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12 Weeks of Eating Almonds on Cognitive Function and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers ‐ A Study Protocol
Author(s) -
Coates Alison,
Morgillo Samantha,
Yandell Catherine,
Scholey Andrew,
Buckley Jonathan,
Hill Alison
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.636.5
Subject(s) - medicine , overweight , cognition , blood pressure , mood , waist , obesity , physical therapy , psychiatry
Background It is widely accepted that mood and mental functioning is linked to nutritional status, with growing evidence to support a role for tree nuts improving cognitive function and/or limiting cognitive decline. Objective To examine effects of eating almonds for 12 weeks compared with control snack foods on cognitive function and biomarkers of cardiovascular and metabolic health. Experimental Design Overweight/obese participants (target n=150) aged 50–80 years without mild cognitive impairment or depression will be recruited to participate in a randomised controlled parallel study. Habitual diets will have 15% of energy replaced with either almonds or energy matched snack foods (potato chips and cookies). At baseline and after 12 weeks, fasted assessments will be completed for multiple cognitive domains (memory, speed of processing, executive function), cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, arterial compliance, blood lipids) and metabolic biomarkers (body composition, glucose regulation and inflammation). Dietary compliance and weight stability will be assessed every 3 weeks and diet and activity profiles monitored through weighed foods diaries and activity diaries. Results Sixty‐one participants have enrolled to date (28M:33F) of whom 30% are on cholesterol lowering medication and 11% are on antihypertensive medication. The participants have a mean age 65± 8years, BMI 29.8 ± 3.6kg/m 2 , waist circumference 101 ± 11cm and SBP/DBP 132 ±14/ 76 ±8 mmHg. Participants have remained relatively weight stable (average change 0.4 ± 1.1 kg). Snack foods have been well tolerated with excellent compliance (>95%) in both groups. Discussion The intervention has been well tolerated and will provide information on the potential benefits of almonds for cognitive function and cardiometabolic health. Support or Funding Information Funding from the Almond Board of California