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 food frequency questionnaire was used to collect information on the consumption of various types of nuts. The Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire was used to assess cognitive status. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between nut intake and cognitive status after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results: The median intake of total nuts was 11.7 g/day and served as a cut-off to categorize low and high consumers (mean intake 4.3 g/day vs. 39.7 g/day, respectively). Higher total nut intake was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of impaired cognitive status among older individuals (OR = 0.35, CI 95%: 0.15, 0.84) after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Notably, this association remained significant after additional adjustment for adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern as an indicator of diet quality, (OR = 0.32, CI 95%: 0.13, 0.77). No significant associations were found between cognitive status and specific types of nuts.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17030521
Consuming Pecans as a Snack Improves Lipids/Lipoproteins and Diet Quality Compared to Usual Diet in Adults at Increased Risk for Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: The vascular and cardiometabolic effects of pecans are relatively under-studied. Objectives: The aim was to examine how substitution of usual snack foods with 57 g/day of pecans affects vascular health, risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases and diet quality, compared to continuing usual intake in individuals at risk for cardiometabolic diseases. Methods: A 12-week single-blinded, parallel, randomized controlled trial was conducted. Adults with ≥1 criterion for metabolic syndrome who were free from cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes were included. Participants were provided with 57 g/day of pecans and instructed to replace the snacks usually consumed with the provided pecans. The control group was instructed to continue consuming their usual diet. Flow mediated dilation (FMD; primary outcome), blood pressure, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), lipids/lipoproteins, and glycemic control were measured at baseline and following the intervention. Participants completed three 24-hour recalls at three timepoints (baseline, week 6, and week 12) during the study (9 recalls in total). The Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020) was calculated to assess diet quality. Results: In total, 138 participants (Mean±SD;46±13 years, 29.8±3.7 kg/m2) were randomized (69 per group). No between group differences in FMD, cf-PWV or blood pressure were observed. Compared to the usual diet group, pecan intake reduced total cholesterol (-8.1 mg/dL; 95%CI -14.5, -1.7), LDL-C (-7.2 mg/dL; 95%CI -12.3, -2.1), non-HDL-C (-9.5 mg/dL; 95%CI -15.3, -3.7) and triglycerides (-16.4 mg/dL; 95%CI -30.0, -2.9). Weight tended to increase in the pecan group compared with the usual diet group (0.7 kg; 95%CI -0.1, 1.4). The HEI-2020 increased by 9.4 points (95%CI 5.0, 13.7) in the pecan group compared to the usual diet group. Conclusions: Replacing usual snacks with 57 g/day of pecans for 12-weeks improved lipids/lipoproteins and diet quality, but did not affect vascular health in adults at risk for cardiometabolic disease.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.01.024
Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Shows Promise for Peanut Allergy Treatment
The findings provide hope for long-term relief from allergic reactions
A recent study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests that a novel virus-like particle vaccine targeting peanut allergy may have the potential to provide a safe and effective alternative to existing treatments.
Researchers developed a vaccine using a cucumber mosaic virus-like particle expressing the peanut allergen component Ara h 2. This approach aims to reprogram the immune system to tolerate peanut exposure rather than trigger allergic reactions.
The study assessed the vaccine’s tolerogenic properties in blood samples from six peanut-allergic children. Researchers evaluated the vaccine’s ability to modify immune responses by analyzing dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells. Additionally, an open-label phase 1 trial tested the safety of the vaccine in six peanut-allergic adults through a skin prick test.
The findings showed that the vaccine had beneficial biochemical properties and was fit for use in further clinical studies. The study also found that the vaccine was safe and well tolerated, with all patients tolerating a high dose. Further clinical trials will explore the vaccine’s effectiveness at providing long-term relief from allergic reactions.
Layhadi, J. A., Starchenka, S., De Kam, P. J., Palmer, E., Patel, N., Keane, S. T., Hikmawati, P., Drazdauskaite, G., Wu, L. Y. D., Filipaviciute, P., Parkin, R. V., Oluwayi, K., Rusyn, O., Skinner, M. A., Heath, M. D., Hewings, S. J., Kramer, M. F., Turner, P., & Shamji, M. H. (2025). Ara h 2-expressing cucumber mosaic virus-like particle (VLP Peanut) induces in vitro tolerogenic cellular responses in peanut-allergic individuals. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 155(1), 153–165.
Study Finds Home-Based Peanut Immunotherapy Effective for Children with High-Threshold Peanut Allergy
The findings point to a convenient, low-cost alternative to total peanut avoidance
A recent study published in the prestigious journal NEJM Evidence found that children with high-threshold peanut allergies who consumed gradually increasing doses of peanut butter over 18 months were able to tolerate significantly larger amounts of peanut protein without allergic reactions.
Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of peanut oral immunotherapy in children aged 4 to 14 years who could initially tolerate at least half of a peanut before having an allergic reaction. A total of 73 participants were randomly assigned to either an oral immunotherapy group, which consumed store-bought, home-measured peanut butter, or a control group, which followed peanut avoidance.
The goal was to determine the difference between the groups in the proportion of participants who could tolerate a two-dose-level increase or 9,043 mg of peanut protein. To assess sustained peanut tolerance off treatment, those who reached the 9,043 mg threshold were tested again after 16 weeks of regular ingestion followed by 8 weeks of abstinence.
All of the children in the oral immunotherapy group successfully tolerated 9,043 mg of peanut protein, compared to 21% of the avoidance group. Furthermore, 68.4% of the children who received oral immunotherapy maintained their tolerance after the abstinence period, compared to only 8.6% in the avoidance group. No serious adverse events were reported, and all dosing reactions were mild. The findings suggest that a low-cost, at-home peanut immunotherapy approach could be a safe and effective strategy for children with high-threshold peanut allergy.
Sicherer, S. H., Bunyavanich, S., Berin, M. C., Lo, T., Groetch, M., Schaible, A., Perry, S. A., Wheatley, L. M., Fulkerson, P. C., Chang, H. L., Suárez-Fariñas, M., Sampson, H. A., & Wang, J. (2025). Peanut Oral Immunotherapy in Children with High-Threshold Peanut Allergy. NEJM Evidence, EVIDoa2400306. Advance online publication.
Research Supports Eating Pecans as a Heart-Healthy Snack
Consuming pecans instead of usual snacks may lead to better cholesterol levels and diet quality
A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined how substituting common snack foods with pecans affects vascular health, risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases, and diet quality.
The study was a 12-week randomized controlled trial involving 138 adults who had at least one criterion for metabolic syndrome and were free of cardiovascular disease. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the control group, which followed their usual diet, or the intervention group, which was instructed to replace their usual snacks with 57 grams of pecans per day. The researchers measured changes in heart and blood vessel health, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and overall diet quality at baseline and after the intervention. They also tracked what participants ate using food diaries.
After the intervention, participants who ate pecans had lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood), all of which are linked to heart health. Their overall diet quality also improved.
The researchers concluded that swapping regular snacks for two handfuls of pecans for 12 weeks led to better cholesterol levels and improved overall diet quality.
This study was funded by the American Pecan Council.
Hart, T. L., Kris-Etherton, P. M., & Petersen, K. S. (2025). Consuming Pecans as a Snack Improves Lipids/Lipoproteins and Diet Quality Compared to Usual Diet in Adults at Increased Risk for Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, S0002-9165(25)00057-7. Advance online publication.
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 with a calorie-matched control containing no nuts. Cognition, mood, blood, and EEG measures were recorded at baseline and 2, 4, and 6 hours postprandially. Mood ratings for negative affect appeared worse following walnuts compared to control, possibly due to a general dislike of the intervention. However, walnuts elicited faster reaction times throughout the day on executive function tasks. Memory recall performance at 2 hours was worse for walnuts compared to control, but by 6 hours this finding was reversed with walnuts outperforming the control. EEG PSD analysis revealed differences in frontoparietal activity in the walnut condition compared to the control condition during memory recall and during executive function performance. These results may reflect between-treatment differences in cognitive effort or attentional processes while performing the tasks. Blood analysis revealed lower circulating non-esterified fatty acids and small increases in glucose availability following consumption of walnuts compared to control, suggesting enhanced glucose availability as one possible mechanism of action. Further investigations of other potential mechanisms are needed. Overall, these findings provide evidence for reaction time benefits throughout the day following a walnut-rich breakfast, while memory findings were mixed with benefits only observed later in the day. However, more research is needed into how diets containing walnuts might regulate cognitive improvements in humans postprandially and over the longer term.
https://doi.org/10.1039/d4fo04832f
Uncovering the sensory properties of commercial and experimental clean label almond milks
Almond milk is the largest category of plant-based milk alternatives in the United States, and it is manufactured by suspending ground almond paste in water. Nevertheless, this method limits the amount of almonds that can be added to almond milk, and most almond milks on the market have low protein despite almonds themselves being nutritionally dense. The use of sustainable aqueous and enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processes offers an alternative method for producing almond milks with enhanced nutritional content. However, it is currently unclear how the sensory properties of such milks compare to those of commercial almond milks. In this study, we conducted a sensory descriptive analysis with 14 trained panelists on 12 commercial almond milk samples and 14 formulated ones (seven aqueous and seven enzyme-assisted aqueous extracted milks). The purpose of this study was to understand how sensorially diverse commercial almond milks are, as well as to determine how aqueous and enzyme-assisted aqueous extracted almond milks compare to commercial methods. We found that formulated samples were significantly different from commercial products, and that all commercial products could be distinguished from each other. Furthermore, commercial milks were more differentiated than were formulated samples. Given the sensory diversity of almond milks on the market, this study suggests that there is potential for introducing new products in the almond milk category. Finally, this study also showed that descriptive analysis can be successfully conducted with two distinct groups of products in the same panel.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.70007
Development of a dietary fiber-rich, high-value food ingredient from cashew juice processing for use in plant-based products
Cashew bagasse, often referred to as “cashew meat” in producing regions, is a by-product of cashew apple juice processing. Unfortunately, this biomass is typically discarded as waste by processing industries. However, it possesses valuable compounds like carotenoids and polyphenols that can be extracted. The remaining fiber has unique sensory characteristics in appearance and texture that resemble animal protein, making it a promising raw material for plant-based food formulations. To utilize it as a food ingredient, appropriate treatment is necessary. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of pretreatment involving sequential soaking and pressing cycles and various drying processes to enhance its suitability for meat analog products. Cashew bagasse was treated using three fiber-to-water ratios (1:1, 1:1.5, and 1:2 w/w) across five sequential soaking/pressing cycles. The methods assessed included freeze drying, oven drying, and tray drying. Croquette formulations were developed with 30%, 40%, and 50% cashew fiber, along with soy protein, to increase the overall protein content. Physicochemical and sensory evaluations of the treated fibers indicated that acidity, soluble solids, phenolic compounds, and cashew flavor were significantly reduced after the second soaking/pressing cycle, suggesting that fewer cycles may be sufficient. Additionally, the amount of water used did not significantly affect the outcomes. Freeze drying yielded the best drying results. Although the croquette formulations received high sensory acceptance, the one with 50% cashew fiber had a pronounced cashew flavor, which limited its appeal. In conclusion, the bagasse treatment can be optimized to two soaking/pressing cycles, and freeze-drying of the treated fiber provides the best technological results. A cashew fiber content of up to 40% is suitable for use in plant-based croquettes.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-024-03052-1
Nano-adsorbents obtained from walnut and almond shells for the effective removal of aflatoxin B1
In the present study, new nano-adsorbents were prepared from the walnut (WSN) and almond (ASN) shells for the sequestering of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination. The nano-adsorbents were characterized via SEM, EDS, XRD, and FTIR spectroscopy techniques to discover valuable data about the morphology, surface, and chemical configuration of the nano-adsorbents. The adsorption process was further optimized by altering the biosorbent dosage, AFB1 concentration, pH, time, and temperature. Among the tested biosorbents, the WSN and ANS presented a significant removal of AFB1 compared with the walnut and almond shell powders (WSP and ASP). The maximum removal using WSN and ASN was achieved as 93.70% and 83.81% using 10 mg/mL of nano-adsorbent, pH 5.0 at 45 °C for 45 min. Langmuir was the best fitting model for each adsorption data with adsorption capacities of WSP, ASP, WSN, and ASN were 47.6, 36.1, 176.3, and 161.1 mg/g, respectively, with a leading monolayer form adsorption. Kinetic data followed the pseudo-second-order with fast AFB1 uptake. However, thermodynamics studies indicated the spontaneity and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. Furthermore, no significant decline in AFB1 adsorption was recorded after reusability up to five times. The production of nano-adsorbents in this study offers the possibility of dropping the cost of production, controlling agro-waste, and reducing toxins and other organic materials. Finally, the adsorption presentation confirmed the ability of this novel, cost-effective, environment-friendly, and non-toxic biosorbent to remove AFB1 effectively.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-025-06590-w
Carbon Sequestration Potential of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Plantations Across Climatic Gradients in Togo
The current study seeks to estimate the carbon sequestration capability of a cashew plantation in Togo as a function of climate gradient. The research was conducted in the Guinean and Sudanian climatic zones, on farmers' cashew plantations. The study was run from March to October 2023. This study was carried out in ten (10) cashew farms (five per climatic zone) which have ten years old. Cashew trees were classed based on their diameter at breast height (0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15 cm, and > 15 cm). To measure carbon stock in the biomass, allometric equations were utilized, and soil carbon stock was assessed using laboratory analysis. The Guinean zone has a higher soil carbon stock (86.89 ± 4.06 t C/ha) compared to the Sudanian zone (80.23 ± 3.78 t). The same trend can be observed in the various cashew tree components (trunk, branches and leaves). In general, the tree trunk had 79% of the carbon supply, compared to 19% and 2% in the branches and leaves, respectively. Carbon sequestration in the soil varies depending on the climatic zone and the soil depth (0-25 cm; 25-50 cm). Cashew-based cropping systems might be deemed carbon-efficient.
https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2025/v15i14672