Effect of Almond Consumption on Metabolic Risk Factors - Glucose, Hyperinsulinemia, Inflammatory Markers: A Randomized Controlled Trial in 16–25 year olds in Mumbai City

Abstract Objectives A large percentage of Indian population has diabetes or is at risk of pre-diabetes. Almond consumption has shown benefits on cardio metabolic risk factors in adults. The present study explored the effect of almond consumption on determinants of metabolic dysfunction - blood glucose, insulin, selected inflammatory markers and oxidant damage in adolescents and young adults aged 16–25 years from Mumbai city. Daily almond consumption will reduce insulin levels, selected pro-inflammatory markers, improve lipid profile of 16–25 year old persons. Methods This cluster randomized trial was conducted on individuals with impaired levels of glucose (fasting glucose (5.6–6.9 mmol/L), 2 h post-glucose (7.8–11.0 mmol/L) and/or insulin (fasting insulin(≥15 mIU/ml)/glucose challenge insulin(≥80 mIU/ml). 421 individuals were selected after screening 1313 individuals. The almonds group (n = 107) consumed 56gm almonds daily for 90 days and was compared with a control group (n = 112) who consumed an iso-caloric snack for the same period. Blood samples were analysed at baseline, endline for glucose, insulin, HbA1C, LDL, HDL, TC, ox-LDL, TG, hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, adiponectin, leptin. Body fat (%), visceral fat, weight, were measured. HOMA-IR, FG: FI ratio, BMI, WHR, WHtR were calculated. Dietary intakes were assessed at baseline, endline using 24-hour recall. Results Baseline values for all measurements, macronutrient intakes did not differ significantly between the two groups. Changes in anthropometric measurements between baseline and endline were not significantly different in both groups. Percent body fat increased in both groups but was four times more in the control than the almonds group. Almond consumption significantly decreased HbA1C, total cholesterol, LDL-C, IL-6. Stimulated insulin decreased post-intervention in both groups, but was greater in almonds group. FG: FI ratio decreased in almonds group. TNF-α decreased in almonds group while it increased in control group. Conclusions The present study shows the directionality for almond consumption to reduce inflammatory markers, total, LDL cholesterol levels and HbA1C levels in adolescents and young adults who were at risk for developing diabetes. Thus, almonds can be considered as one of the food-based strategies for preventing pre-diabetes. Funding Sources Research grant from Almond Board of California.