Consumption of nuts and seeds reduces metabolic syndrome in females and not males

This study is published in the European Journal of Nutrition.

Their research aimed to find out the association between nut and seed consumption and metabolic syndrome. This includes fasting glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, central obesity, and blood pressure.

The team used data from 22,687 adults involved in seven National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles. The data from two 24-h dietary recalls, biochemical data and self-reported medication were utilised.

The essential findings of the study are:

• Females consuming either seeds or nuts had lower odds of having metabolic syndrome, with an OR of 0.83.
• This was not seen in males.
• Both nut and seed intake alone had an inverse association with high fasting glucose and low HDL cholesterol in females compared to non-consumers.
• In females, a Combined intake of nuts and seeds at six grams per day was tied to the lowest triglycerides and highest HDL-cholesterol.
• Combined consumption of nuts and seeds up to 15 g per day had an inverse association with metabolic syndrome, high fasting glucose, central obesity, and low HDL cholesterol in females.

They added, "These findings are from the 2005-2018 NHANES data.”

They said that consuming nuts and seeds, either together or alone, below 15 g/day is inversely associated with metabolic syndrome in females and not males.

Further reading:

Wong, T.H.T., George, E.S., Abbott, G. et al. Nut and seed consumption is inversely associated with metabolic syndrome in females but not males: findings from the 2005–2018 NHANES data. Eur J Nutr (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03157-1