Researchers randomized 112 participants, 31 men and 81 women, ranging in age from 25 to 75 years with multiple risk factors for diabetes (overweight, high blood sugar, blood pressure, or cholesterol, or excess fat around the midsection) to follow a reduced calorie diet with or without nutrition counseling. Within these groups, half were randomly assigned to add walnuts to their daily diet (about 2 ounces/day) for 6 months. After a 3-month break, researchers then switched the groups. Participants were assessed for diet quality, body composition, and cardiac risk measures.
Study results showed that walnuts, with or without nutrition counseling, significantly improved diet quality as measured by the Healthy Eating Index 2010. Endothelial function and total and LDL-C significantly improved from baseline; other factors such as BMI, percent body fat, visceral fat, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and blood pressure, did not change significantly.
Read the full study here.
