Daily pecan consumption improved fatty acid profile and dietary quality in adults at risk for cardiometabolic diseases
A study published recently in Current Developments in Nutrition explored how replacing typical snacks with pecans affected nutrient displacement and changes in food pattern component intake in adults at increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases.
The study was a 12-week parallel randomized controlled trial involving 138 overweight or obese adults with at least one feature of metabolic syndrome. Participants in the intervention group were instructed to substitute their usual snacks with 57 grams (roughly two handfuls) of pecans daily for 12 weeks, while a control group followed their usual diets. Participants provided information about their food intake using a self-administered dietary assessment tool, and the researchers calculated energy and nutrient displacement.
The pecan group showed increased intakes of beneficial nutrients such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, fiber, and total protein foods including nuts and seeds. The findings highlight pecans as a nutrient-dense snack that can replace less healthy options to improve overall diet quality.
The American Pecan Council provided funding for this study.
Hart, T. L., Kris-Etherton, P. M., & Petersen, K. S. (2025). Nutrient Displacement Associated with Replacing Intake of Usual Snacks with Pecans: An Exploratory Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Current Developments in Nutrition, 9(5), 107438.