Consumption of Tree Nuts Linked to Lower Cases of Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Says Loma Linda University Health Study
Loma Linda, CA (PRWEB) January 09, 2014 -- Consumption of tree nuts is associated with lower cases of obesity and metabolic syndrome, suggests a new study from Loma Linda University Health published in the peer-reviewed online science and medicine journal, PLOS ONE.
Researchers from Loma Linda University School of Public Health studied the nut consumption of 803 Seventh-day Adventist adults who are subjects from the Adventist Heath Study 2, possibly the largest study involving vegetarians.
The study found the association between the tree nuts – almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts – and metabolic syndrome and obesity in a population that has a wide range of nut consumption, ranging from daily to never.
Average tree nut intake was 16 grams per day among the high tree nut consumers, and five grams per day among low tree nut consumers. The study was funded by the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research and Education Foundation.
“Our results showed that one serving (28 grams or one ounce) of tree nuts per week was significantly associated with seven percent less metabolic syndrome,” said lead researcher Karen Jaceldo-Siegl, DrPH.
“Doubling this consumption could potentially reduce metabolic syndrome risk by 14 percent,” she said. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors shown to be an increased risk for chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and type-2 diabetes; and death.
In addition, Jaceldo-Siegl said, there were fewer cases of obesity among high tree nut consumers compared with low tree nut consumers.
“Tree nut consumption in this population has strong inverse association with obesity," she said.
To read the complete report, visit: http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085133.
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About Loma Linda University Health (LLUH)
Loma Linda University Health includes Loma Linda University's eight professional schools, Loma Linda University Medical Center's six hospitals and more than 900 faculty physicians located in the Inland Empire of Southern California. Established in 1905, LLUH is a global leader in education, research and clinical care. It offers over 100 academic programs and provides quality health care to 40,000 inpatients and 1.5 million outpatients each year. A Seventh-day Adventist organization, LLUH is a faith-based health system with a mission "to continue the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ."
CONTACT: Herbert Atienza, Loma Linda University Health, 909-558-8419, hatienza(at)llu(dot)edu
Herbert Atienza, Loma Linda University Health, http://www.lomalindahealth.org, +1 (909) 558-8419, [email protected]
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