Association Between Walnut Consumption And Diabetes Risk In NHANES

Background

Dietary interventions and cohort studies relating tree nut consumption to blood glucose levels suggest a possible effect of walnuts.

Objective

To examine the associations between walnut consumption and diabetes risk using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Method

NHANES survey data on adults conducting 24 hour dietary recall was pooled across the years 1999 through 2014. Diabetes status or risk was based on self-report, medication use, fasting plasma (FPG) glucose levels and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Individuals were characterized based on reported consumption of walnuts, mixed-nuts, or no nuts.

Result

After adjustment for covariates, walnut consumers showed lower risk for diabetes compared to non-nut consumers based on self-report (odds ratio of 0.47 95% confidence interval 0.31-0.72) as well as fasting blood glucose (RRR 0.32 CI 0.17-0.58) and HbA1c (RRR 0.51 CI 0.27-0.99). For each standard deviation of increase in walnut intake, prevalence of diabetes dropped 47%. The gender by walnut interaction suggests the effect may be more potent among women than men (dose response p=0.061).

Conclusion

Both among individuals with known diabetes and those diagnosed based on elevated diabetes blood markers, the prevalence of individuals with diabetes was significantly lower among the walnut consumers. A possible gender specific effect invites further attention.

Published : June 21, 2018

Study Type :  Epidemiology Study

Topics : Diabetes

Source :  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/dmrr.3031