Effects of Hazelnuts Consumption Combined with Physical Activity on Lipid Metabolism and Correlations with Marrow Adiposity Homeostasis

Consumption of hazelnuts has been associated with reduced cardiovascular risk and improved metabolic outcomes. Furthermore, the Bone Marrow Fat (BMF) might contribute to skeletal as well as systemic metabolism, modulating insulin sensitivity and, consequently, cardiovascular risk. Previously, we demonstrated a beneficial effect of hazelnuts and cocoa integration on vascular reactivity and metabolic profile in healthy individuals. Aim of this randomized controlled interventional study with 3 parallel groups was to investigate the effects of a daily supplementation with 30 g of hazelnuts, with or without aerobic physical activity (PA), throughout 8 weeks, on insulin sensitivity and resistance, lipid profile, and on BMF content (evaluated by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy) in healthy individuals. Twenty-five adults (age 18-50 yrs; BMI 18-28 Kg/m2) were randomized in 3 groups: 9 subjects (5F/4M, age 25.6±8.8 yrs, BMI 23.3±2.5) received 30 g of hazelnuts associated with diet (Group 1); 9 subjects (6F/3M, age 26.3±6.3 yrs, BMI 22.0±2.1) received 30 g of hazelnuts associated with diet and aerobic PA (Group 2); 7 subjects (4 F/3 M, age 29.7±6.4 yrs, BMI 23.3±4.2) received only diet (Group 3). After the 8 weeks-intervention, an improvement in LDL-Cholesterol was found in Groups 1 and 2 [-9.3±11.5% (Group 1) vs -5.0±13.6% (Group 2) vs +21.9±35.7% (Group 3); p=0.02]. BMF content variation negatively correlated with LDL-Cholesterol change in Group 1 (r=-0.802, p=0.054); variations in BMF content and in HDL-Cholesterol positively correlated in Group 2 (r=+0.8687, p=0.011). This study confirms the beneficial effects of hazelnuts, in association with PA in improving lipid profile. The correlations between HDL- and LDL-cholesterol and BFM changes suggest an impact of bone homeostasis on whole-body lipid metabolism, through a rapid utilization of lipids, drawing them out of the circulation and decreasing their deposition in the organ tissues. Disclosure A.Ferrulli: None. S.Massarini: None. C.Macrì: None. P.Senesi: None. I.Terruzzi: None. G.Rosso: Employee; Soremartec Italia Srl, Ferrero Group. M.Charron: Employee; Soremartec Italia Srl, Ferrero Group. R.Menta: Employee; Soremartec Italia Srl, Ferrero Group. L.Luzi: Advisory Panel; Eli Lilly and Company, Medtronic, Research Support; Gelesis, Speaker's Bureau; A. Menarini Diagnostics, Amgen Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly Alliance, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Novartis. Funding IRCCS MultiMedica (Ricerca Corrente)