-blinded, controlled, crossover trial in older adults with overweight or obesity
Nijssen KM, Mensink RP, Plat J, Ivanov D, Preissl H, Joris PJ
The American journal of clinical nutrition · 14 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
- Intake measured by
- Not stated
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Industry funded
- Industry group
- International Nut and Dried Fruit Council
Based on 1 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2023-12-20 · Am J Clin Nutr · vol. 119 · issue 2 · pp. 314–323
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Cited
- 15 citations · more than 85% of similar papers · 1.8× the field average
- References
- 48 works
- Access
- Open access (hybrid journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Nuts composition and effects · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Edible Oils Quality and Analysis
- Keywords
- Overweight, Crossover study, Medicine, Nut, Obesity, Randomized controlled trial, Insulin sensitivity, Internal medicine, Insulin resistance, Placebo, Alternative medicine, Physics
- MeSH
- brain, humans, nuts, cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, obesity, insulin, blood glucose, lipids, cross-over studies, aged, overweight
6 authors
From NL, DE
- Kevin M.R. Nijssen · correspondingMaastricht University Medical Centre; Maastricht University
- Ronald P. MensinkMaastricht University
- Jogchum PlatMaastricht University
- Dimo IvanovMaastricht University
- Hubert T. PreisslDeutsches Diabetes-Zentrum e.V.; German Center for Diabetes Research; Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf; University of Tübingen
- Peter J. JorisMaastricht University
Abstract
Background
Improving brain insulin sensitivity, which can be assessed by measuring regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) responses to intranasal insulin, may prevent age-related metabolic and cognitive diseases.
Objectives
This study aimed to investigate longer-term effects of mixed nuts on brain insulin sensitivity in older individuals with overweight/obesity.
Methods
In a randomized, single-blinded, controlled, crossover trial, 28 healthy adults (mean ± standard deviation: 65 ± 3 years; body mass index: 27.9 ± 2.3 kg/m2) received either daily 60-g mixed nuts (15 g of walnuts, pistachio, cashew, and hazelnuts) or no nuts (control) for 16 weeks, separated by an 8-week washout period. Throughout the study, participants were instructed to adhere to the Dutch food-based dietary guidelines. During follow-up, brain insulin action was assessed by quantifying acute effects of intranasal insulin on regional CBF using arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging. Furthermore, effects on peripheral insulin sensitivity (oral glucose tolerance test), intrahepatic lipids, and cardiometabolic risk markers were assessed.
Results
Body weight and composition did not change. Compared with control, mixed nut consumption improved regional brain insulin action in 5 clusters located in the left (difference in CBF responses to intranasal insulin: -4.5 ± 4.7 mL/100 g/min; P < 0.001; -4.6 ± 4.8 mL/100 g/min; P < 0.001; and -4.3 ± 3.6 mL/100 g/min; P = 0.007) and right occipital lobes (-4.3 ± 5.6 mL/100 g/min; and -3.9 ± 4.9 mL/100 g/min; P = 0.028). A fifth cluster was part of the left frontal lobe (-5.0 ± 4.6 mL/100 g/min; P < 0.001). Peripheral insulin sensitivity was not affected. Intrahepatic lipid content (-0.7%-point; 95% CI: -1.3%-point to -0.1%-point; P = 0.027), serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (-0.24 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.44 to -0.04 mmol/L; P = 0.019), and systolic blood pressure (-5 mm Hg; 95% CI: -8 to -1 mm Hg; P = 0.006) were lower after the mixed nut intervention.
Conclusions
Longer-term mixed nut consumption affected insulin action in brain regions involved in the modulation of metabolic and cognitive processes in older adults with overweight/obesity. Intrahepatic lipid content and different cardiometabolic risk markers also improved, but peripheral insulin sensitivity was not affected. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04210869.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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