A weekly nut intake of more than two servings of approximately 28 grams each is associated with a lower risk of all the components of metabolic syndrome in type 1 diabetes. The causality of this association, however, remains unexplored.
Nuts are naturally a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, protein, minerals and several other bioactive compounds. Furthermore, nuts only minimally contribute to heightened blood sugar after a meal, or post-prandial glycaemia, since they are so low in carbohydrates. This is important to individuals with diabetes. Nuts have been shown to have several other positive health effects, apart from being nutritious but simultaneously low in carbohydrates. Nut consumption is associated with lower risk of coronary arterial disease and mortality related to it. And is, as such, claimed to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Metabolic syndrome, in turn, is an increasing culprit for morbidity and mortality around the world, as it usually progresses through several cardiovascular risk factors. Metabolic syndrome consists of hyperglycemia, high blood pressure, high triglyceride concentrations, low high-density cholesterol concentrations, and central obesity. It also frequently appears in tandem with type one diabetes. An increasing base of evidence also suggests that metabolic syndrome among individuals with type one diabetes are at high risk for vascular comorbidities.
A recent study at Folkhälsan Research Center investigated the association between nut intake and the presence of metabolic syndrome and its components. The researchers used data collected by The Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study (FinnDiane), a nation-wide study aimed at identifying risk factors for diabetes complications. Food records of 1058 participants were assessed and the weekly number of nut servings (about 28g) was calculated. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of three or more of the cardiovascular risk factors; central obesity, high triglyceride concentration, low HDL concentration, use of medication for high blood pressure, and hyperglycemia.
Out of the 1058 participants, of which the mean age was 46 years and 41.6% were men, 54.1% reported no nut intake. The median weekly nut intake for the remainder of the participants was 40.8g. In the statistical analyses, higher nut consumption was associated with a lower metabolic syndrome score - lower waist circumference, BMI, and glycated hemoglobin, a measure used to diagnose diabetes. Consumption of two or more weekly nut servings was associated with lower risk of also having components of metabolic syndrome.
To summarize, a weekly intake of two or more handfuls (about 28g) of nuts is beneficially associated with all components of metabolic syndrome among individuals with type one diabetes. However, the causality of this association remains unclear.
Reference:
Ahola, A.J.; Forsblom, C.M.; Harjutsalo, V.; Groop, P.-H., on behalf of the FinnDiane Study Group. Nut Consumption Is Associated with Lower Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Type 1 Diabetes. Nutrients 2021, 13, 3909. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113909
Full text available here.
Simon Granroth, Science Communicator
