Is French fried potato consumption Related to Adverse Health Outcomes?
Epidemiologic observations suggest increased potato consumption correlates with weight gain, adiposity, and diabetes risk, while nut consumption is associated with weight control and metabolic health. However, a recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) data suggest no causal relationship between increased French fried potato consumption and the negative health outcomes. The study findings were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on February 18, 2022.
Recent RCT demonstrated that humans respond to changes in energy intake in single dietary components and compensate for extra energy consumed. To further explore, Dr Daniel L Smith and his team conducted a study to evaluate whether increased daily potato consumption influences energy balance (specifically, fat mass (FM)) compared with calorie-matched almond consumption.
In a 30-day randomized, controlled study, the researchers included a total of 180 adults and randomized them into 3 groups to receive
1) almonds, 2) French fries (Potato) or 3) French fries with herb/spices mix (Potato+herb/spices). The outcome assessed was a change in the baseline and 30-day FM measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The researchers also assessed the body weight and carbohydrate metabolism (glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose and insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)) markers. They also performed a post-prandial meal-based tolerance test in a subset of 5 participants per group.
Key findings of the study:
- Upon analysis, the researchers found no significant difference in total FM between Almond and Potato (combined±herb/spices; (mean±SE)] Almond:230.87±114.01g; Potato:123.73±86.09g.
- They also found no significant changes in fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR or HbA1c (p=0.269).
- They wrote, "Bodyweight change was not significantly different with potato groups combined versus almonds, but was significantly different among the three groups (Almond: 0.49±0.20kg; Potato: -0.24±0.20kg; Potato+herb/spices: 0.47±0.21kg)."
- Upon meal test, they observed significant lower post-prandial glucose and insulin responses to almonds versus potatoes with Potato+herb/spices having intermediate effects.
The authors concluded, "There were no significant differences in FM or glucoregulatory biomarkers after 30 days of potato consumption versus almonds. Results do not support a causal relationship between increased French fried potato consumption and the negative health outcomes studied."
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