5. Conclusions
obesity, prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, chronic disease
OBESITY, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES, PREDIABETES, METABOLIC SYNDROME, TYPE 2 DIABETES, INSULIN SENSITIVITY, CHRONIC DISEASE
While there are several studies that investigate the effects of tree nut consumption on energy metabolism and abdominal obesity, to our knowledge this is the first randomized parallel-arm study to investigate the cardiometabolic responses to tree nut snack consumption in comparison to traditional carbohydrate-rich snacks among young adults at risk of metabolic syndrome. Notably, TNsnack consumption improved diet quality by increasing the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fat intake and reducing total sugars intake. Overall, our study suggests that daily tree nut consumption reduces metabolic syndrome risk without the requirement of caloric restriction, potentially by improving waist circumference, lipid biomarkers, and insulin sensitivity. Given the widespread prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its harmful potential for the development of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, it is imperative that practical and feasible therapeutic strategies be adopted. Future investigation could be conducted in subgroups of the young adult population such as athletes as well as populations with chronic disease states including prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.