Nut consumption is associated with a lower risk of depression in adults: A prospective analysis with data from the UK Biobank cohort
Background & aims: Evidence on the association between nut consumption and depression is mainly based on cross-sectional studies. This study aims to analyse whether nut consumption is prospectively associated with the risk of depression in adults. Methods: This study was conducted using the United Kingdom (UK) Biobank resource. Data from middle-aged and older UK adults who participated in this cohort between 2007-2012 (baseline) and 2013-2020 (follow-up) were analysed. Baseline information on nut consumption was obtained with the Oxford WebQ 24-h questionnaire. Depression, defined as a self-reported physician diagnosis of depression or antidepressant use, was assessed at baseline and follow-up. Hazard regression models estimating the predictive ability of nut consumption for the risk of developing depression were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health confounders. Results: A total of 13,504 participants (mean age 57.5 ± 7.2 years, 50.7% female) free of depression at baseline were included in the analyses. After a mean follow-up of 5.3 ± 2.4 years, 1122 (8.3%) incident cases of depression were identified. Compared with no nut consumption, the daily consumption of >0 to 1 serving of 30 g of nuts was associated with a lower risk of depression (hazard ratio, HR = 0.83; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.71-0.97) regardless of all potential confounders considered. In stratified analyses, a decreased risk of depression was more clearly observed in UK adults with adequate weight control, a healthy lifestyle, and better health status than in their counterparts (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Low-to-moderate nut consumption (>0 to 1 serving of 30 g/day) was associated with a 17% lower risk of depression during a 5.3-year follow-up compared with no nut consumption in a large sample of middle-aged and older UK adults. This protective association is enhanced in the absence of other known risk factors for depression. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2023.07.020
Almonds vs. carbohydrate snacks in an energy-restricted diet: Weight and cardiometabolic outcomes from a randomized trial
This study evaluated weight and cardiometabolic outcomes after a 3-month energy-restricted diet (-30%) containing almonds (almond-enriched diet [AED]) or containing carbohydrate-rich snacks (nut-free control diet [NFD]) (Phase 1), followed by 6 months of weight maintenance (Phase 2). Methods: Participants (25-65 years old) with overweight or obesity (BMI 27.5-34.9 kg/m2 ) were randomly allocated to AED (n = 68) or NFD (n = 72). Results: Both groups lost weight during Phase 1 (p < 0.001) (mean [SE], -7.0 [0.5] kg AED vs. -7.0 [0.5] kg NFD, p = 0.858) and Phase 2 (p = 0.009) (-1.1 [0.5] kg AED vs. -1.3 [0.6] NFD, p = 0.756), with improvements in percentage lean mass after Phase 2 (4.8% [0.3%], p < 0.001). Reductions occurred in fasting glucose (-0.2 [0.07] mmol/L, p = 0.003), insulin (-8.1 [4.0] pmol/L, p = 0.036), blood pressure (-4.9 [0.8] mm/Hg systolic, -5.0 [0.5] mm/Hg diastolic, p < 0.001), total cholesterol (-0.3 [0.1] mmol/L), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (-0.2 [0.1] mmol/L), very low-density lipoprotein (-0.1 [0.03] mmol/L), and triglycerides (-0.3 [0.06] mmol/L) (all p < 0.001), and high-density lipoprotein increased (0.1 [0.02] mmol/L, p = 0.011) by the end of Phase 2 in both groups. There were group by time interactions for lipoprotein particle concentrations: very small triglyceride-rich (-31.0 [7.7] nmol/L AED vs. -4.8 [7.9] nmol/L NFD, p = 0.007), small LDL (-109.3 [40.5] nmol/L AED vs. -20.7 [41.6] nmol/L NFD, p = 0.017), and medium LDL (-24.4 [43.4] nmol/L AED vs. -130.5 [44.4] nmol/L NFD, p = 0.045). Conclusions: An energy-restricted AED resulted in weight loss and weight loss maintenance comparable to an energy-restricted NFD, and both diets supported cardiometabolic health. The AED resulted in greater improvements in some lipoprotein subfractions, which may enhance reductions in cardiovascular risk. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23860
Pistachios as a recovery food following downhill running exercise in recreational team-sport individuals
We aimed to investigate the impact of pistachio nut consumption on muscle soreness and function following exercise-induced muscle damage. Using a randomised cross-over design, male team-sport players (n = 18) performed a 40-minute downhill treadmill run to induce muscle damage, which was conducted after 2-wks of consuming either control (CON, water), a standard dose of daily pistachios (STD, 42.5 g/d) or a higher dose of daily pistachios (HIGH, 85 g/d). Lower limb muscle soreness (visual analogue scale), muscle function (maximal voluntary isokinetic torque and vertical jump), and blood markers of muscle damage/inflammation (creatine kinase, C-reactive protein, myoglobin, superoxide dismutase) were measured pre (baseline) and post (24, 48, and 72 h) exercise. No trial order effects were observed for any outcome measurement across trials. Mean quadriceps soreness (non-dominant leg) during exercise recovery was reduced (p < 0.05) in HIGH vs. CON (mean difference (95%CI): 13(1-25) mm). Change in soreness in the dominant quadriceps was not different between HIGH vs. CON (p = 0.06; mean difference (95%CI): 13(-1 to 26 mm)). No main effects of time or trial were observed for mean soreness of hamstrings, or on isokinetic torque of knee extensors or knee flexors, during recovery. Serum creatine kinase concentration peaked at 24 h post-damage (mean(SEM): 763(158)µg/L) from baseline (300(87)µg/L), but had returned to baseline by 72 h post (398(80)µg/L) exercise in all trials, with no trial or trial × time interaction evident. These data suggest that high dose pistachio nut ingestion may provide some alleviation of muscle soreness, but no effect on muscle function, following modest muscle damage.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2023.2239192
Effect of a Mediterranean Diet or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction During Pregnancy on Child Neurodevelopment: A Prespecified Analysis of the IMPACT BCN Randomized Clinical Trial
Importance: Maternal suboptimal nutrition and high stress levels are associated with adverse fetal and childhood neurodevelopment. Objective: To test the hypothesis that structured interventions based on a Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) during pregnancy improve child neurodevelopment at age 2 years. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a prespecified analysis of the parallel-group Improving Mothers for a Better Prenatal Care Trial Barcelona (IMPACT BCN) randomized clinical trial, which was conducted at a university hospital in Barcelona, Spain, from February 2017 to March 2020. A total of 1221 singleton pregnancies (19 to 23 weeks’ gestation) with high risk of delivering newborns who were small for gestational age were randomly allocated into 3 groups: a Mediterranean diet intervention, an MBSR program, or usual care. A postnatal evaluation with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Edition (Bayley-III), was performed. Data were analyzed from July to November 2022. Interventions: Participants in the Mediterranean diet group received monthly individual and group educational sessions and free provision of extra virgin olive oil and walnuts. Those in the stress reduction group underwent an 8-week MBSR program adapted for pregnancy. Individuals in the usual care group received pregnancy care per institutional protocols. Main Outcomes and Measures: Neurodevelopment in children was assessed by Bayley-III at 24 months of corrected postnatal age. Results: A total of 626 children (293 [46.8%] female and 333 [53.2%] male) participated at a mean (SD) age of 24.8 (2.9) months. No differences were observed in the baseline characteristics between intervention groups. Compared with children from the usual care group, children in the Mediterranean diet group had higher scores in the cognitive domain (β, 5.02; 95% CI, 1.52-8.53; P = .005) and social-emotional domain (β, 5.15; 95% CI, 1.18-9.12; P = .01), whereas children from the stress reduction group had higher scores in the social-emotional domain (β, 4.75; 95% CI, 0.54-8.85; P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance : In this prespecified analysis of a randomized clinical trial, maternal structured lifestyle interventions during pregnancy based on a Mediterranean diet or MBSR significantly improved child neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 2 years. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03166332
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.30255
Associations of Nut Consumption with All-Cause Mortality among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes
Background: Nuts are energy-dense, high-fat foods, and whether nut consumption influences mortality risk among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations of nut consumption with all-cause mortality among adults with T2D and to further explore the potential mediation effects of cardiometabolic biomarkers. Methods: The current analysis included 5090 US participants with T2D from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2014). Cox proportional hazards models were conducted to estimate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: After 35,632 person-y of follow-up, 1174 deaths were documented. Higher nut consumption was significantly associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality among individuals with T2D. After multivariable adjustment including lifestyles and dietary factors, diabetes duration, and glycated hemoglobin, compared with participants who did not consume nuts, the HR (95% CI) for those who consumed nuts over 3.5 ounce equivalent (oz.eq)/wk was 0.64 (0.50, 0.82; P-trend < 0.001) for all-cause mortality. A linear dose–response relationship was observed between nut consumption and all-cause mortality among individuals with T2D (Poverall=0.004, Pnonlinearity=0.35). In substitution analyses, replacing one serving of red and processed meat, refined grains, eggs, and dairy foods with one serving of nuts was associated with a 18% to 22% lower risk of all-cause mortality. In addition, mediation analysis suggested that C-reactive protein and γ-glutamine transaminase explained 6.7% and 9.1% of the relationship between nut consumption with all-cause mortality, respectively. Conclusions: Higher nut consumption was significantly associated with lower all-cause mortality among individuals with T2D. These findings indicate a potential benefit of nut consumption in the prevention of premature death among individuals with T2D.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.08.004
Nut-Containing Diet Associated with Lower Risk of Heart Disease and Death
Higher intake of six key foods —including nuts— is linked to lower risk of major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality
In a recent study published in the European Heart Journal, researchers developed a healthy diet score using data from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study and set out to determine whether this score is consistently associated with better health outcomes across different regions of the world and predictive of outcomes in people both with and without vascular disease or diabetes.
The PURE study, which included 147,642 people from 21 countries and had a median follow-up time of 9.3 years, formed the basis of the PURE healthy diet score. Ranging from 0 (worst) to 6 (best) points, the PURE scale assesses intake levels of six foods —fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish and dairy— all of which are linked to a significantly lower risk of death.
The authors then assessed the link between the PURE healthy diet score and major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality using data from five independent studies that together had a total of 96,955 participants, bringing the total number of participants involved in the development and validation of the scoring system to 244,597. The researchers found that the PURE scale was associated with a lower risk of death or major cardiovascular event in people both with and without vascular disease or diabetes, as well as across geographic regions and income levels. The association was stronger, however, in South Asia, China, and Africa —countries with low PURE healthy diet scores.
Specifically, the study showed that a 20% improvement in diet, as measured by the PURE healthy diet score, is associated with an 8% lower risk of death and a 6% lower risk of major cardiovascular events. The findings underscore the importance of consuming these six healthy foods —including nuts.
Mente, A., Dehghan, M., Rangarajan, S., O'Donnell, M., Hu, W., Dagenais, G., Wielgosz, A., A Lear, S., Wei, L., Diaz, R., Avezum, A., Lopez-Jaramillo, P., Lanas, F., Swaminathan, S., Kaur, M., Vijayakumar, K., Mohan, V., Gupta, R., Szuba, A., Iqbal, R., … Yusuf, S. (2023). Diet, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in 80 countries. European Heart Journal, 44(28), 2560–2579.
Diet, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in 80 countries
Aims: To develop a healthy diet score that is associated with health outcomes and is globally applicable using data from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study and replicate it in five independent studies on a total of 245 000 people from 80 countries. Methods and results: A healthy diet score was developed in 147 642 people from the general population, from 21 countries in the PURE study, and the consistency of the associations of the score with events was examined in five large independent studies from 70 countries. The healthy diet score was developed based on six foods each of which has been associated with a significantly lower risk of mortality [i.e. fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish, and dairy (mainly whole-fat); range of scores, 0-6]. The main outcome measures were all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular events [cardiovascular disease (CVD)]. During a median follow-up of 9.3 years in PURE, compared with a diet score of ≤1 points, a diet score of ≥5 points was associated with a lower risk of mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-0.77)], CVD (HR 0.82; 0.75-0.91), myocardial infarction (HR 0.86; 0.75-0.99), and stroke (HR 0.81; 0.71-0.93). In three independent studies in vascular patients, similar results were found, with a higher diet score being associated with lower mortality (HR 0.73; 0.66-0.81), CVD (HR 0.79; 0.72-0.87), myocardial infarction (HR 0.85; 0.71-0.99), and a non-statistically significant lower risk of stroke (HR 0.87; 0.73-1.03). Additionally, in two case-control studies, a higher diet score was associated with lower first myocardial infarction [odds ratio (OR) 0.72; 0.65-0.80] and stroke (OR 0.57; 0.50-0.65). A higher diet score was associated with a significantly lower risk of death or CVD in regions with lower than with higher gross national incomes (P for heterogeneity <0.0001). The PURE score showed slightly stronger associations with death or CVD than several other common diet scores (P < 0.001 for each comparison). Conclusion: A diet comprised of higher amounts of fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish, and whole-fat dairy is associated with lower CVD and mortality in all world regions, especially in countries with lower income where consumption of these foods is low.
https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad269
India’s Removal of Retaliatory Tariffs on US Almonds Comes into Force
The notification was published by the Gazette of India on September 5
India’s retaliatory tariffs on US almonds have been removed as of September 6, 2023, according to a notification published the previous day in the Gazette of India. The tariff rates have therefore returned to 35 Rs./kg for in-shell almonds and 100 Rs./kg for shelled almonds.
| Description | Rates under retaliatory tariffs | New tariff rates |
| In-shell almonds | Rs. 42/kg | Rs. 35/kg |
| Shelled almonds | Rs. 120/kg | Rs. 100/kg |
The agreement to eliminate the retaliatory tariffs was announced by the two countries on June 22, 2023, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official state visit to the United States. The agreement includes the removal of retaliatory tariffs, which India had imposed in June 2019 in response to the US Section 232 national security measures on steel and aluminum, on certain US products, including almonds.
The elimination of these tariffs opens up a new chapter of bilateral cooperation that will deepen and diversify the trade relationship between the United States and India.
INC Pavilion: Gulfood 2024
INC Pavilion: Gulfood 2024
19-23 Feb, Dubai, UAE
Gulfood 2024, the international leading trade fair for flavors, techniques, and food sustainability will take place February 19-23, 2024.
Gulfood 2024 will cover all innovations and developments related to tools, services, and equipment. The social features of the event will produce a unique ecosystem that will establish the attending companies at the market front line and give them an advantage in the competition.
For more information, See Here
INC Pavilion: Anuga 2023
INC Pavilion: Anuga 2023
7-11 Oct, Cologne, Germany
Hosted every two years Anuga is the leading global trade fair for the food and beverage industry. The event provides numerous sources of inspiration across more than 280,000 sqm of exhibition area embracing pioneering trending topics, and, of course, great business opportunities. To apply you must be an INC member. Applications will be open soon.
Find us: Hall 10.2, Stand E011D
For more information, See Here