Scientific Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The intake of nuts has been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes in large cohort studies. One potential contributing mechanism may be the ability of nuts to improve post-meal glycemic response. We; therefore; examined the effect of nuts alone and in combination with white bread on postprandial glycemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: 30; 60 and 90 g (approximately 1; 2 and 3 ounces) of mixed nuts were consumed with and without 50 g available carbohydrate from white bread by 10-14 normoglycemic and 5-10 type 2 diabetic subjects. Glycemic response (GR) was assessed by calculating the incremental area under the 2 h blood glucose curve. All three doses of mixed nuts; when fed alone; significantly reduced the glycemic response in both normoglycemic and diabetic patients. Furthermore; in the normoglycemic subjects; adding nuts to white bread progressively reduced the GR of the meal by 11.2 ± 11.6%; 29.7 ± 12.2% and 53.5 ± 8.5% for the 30; 60; and 90 g doses (P = 0.354; P = 0.031 and P < 0.001; respectively); while in subjects with type 2 diabetes; the effect was half of that seen in the non-diabetic subjects (P = 0.474; P = 0.113 and P = 0.015; respectively). CONCLUSION: Nuts alone have little effect on post-meal blood glucose response. Furthermore; when taken with bread; nuts progressively reduce the glycemic response in a dose-dependent manner. While these findings support a short-term benefit for nuts in postprandial glucose response; more studies are required to determine whether these acute benefits result in long-term improvements in glycemic control.