Scientific Study

The purpose of this study was to determine if the mixed evidence of almond consumption on HbA1c stems from testing people with different body fat distributions (BFD) associated with different risks of glucose intolerance. A 6-month RCT in 134 adults was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to the almond (A) or control (C) group based on their BFD. Those in the almond group consumed 1.5-oz of almonds with their breakfast and as their afternoon snack daily. Those in the control group continued their habitual breakfast and afternoon snack routines. Body weight and composition were measured and blood samples were collected for determination of HbA1c, glycemia and lipemia at 0 and 6-months. Appetite ratings, energy intake, and diet quality were collected at 0, 2, 4 and 6-months. Participants consuming almonds ingested 195±87 kcals/day more than participants in the control group (p=0.03), but this did not result in any differences in body weight (A:-0.3±0.4, C:-0.4±0.4; p>0.3). Participants in the almond, high android subcutaneous adiposity (SAT) group had a greater reduction in android fat mass % (A:-1.0±0.6, C:1.1±0.6; p=0.04), preserved android lean mass % (A:0.9±0.6, C:-1±0.6; p=0.04), and tended to decrease android VAT mass (A:-13±53 g, C:127±53 g; p=0.08) compared to those in the control, high SAT group. There were no differences in HbA1c between groups (A:5.4±0.04, C:5.5±0.04; p>0.05). Thus, BFD may not explain the mixed evidence on almond consumption effects on HbA1c. Long-term almond consumption has limited ability to improve cardiometabolic health in those who are overweight and obese but otherwise healthy.

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114521001495