Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #284806
Title: Nut consumption is associated with decreased health risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome in US adults: NHANES 1999-2004

Author
item O'NEIL, CAROL - LSU Agcenter
item KEAST, DEBRA - Food And Nutrition Database Research, Inc
item NICKLAS, THERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item FULGONI III, VICTOR - Nutrition Impact, Llc

Submitted to: Journal of the American College of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2011
Publication Date: 11/12/2011
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/58912
Citation: O'Neil, C.E., Keast, D.R., Nicklas, T.A., Fulgoni III, V.L. 2011. Nut consumption is associated with decreased health risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome in US adults: NHANES 1999-2004. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 30:502-510.

Interpretive Summary: Few recent epidemiologic studies have assessed the effect that nut consumption (including tree nuts and peanuts) has on health risks, including metabolic syndrome. This study compared the health risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome of nut consumers with that of nonconsumers. Consumption of nuts in the population was low; however, nut consumption was also associated with better health risk parameters and, for tree nut consumers, a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome than for nonconsumers. On a population basis, these lower risk factors could lead to better health and lower longterm health care costs.

Technical Abstract: Few recent epidemiologic studies have assessed the effect that nut consumption (including tree nuts and peanuts) has on health risks, including metabolic syndrome. This study compared the health risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome of nut consumers with that of nonconsumers. Adults 19+ years (n = 13,292) participating in the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. Intake from 24-hour recalls was used to determine intake. Nut consumption was associated with a decreased body mass index, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure compared with nonconsumers. Tree nut consumers also had a lower weight. Nut consumers had a lower percentage of hypertension and low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Tree nut consumers had a lower prevalence of abdominal obesity and hypertension, low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high fasting glucose, and a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Nut/tree nut consumption was associated with a decreased prevalence of selected risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.