Archive

Research Nut: Mixed Nuts

Association between nut consumption and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults.

Shin, S., 2025. Association between nut consumption and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. J Lipid Atheroscler. 14(2):219-228. https://doi.org/10.12997/jla.2025.14.2.219

Objective: Although nuts have been reported to lower the risk of multiple diseases, evidence regarding their effect on metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Asian populations is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the association between nut consumption and the risk of MetS. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018). MetS was defined according to the guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Responses to a single 24-hour dietary recall from 4,365 younger adults (19–39 years), 7,498 middle-aged adults (40–64 years), and 4,378 older adults (≥65 years) were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: In this study, based on the culinary definition, nuts included tree nuts and peanuts. Approximately 25% of Korean adults were found to consume nuts. After adjusting for confounding variables, including age, body mass index, total energy intake, household income, alcohol consumption, smoking, aerobic exercise, and energy from carbohydrates, nut consumption was associated with a lower risk of MetS among middle-aged men (40–64 years; odds ratio [OR], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53–0.88), older men (≥65 years; OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53–0.98), and older women (≥65 years; OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53–0.89). Conclusion: These results suggest that consuming nuts may exert protective effects against MetS in middle-aged Korean men and older Korean adults.

Association of nut consumption and sarcopenia in Chinese older adults.

Xu, J., K. Pu, W. Sun, C. Pang, D. Li, S. Zang, 2025. Association of nut consumption and sarcopenia in Chinese older adults. Sci Rep. 15, 17598. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02389-x

Sarcopenia emerges as a predominant health concern among the older adults, it makes the identification of relational factors crucial. Nut, a universally consumed dietary component, is posited to confer benefits to the musculoskeletal system. This study aimed to elucidate the association between nut consumption and sarcopenia in Chinese older adults. Data concerning nut consumption and sarcopenia were sourced from the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The analysis incorporated 14,281 participants furnishing valid responses. This research employed logistic regression to investigate the association between nut consumption and sarcopenia. A total of 14,181 older adults (mean age = 84.86 ± 11.47 years and 55.08% were female) were included in this study. This study found an inverse association between nut consumption and sarcopenia in Chinese older adults, with higher nut consumption associated with a lower prevalence of sarcopenia, even after controlling for confounders. Compared with the nut consumption group of occasionally/rarely or never, the adjusted ORs of sarcopenia for at least once per month, at least once per week, and almost every day were 0.78 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.91), 0.81 (95% CI: 0.69, 0.95), and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.51, 0.77), respectively. Moreover, the result also displayed there is a significant interaction of nut consumption with gender (P-value = 0.016). This study identified an inverse association between nut consumption and sarcopenia. Introducing nut into the dietary regimen might present an accessible approach to bolster musculoskeletal health among the older adults.

Basophil activation test for the improved diagnosis of peanut and tree nut allergy.

Marini-Rapoport, O., M. Bhowmik, S.U. Patil, 2025. Basophil activation test for the improved diagnosis of peanut and tree nut allergy. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 25, 19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-025-01200-1

Purpose of review: As an ex-vivo test of allergic effector cell activation, basophil activation testing (BAT) to allergen enables quantification of the in-vivo IgE-mediated allergic response. BAT thus holds promise in the diagnosis and monitoring of peanut and tree nut allergies. Recent systematic analyses and expert recommendations support a role for BAT in the diagnosis of peanut and tree nut allergy. Recent findings: Diagnostic cut-offs for BAT in peanut and tree nut allergy have been identified. Consistently, BAT can discriminate with high sensitivity and specificity between allergy and tolerance when measured against oral food challenges. Furthermore, the utilization of BAT has can increase the sensitivity and specificity of peanut allergy and tree nut allergy diagnosis, both alone and in conjunction with specific IgE testing and skin prick testing. Summary: BAT is a promising tool in the diagnosis of peanut and tree nut allergy.

Upcycling commercial nut byproducts for food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications: A comprehensive review.

Alasalvar, C., G. Huang, B.W. Bolling, P.A. Jantip, R.B. Pegg, X.K. Wong, S.K. Chang, E. Pelvan, A.C. de Camargo, G. Mandalari, A. Hossain, F. Shahidi, 2025. Upcycling commercial nut byproducts for food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications: A comprehensive review. Food Chem. 467:142222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142222

This article presents a comprehensive overview of upcycling commercial nut byproducts (such as almond, Brazil nut, cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, peanut (also known as a legume), pecan, pine nut, pistachio, and walnut) for food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications. Upcycling nut byproducts, namely husk/hull, hard shell, brown skin, defatted flour/meal/cake, pine cone, cashew nut shell liquid, cashew apple, walnut septum, and dreg/okara, has great potential, not only to reduce/minimise waste, but also to fit within the circular economy concept. Each byproduct has its own unique functional properties, which can bring significant value. These byproducts can be used as value-added ingredients to promote better health and well-being, due to their rich sources of diverse bioactive components/phytochemicals, polysaccharides, fibre, lignin, prebiotics, oils, proteins, bioactive peptides, minerals, and vitamins, among other components. This comprehensive review provides a basis for future research and development of product applications for nut byproducts. More studies are needed on novel product development to valorise nut byproducts.