Nut Consumption Is Associated with Decreased Health Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease and Metabolic Syndrome in U.S. Adults: NHANES 1999–2004

Abstract

Background: Few recent epidemiologic studies have assessed the effect that nut consumption (including tree nuts and peanuts) has on health risks, including metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Objective: This study compared the health risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and MetS of nut consumers with that of nonconsumers.

Design: Adults 19+ years (n = 13,292) participating in the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. Intake from 24-hour recalls was used to determine intake. Nut/tree nut consumers consumed ≥¼ ounce per day. Covariate-adjusted means, standard errors, and prevalence rates were determined for the nut consumption groups.

Results: The prevalence of nut consumers was 18.6% ± 0.7% and 21.0% ± 0.9% in those 19–50 years and 51 years and older, respectively. Nut consumption was associated with a decreased body mass index (27.7 kg/m² ± 0.2 vs 28.1 ± 0.1 kg/m², p < 0.05), waist circumference (95.6 ± 0.4 cm vs 96.4 ± 0.3 cm, p < 0.05), and systolic blood pressure (121.9 ± 0.4 mmHg vs 123.20 ± 0.3 mmHg, p < 0.01) compared with nonconsumers. Tree nut consumers also had a lower weight (78.8 ± 0.7 kg vs 80.7 ± 0.3 kg, p < 0.05). Nut consumers had a lower percentage of two risk factors for MetS: hypertension (31.5% ± 1.0% vs 34.2% ± 0.8%, p < 0.05) and low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (29.6% ± 1.0% vs 34.8% ± 0.8%, p < 0.01). Tree nut consumers had a lower prevalence of four risk factors for MetS: abdominal obesity (43.6% ± 1.6% vs 49.5% ± 0.8%, p < 0.05), hypertension (31.4% ± 1.2% vs 33.9% ± 0.8%, p < 0.05), low HDL-C (27.9% ± 1.7% vs 34.5% ± 0.8%, p < 0.01), high fasting glucose (11.4% ± 1.4% vs 15.0% ± 0.7%, p < 0.05), and a lower prevalence of MetS (21.2% ± 2.1% vs 26.6% ± 0.7%, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Nut/tree nut consumption was associated with a decreased prevalence of selected risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and MetS.

Key words::

• tree nuts
• nutrient intake
• diet quality
• health risk factors
• metabolic syndrome
• NHANES

Table 1. Percentage of Consumption of All Nuts and Nut Butters and Tree Nuts and Tree Nut Butters (%) by Gender and Age Group*^†

Table 2. LS-Mean Body Weight, Body Mass Index, Measures of Adiposity, and Blood Pressure by Consumption of All Nuts and All Nut Butters and Tree Nuts and Tree Nut Butters^†‡

Table 3. Least-Squares Mean Laboratory Component by Consumption of All Nuts and Nut Butters and Tree Nuts and Tree Nut Butters^†‡

Table 4. Adults (Adjusted %) Having Risk Factor by Consumption of All Nuts and Nut Butters and Tree Nuts and Tree Nut Butters^†‡

Notes

This research was supported by the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research and Education Foundation and the USDA. This work is a publication of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA/ARS) Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and was also funded in part with federal funds from the USDA/Agricultural Research Service under Cooperative Agreement No. 58-6250-6-003 and HATCH project LAB 93951.

The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the USDA, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement from the U.S. government.