Date Fruits and Their Products for Almond Beverage Fortification: Assessment of Beverages and Resulting Residues

Research background: The shift towards plant-based beverages, particularly almond drinks, has increased the need to develop innovative products using fruits and herbal extracts to improve their nutritional and sensory properties. In this study, date palm fruits, Deglet Nour variety (tamr stage) and Besser Helou variety (khalal stage), and two Deglet Nour-derived products (date powder and […]

Prune Consumption and Bone Health in Older Men: A One-Year Randomized Controlled Trial

Background/Objectives: Approximately 53.4 million U.S. adults aged 50 or older have low bone mass, yet male bone health remains under-researched. This study evaluated the effects of one year of prune supplementation on bone health in older men susceptible to, or with, osteopenia. Methods: A total of 59 men (aged 55-80 years) were randomly assigned to […]

Effects of peanut butter supplementation on older adults’ physical and cognitive function: a 6-month randomised, controlled trial

Human physical and cognitive functions decline with age, increasing the likelihood of reduced independence in older adults. Nuts are nutrient-dense, and research has shown that regular nut consumers have better functional capacity(1), but evidence from intervention trials is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate if daily peanut butter (PB) supplementation over 6 months can […]

Urolithins from Walnuts Are Associated with Cognitive Performance: Ancillary Results from the Walnuts and Healthy Aging (WAHA) Randomized Trial

Urolithins, microbiota-derived metabolites of ellagitannins, phenolic compounds abundant in walnuts, possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that might mitigate neuronal damage. However, clinical data supporting their effects on cognition are limited.In participants in the Walnuts and Healthy Aging (WAHA) trial, we determined urinary urolithin concentrations and examined their association with cognitive performance.The WAHA study was a […]

Nut consumption, gut microbiota, and cognitive function: findings from a prospective study in older adults at risk of cognitive decline

Background: The diet-microbiota-gut-brain axis emerges as a promising target for preventing neurodegenerative disorders. Nuts are nutrient-dense foods with potential neuroprotective and prebiotic properties, yet their relationship with longitudinal cognitive changes and gut microbiota remains unclear. Objective: To assess the association of baseline nut consumption with 6-year changes in cognitive function and baseline gut microbiota composition […]

Maternal prenatal nut and seafood consumption and child neuropsychological function from 4 to 15 years of age: a population-based cohort study

Background: Understanding the role of maternal diet in early brain development is critical, as pregnancy represents a period of significant vulnerability and growth for the developing brain. Objectives: This study aims to assess the association between maternal nuts, total seafood, and large fatty fish consumption during pregnancy and offspring neuropsychological function ≤15 y, considering the […]

The impact of a walnut-rich breakfast on cognitive performance and brain activity throughout the day in healthy young adults: a crossover intervention trial

A healthy diet is essential for optimal brain health and many bioactives from food are linked to cognitive benefits. To examine whether walnuts led to cognitive improvements throughout the day, 32 healthy young adults, aged 18-30, were tested in a double-blind, crossover pilot study, to compare the effects of a breakfast containing 50 g walnuts […]

Nut Consumption Is Associated with Cognitive Status in Southern Italian Adults

Background: Nut consumption has been considered a potential protective factor against cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to test whether higher total and specific nut intake was associated with better cognitive status in a sample of older Italian adults. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis on 883 older adults (>50 y) was conducted. A 110-item […]

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) consumption improves cognitive performance and mood in overweight young adults: A pilot study

This pilot study evaluated the impact of pistachio consumption on cognitive performance and mood in overweight young adults. Pistachios were characterized (chemical and nutraceutical), and a baseline-final, uncontrolled nutritional intervention was performed (28 g of pistachio/28 days). Psychometric tests were applied to estimate cognitive performance and mood; anthropometric evaluation, biochemical analysis, and plasma antioxidant activity […]