Research Abstracts
Chronic pistachio intake modulates circulating microRNAs related to glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in prediabetic subjects.
Hernández‑Alonso, P., S. Giardina, J. Salas‑Salvadó, P. Arcelin, M. Bulló, 2016. Chronic pistachio intake modulates circulating microRNAs related to glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in prediabetic subjects. Eur. J. Nutr. doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1262-5.
Purpose: To assess the effects of a pistachio-enriched diet on the profile of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) related to glucose metabolism and insulin resistance (IR). Methods: Randomized crossover clinical trial in 49 subjects with prediabetes was performed. Subjects consumed a pistachio-supplemented diet (PD, 50 % carbohydrates, 33 % fat, including 57 g/day of pistachios) and an isocaloric control diet (CD, 55 % carbohydrates and 30 % fat) for 4 months each, separated by a 2-week washout period. The plasma profile of a set of seven predefined miRNAs related to glucose and insulin metabolism was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. Results: After the PD period, subjects have shown significant lower circulating levels of miR-192 and miR-375 compared to CD period, whereas miR-21 nonsignificantly increased after PD compared with CD (47 vs. 2 %, P = 0.092). Interestingly, changes in circulating miR-192 and miR-375 were positively correlated with plasma glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR. Conclusion: Chronic pistachio consumption positively modulates the expression of some miRNA previously implicated on insulin sensitivity.