Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Aug;96(2):249-54.
A randomized trial of the effects of an almond-enriched, hypocaloric diet in the treatment of obesity.
Foster GD, Shantz KL, Vander Veur SS, Oliver TL, Lent MR, Virus A, Szapary PO, Rader DJ, Zemel BS, Gilden-Tsai A.
Source
Temple University, Center for Obesity Research and Education, Philadelphia, PA
19140, USA. gfoster@temple.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Increased consumption of nuts has been advocated because of their health
benefits, but the role of nuts in the treatment of obesity is unclear given
their high energy density.
OBJECTIVE:
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a hypocaloric,
almond-enriched diet (AED) compared with a hypocaloric nut-free diet (NFD) on
body weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors in the context of an 18-mo
behavioral weight-management program.
DESIGN:
Overweight and obese individuals [n = 123; age = 46.8 y, BMI (in kg/m(2)) =
34.0] were randomly assigned to consume an AED or NFD and instructed in
traditional behavioral methods of weight control. Anthropometric and metabolic
measurements were made at baseline, 6 mo, and 18 mo.
RESULTS:
Those in the AED group lost slightly but significantly less weight than did
those in the NFD group at 6 mo (-5.5 compared with -7.4 kg; P = 0.04), but there
were no differences at 18 mo. No significant differences in body composition
were found between the groups at 6 or 18 mo. The AED, compared with the NFD, was
associated with greater reductions in total cholesterol (P = 0.03), total:HDL
cholesterol (P = 0.02), and triglycerides (P = 0.048) at 6 mo, and no
differences were observed between the groups at 18 mo.
CONCLUSIONS:
The AED and NFD groups experienced clinically significant and comparable weight
loss at 18 mo. Despite smaller weight loss in the AED group at 6 mo, the AED
group experienced greater improvements in lipid profiles. This trial was
registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00194428.
PMID: 22743313 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] PMCID: PMC3396441