Wang, Y., Y. Fang, 2022. Tree nut consumption is associated with a lower risk of hyperestrogenism in men. Nutr. Res. 98:1-8.
Hyperestrogenism may affect 2% to 8% of men globally. Previous studies indicate that tree nut consumption is associated with sex hormones in women. Whether this is the case in men remains unknown. This study hypothesized that consumption of tree nuts was inversely associated with circulating estradiol and prevalence of hyperestrogenism in men. This cross-sectional study included 3340 men aged ≥20 years from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2016. Associations of tree nut consumption with circulating estradiol and prevalence of hyperestrogenism were assessed using weighted linear regression and binary logistic regression, respectively. Among the 3340 men, 207 consumed tree nuts. The mean usual intake of tree nuts among tree nut consumers was 34.2 g/d. Amounts of usual intake of tree nuts were inversely associated with bioavailable estradiol (β = -0.032, P = .037) after adjustment for all confounders. Usual intake of tree nuts of ≥ 30 g/d (vs <30 g/d) or ≥42.52 g/d (vs <42.52 g/d) was associated with a 24% or 7% lower multivariate-adjusted risk of hyperestrogenism, respectively. Further analyses showed that usual intake of tree nuts was positively associated with circulating folate, and the latter was inversely associated with circulating estradiol. In conclusion, higher tree nut consumption was independently associated with lower circulating levels of bioavailable estradiol and a lower risk of hyperestrogenism in men. Further research is needed to verify the effectiveness of using tree nuts to treat hyperestrogenism in men.
Salas-Huetos, A., E.R. James, J. Salas-Salvadó, M. Bulló, K.I. Aston, D.T. Carrell, T.G. Jenkins, 2021. Sperm DNA methylation changes after short-term nut supplementation in healthy men consuming a Western-style diet. Andrology. 9(1):260-268.
Background: Many environmental and lifestyle factors have been implicated in the decline of sperm quality, with diet being one of the most plausible factors identified in recent years. Moreover, several studies have reported a close association between the alteration of specific sperm DNA methylation signatures and semen quality. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of tree nut consumption on sperm DNA methylation patterns in healthy individuals reporting eating a Western-style diet. Material and methods: This is a post hoc analysis conducted in a subset of participants (healthy, non-smoking, and young) from the FERTINUTS 14-wk randomized-controlled, parallel trial, recruited between December 2015 and February 2017. The participants included in the current study (n = 72) were randomly selected in a proportion 2:1 from the original FERTINUTS trial between the 98 participants that completed the entire dietary intervention (nut group, n = 48; control group, n = 24). Sperm DNA methylation patterns were examined at baseline and after 14 weeks in 48 individuals consuming 60 g/d of mixed nuts (nut group) and in 24 individuals following the usual Western-style diet avoiding consumption of nuts (control group). Results: Over the course of the trial, no significant changes in global methylation were observed between groups. However, in the nut group, we identified 36 genomic regions that were significantly differentially methylated between the baseline and the end of the trial and 97.2% of the regions displayed hypermethylation. We identified no such change in the control group over the same period of time. We also utilized the recently developed germ line age calculator to determine if nut consumption resulted in alterations to the epigenetic age of cells and no significant differences were found. Discussion and conclusion: Adding nuts to a regular Western-style diet subtly impacts sperm DNA methylation in specific regions, demonstrating that there are some sperm epigenome regions that could respond to diet.
Lesser, M.N.R., K. Mauldin, L. Sawrey-Kubicek, V. Gildengorin, J.C. King, 2019. The effect of almond consumption on postprandial metabolic and satiety response in high-risk pregnant women. Nutrients. 11, 490; doi:10.3390/nu11030490.
Almonds provide a satiating, healthy source of fat and fiber. The postprandial metabolic and satiety response to 2 ounces of nuts or dairy was assessed in 18 overweight/obese women during late pregnancy. Serum glucose, triglycerides, insulin, c-peptide, leptin, ghrelin, and lipoprotein particles were measured prior to and during a 5-h postprandial period following the consumption of an isocaloric breakfast meal with equivalent amounts of fat from either nuts or dairy on two separate mornings. Satiety was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaires and ad libitum food intake at the end of the study. At 33 weeks gestation, the women had gained an average of 7.0±4.4 kg during gestation. Body fat averaged 41.9±5.5% and hemoglobin A1c levels were elevated, (7.2±0.6%). Fasting glucose levels were normal, but hyperinsulinemia was evident. The two test meals did not affect the postprandial metabolic response, but glucose, triglyceride, and ghrelin concentrations changed with time during the postprandial period (p < 0.001, p = 0.0008, p = 0.006). Satiety measures did not differ between the two test meals. Consuming an isocaloric breakfast meal with equivalent amounts of fat from nuts or dairy did not alter postprandial levels of blood lipids, glucose, hormones, or measures of satiety in overweight/obese, pregnant women.
Feng, X., H. Liu, Z. Li, A. Carughi, S. Ge, 2019. Acute effect of pistachio intake on postprandial glycemic and gut hormone responses in women with gestational diabetes or gestational impaired glucose tolerance: A randomized, controlled, crossover study. Front Nutr. 17;6:186. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00186.
Long-term consumption of pistachios could potentially improves glucose homeostasis. Impaired postprandial glucose, insulin, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) responses have been reported in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of two isocaloric test meals, 42 g pistachios and 100 g whole-wheat bread (WWB) on postprandial glucose, insulin, and gut derived incretin levels in Chinese women with gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT) or GDM. Expected glucose and insulin responses were observed after WWB consumption. Isocaloric pistachio intake had minimal effect on blood glucose or insulin. In both GIGT and GDM patients, significant higher GLP-1 levels were observed at 90 and 120 min after pistachio compared to WWB intake. Significant lower gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) levels were observed at 30 and 60 min in GDM patients or 120 min in GIGT patients after pistachio compared to WWB intake. In summary, isocaloric pistachio intake induced significantly lower postprandial glucose, insulin and GIP but higher GLP-1 levels compared to WWB. Our data suggest pistachios are effective alternative to a low-fat, high-carbohydrate food to improve postprandial glucose, insulin, and GLP-1 response in women with GDM and GIGT.
