Almonds, Peanuts May Improve Glucose, Inflammation in Diabetes Patients
Consumption of almonds and peanuts may improve fasting plasma glucose (FPG), inflammation, and other factors in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a recent study.
The findings were presented at the International Conference on Diabetes, Nutrition, Metabolism & Medicare in Vancouver, Canada, on July 25, 2017.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
RELATED CONTENT
Cognitive Decline Linked to Glucose Peaks in Diabetes Patients
Which Diabetes Patients Would Most Benefit from Weight Loss Interventions?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Between December 2015 and August 2016, the researcher recruited and evaluated patients with type 2 diabetes from the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in China and from diabetes clubs in Suzhou, China. Patients were randomly assigned to consume peanuts (n = 15) or almonds (n = 17) daily.
For 3 months, men in the peanut group consumed 60 g of peanuts daily, while women consumed 50 g daily. In the almond group, men consumed 55 g daily, and women consumed 45 g daily. According to the researcher, the week prior to the start of the trial was considered a washout period. In addition, participants in the 2 groups received a 1-on-1 education on a low-carbohydrate diet.
Blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were collected and compared at baseline and at 3 months.
Results of the study indicated that consumption of both peanuts and almonds can improve FPB among type 2 diabetes patients. Additionally, consumption of almonds can improve BMI and long-term blood glucose stability, and peanut consumption can help improve inflammation.
“Therefore, it is recommended that obese patients with unstable blood glucose can moderately consume almonds,” the researcher concluded. “Peanuts are good for the patients with [sic] poor FPG and high expression of inflammatory factors. These can be used as adjuvant therapy for [type 2 diabetes] patients.”
—Christina Vogt
Reference:
Zou Y. Effect of different types of nuts on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Paper presented at: International Conference on Diabetes, Nutrition, Metabolism & Medicare; July 24-26, 2017. Vancouver, Canada. http://diabetesconference.alliedacademies.com/abstract/2017/effect.