Glucoregulatory and Cardiometabolic Profiles of Almond vs. Cracker Snacking for 8 Weeks in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The transition to nutritional independence makes new college students vulnerable to alterations in eating patterns, which can increase the risk of cardiometabolic disorders. The aim of the study was to examine the potential benefits of almond vs. cracker snacking in improving glucoregulatory and car...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jaapna Dhillon, Max Thorwald, Natalie De La Cruz, Emily Vu, Syed Asad Asghar, Quintin Kuse, L. Karina Diaz Rios, Rudy M. Ortiz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-07-01
Series:Nutrients
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/8/960
id doaj-445fd703b1d146568891c15b4bd36488
record_format Article
spelling doaj-445fd703b1d146568891c15b4bd364882020-11-25T00:26:08ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432018-07-0110896010.3390/nu10080960nu10080960Glucoregulatory and Cardiometabolic Profiles of Almond vs. Cracker Snacking for 8 Weeks in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled TrialJaapna Dhillon0Max Thorwald1Natalie De La Cruz2Emily Vu3Syed Asad Asghar4Quintin Kuse5L. Karina Diaz Rios6Rudy M. Ortiz7School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USASchool of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USASchool of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USASchool of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USASchool of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USASchool of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USACooperative Extension Specialist, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USASchool of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USAThe transition to nutritional independence makes new college students vulnerable to alterations in eating patterns, which can increase the risk of cardiometabolic disorders. The aim of the study was to examine the potential benefits of almond vs. cracker snacking in improving glucoregulatory and cardiometabolic profiles in new college students. A randomized controlled, parallel-arm, 8-week intervention of 73 college students (BMI: 18–41 kg/m2) with no cardiometabolic disorders was conducted. Participants were randomized into either an almond snack group (56.7 g/day; 364 kcal; n = 38) or Graham cracker control group (77.5 g/day; 338 kcal/d; n = 35). Chronic, static changes were assessed from fasting serum/plasma samples at baseline, and after 4 and 8 weeks. Acute, dynamic effects were assessed during a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 8 weeks. Almond snacking resulted in a smaller decline in HDL cholesterol over 8 weeks (13.5% vs. 24.5%, p < 0.05), 13% lower 2-h glucose area under the curve (AUC), 34% lower insulin resistance index (IRI) and 82% higher Matsuda index (p < 0.05) during the OGTT, despite similar body mass gains over 8 weeks compared with the cracker group. In general, both almond and cracker snacking reduced fasting glucose, and LDL cholesterol. Conclusions: Incorporating a morning snack in the dietary regimen of predominantly breakfast-skipping, first-year college students had some beneficial effects on glucoregulatory and cardiometabolic health. Almond consumption has the potential to benefit postprandial glucoregulation in this cohort. These responses may be influenced by cardiometabolic risk factor status.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/8/960C-peptideHDL cholesterollipidsmetabolismnutssatiety
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Jaapna Dhillon
Max Thorwald
Natalie De La Cruz
Emily Vu
Syed Asad Asghar
Quintin Kuse
L. Karina Diaz Rios
Rudy M. Ortiz
spellingShingle Jaapna Dhillon
Max Thorwald
Natalie De La Cruz
Emily Vu
Syed Asad Asghar
Quintin Kuse
L. Karina Diaz Rios
Rudy M. Ortiz
Glucoregulatory and Cardiometabolic Profiles of Almond vs. Cracker Snacking for 8 Weeks in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Nutrients
C-peptide
HDL cholesterol
lipids
metabolism
nuts
satiety
author_facet Jaapna Dhillon
Max Thorwald
Natalie De La Cruz
Emily Vu
Syed Asad Asghar
Quintin Kuse
L. Karina Diaz Rios
Rudy M. Ortiz
author_sort Jaapna Dhillon
title Glucoregulatory and Cardiometabolic Profiles of Almond vs. Cracker Snacking for 8 Weeks in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short Glucoregulatory and Cardiometabolic Profiles of Almond vs. Cracker Snacking for 8 Weeks in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full Glucoregulatory and Cardiometabolic Profiles of Almond vs. Cracker Snacking for 8 Weeks in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Glucoregulatory and Cardiometabolic Profiles of Almond vs. Cracker Snacking for 8 Weeks in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Glucoregulatory and Cardiometabolic Profiles of Almond vs. Cracker Snacking for 8 Weeks in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort glucoregulatory and cardiometabolic profiles of almond vs. cracker snacking for 8 weeks in young adults: a randomized controlled trial
publisher MDPI AG
series Nutrients
issn 2072-6643
publishDate 2018-07-01
description The transition to nutritional independence makes new college students vulnerable to alterations in eating patterns, which can increase the risk of cardiometabolic disorders. The aim of the study was to examine the potential benefits of almond vs. cracker snacking in improving glucoregulatory and cardiometabolic profiles in new college students. A randomized controlled, parallel-arm, 8-week intervention of 73 college students (BMI: 18–41 kg/m2) with no cardiometabolic disorders was conducted. Participants were randomized into either an almond snack group (56.7 g/day; 364 kcal; n = 38) or Graham cracker control group (77.5 g/day; 338 kcal/d; n = 35). Chronic, static changes were assessed from fasting serum/plasma samples at baseline, and after 4 and 8 weeks. Acute, dynamic effects were assessed during a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 8 weeks. Almond snacking resulted in a smaller decline in HDL cholesterol over 8 weeks (13.5% vs. 24.5%, p < 0.05), 13% lower 2-h glucose area under the curve (AUC), 34% lower insulin resistance index (IRI) and 82% higher Matsuda index (p < 0.05) during the OGTT, despite similar body mass gains over 8 weeks compared with the cracker group. In general, both almond and cracker snacking reduced fasting glucose, and LDL cholesterol. Conclusions: Incorporating a morning snack in the dietary regimen of predominantly breakfast-skipping, first-year college students had some beneficial effects on glucoregulatory and cardiometabolic health. Almond consumption has the potential to benefit postprandial glucoregulation in this cohort. These responses may be influenced by cardiometabolic risk factor status.
topic C-peptide
HDL cholesterol
lipids
metabolism
nuts
satiety
url http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/8/960
work_keys_str_mv AT jaapnadhillon glucoregulatoryandcardiometabolicprofilesofalmondvscrackersnackingfor8weeksinyoungadultsarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT maxthorwald glucoregulatoryandcardiometabolicprofilesofalmondvscrackersnackingfor8weeksinyoungadultsarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT nataliedelacruz glucoregulatoryandcardiometabolicprofilesofalmondvscrackersnackingfor8weeksinyoungadultsarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT emilyvu glucoregulatoryandcardiometabolicprofilesofalmondvscrackersnackingfor8weeksinyoungadultsarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT syedasadasghar glucoregulatoryandcardiometabolicprofilesofalmondvscrackersnackingfor8weeksinyoungadultsarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT quintinkuse glucoregulatoryandcardiometabolicprofilesofalmondvscrackersnackingfor8weeksinyoungadultsarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT lkarinadiazrios glucoregulatoryandcardiometabolicprofilesofalmondvscrackersnackingfor8weeksinyoungadultsarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT rudymortiz glucoregulatoryandcardiometabolicprofilesofalmondvscrackersnackingfor8weeksinyoungadultsarandomizedcontrolledtrial
_version_ 1725345794250244096