The world’s leading nutrition researchers gathered at INC headquarters last week for a landmark meeting dedicated to advancing the science of nuts and dried fruits.
From October 9-10, 2025, the NUTS 2025 conference brought together 28 top health researchers from across the globe to discuss the scientific evidence on the health benefits of nuts and dried fruit and chart a course for future research. Organized by Rovira i Virgili University, the Pere Virgili Institute of Health Research, and CIBERobn the event built on the success of NUTS 2022, and once again made history by serving as a global hub for discussion among the top researchers working in this field.
Insights into the Health Benefits of Nuts and Dried Fruit
Chaired by Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Chairman of the INC World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination, the meeting provided a unique opportunity for the expert speakers to review the current evidence, highlight key findings, and explore new research directions.
Key topics of discussion included the beneficial effects of eating nuts and dried fruits in relation to metabolic health, cardiovascular health, fertility, the immune system, bone health, and brain function. Researchers also discussed emerging research on the gut microbiome and biomarkers of nut consumption.
An update was provided on the INC-funded NUTPOOL study, a global initiative that pools data from multiple cohorts, totaling over 1 million participants across the globe, to strengthen the evidence on the health benefits of nut consumption. This was followed by sessions on health claim regulations in Europe and the United States, which provided important insights about the path towards achieving officially recognized claims for nuts.
Future Priorities in Nut and Dried Fruit Research
Priority areas for future research identified by the researchers included cognitive function, metabolomics, and diabetes prevention. Novel lines of research were also proposed, including a multi-center clinical trial exploring the benefits of eating mixed nuts before each meal for diabetes prevention. The goal of changing official dietary guidelines to recommend the consumption of nuts and dried fruits was another key theme that emerged throughout the conference.
Prof. Salas-Salvadó commented: “I am pleased that the conference has generated strong ideas for future studies, some of which we hope to put into action.”
INC Executive Director, Mrs. Goretti Guasch added, “Nutrition research supports the INC’s mission to highlight the health benefits of nuts. I’m proud to have hosted this important gathering at our headquarters.”
The conference concluded highlighting future research directions, and set the stage for continued progress in understanding the health benefits of nuts and dried fruits.