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.
Nikodijevic, C.J., Y.C. Probst, S.-Y. Tan, E.P. Neale, 2024. Metabolisable energy from nuts and patterns of nut consumption in the Australian population: a secondary analysis of the 2011–12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. J Hum Nutr Diet. 37: 538–549. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13278
Background: Nut intake is not associated with increased body weight, which may be explained by their metabolisable energy, among other factors. Therefore, total energy intake may be overestimated among nut consumers. This study aimed to describe the metabolisable energy from nuts and nut consumption patterns in the Australian population. Methods: A nut‐specific database was expanded to include metabolizable energy of nuts (based on nut type and form) and applied to the 2011–12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS). Participants were Australians aged 2 years and older from the 2011–12 NNPAS (n = 12,153, with n = 4,765 nut consumers). Mean metabolisable energy intake was compared with mean energy intake using Atwater factors in nut consumers. Additionally, nut consumption patterns were explored, including the proportion of nuts consumed at meals and snacks. Results: Among nut consumers, mean metabolisable energy from nuts based only on nut type was 241.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 232.0, 250.5) kJ/day and mean metabolisable energy considering both nut type and form was 260.7(95% CI: 250.2, 271.2) kJ/day. Energy intake from nuts using Atwater factors was 317.6 (95% CI: 304.8, 330.3) kJ/day. Nuts were more likely to be consumed at snack occasions, with approximately 63% of nut intake occurring as a snack. Conclusion: Application of metabolisable energy to the 2011–12 NNPAS has a significant impact on calculation of energy intake from nuts. Nut consumption patterns identified a majority of nut consumption occurring as snacks. These findings may inform strategies to support nut consumption in Australia.
Gletsu-Miller, N., Henschel, B., Tekwe, C.D. and Thiagarajah, K., 2024. A cross-sectional study on the association of walnut consumption with obesity and relative fat mass among United States adolescents and young adults in NHANES (2003–2020). Curr Dev in Nutr. 8(8), p.104407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.104407
Background: Walnuts contain nutrients and phytochemicals that can promote metabolic health. However, the high energy content of walnuts along with other nuts raises the concern that consuming nuts promotes obesity. Objectives: We sought to investigate the associations between consumption of walnuts as well as other nuts and measures of obesity in adolescents and young adults. Methods: This study included 8874 adolescents (12–19 y) and 10,323 young adults (20–39 y) from 8 waves of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2003–2020). The associations of consumption of 1) walnuts only (WO); 2) walnuts with other nuts (WON); 3) other nuts (ON); and 4) no nuts (NN) with obesity status and relative fat mass (RFM) were assessed using logistic and linear regressions stratified by age group and sex. Sample weights were used in all statistical analyses. Results: The mean daily intake of walnuts was not different between the 2 walnut consumption groups within each age group (adolescents: 2.18 [standard error (SE) 0.14] g; P = 0.917; young adults: 4.23 [0.37] g; P = 0.682). The WON group had the lowest prevalence of obesity (adolescents: 8.3%; young adults: 21.1%) while the NN group had the highest prevalence (adolescents: 24.1%; young adults: 35.4%). The models indicated lower odds of obesity in adolescent girls (odds ratio [OR]: 0.27; P < 0.05) and young adult women (OR: 0.58; P < 0.05) who consumed WON than in those who consumed NN. In both young women and girls, RFM was significantly lower in the WON and ON groups than the NN group (P < 0.001). In young men, WON consumption was also associated with a lower RFM (OR: −1.24; 95% confidence interval: −2.21, −0.28) compared with NN consumption. Conclusions: For adolescent girls and young women, dietary intake of walnuts combined with other nuts has the strongest inverse association with measures of obesity.
Yang Y, Zhang D, Chen B, Huang X, 2024. Nuts and seeds consumption impact on adolescent obesity: sex-specific associations from 2003 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 75(5):453-462. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2024.2314682
The nutritional benefits and immunological advantages of consuming nuts and seeds are well-established. However, the link between nuts and seeds consumption and the susceptibility of being overweight or obese among adolescents is not clear. This study aims to explore this relationship in adolescents aged 12-19. Using a weighted multiple logistic regression model, we analysed data of the Food Patterns Equivalents Database and the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003 to 2018. We found a significant association between nuts and seeds consumption and a reduced odds of being overweight or obese in females. Specifically, females who habitually consumed nuts and seeds had lower odds of being overweight or obese (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.32-0.94). Additionally, we found an L-shaped relationship between nuts and seeds consumption and appropriate waist-to-height ratio in males. The findings suggest that nuts and seeds consumption may contribute to healthier physical development in adolescents.
