Pecan‐enriched diets increase energy expenditure and fat oxidation in adults at‐risk for cardiovascular disease in a randomised, controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Research indicates that diets enriched with unsaturated fatty acids improve energy metabolism, although studies on tree nuts, which are a rich source of those fats, are limited. The present study aimed to examine the impact of daily pecan consumption for 8 weeks on energy metabolism in adults with hypercholesterolaemia or at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) (body mass index ≥ 28 kg m -2 ). Methods: For this randomised, controlled trial, 56 sedentary adults were randomised into one of three treatments for an 8-week intervention: two pecan groups and a nut-free control group (n = 18). The ADD group (n = 16) consumed pecans as part of a free-living diet, whereas the SUB group (n = 18) substituted the pecans for isocaloric foods from their habitual diet. At baseline and 8 weeks, a high saturated fat meal was consumed along with indirect calorimetry measurements at fasting and for 4 h postprandially to determine changes in resting metabolic rate (RMR), diet induced thermogenesis (DIT) and substrate utilisation (primary outcomes). Forty-seven participants completed the trial and were included in analyses. Results: In the SUB group, there was an increase in fasting RMR (1607 ± 117 to 1701 ± 114 kcal day -1 ; p = 0.01) and fasting fat oxidation (0.83 ± 0.08 to 0.99 ± 0.08 g/15 min; p = 0.009) and a decrease in fasting respiratory exchange ratio (0.85 ± 0.01 to 0.83 ± 0.01; p = 0.05) from pre-to post-intervention. In the ADD group, there was an increase in postprandial DIT (p < 0.001). There were no changes within the control group or between groups for any outcome measure. Conclusions: Daily consumption of pecans may increase select measures of energy expenditure and fat oxidation in adults at-risk for CVD.diet induced thermogenesis, high-fat, metabolism, resting metabolic rate, tree nuts, unsaturated fatty acid Key points• Daily consumption of pecans may improve select measures of energy expenditure or fat metabolism. • When consuming pecans daily, the presence or absence of dietary substitution instructions may be an important determinant of energy metabolism outcomes.

Changes in body weight in response to pecan-enriched diets with and without substitution instructions: a randomised, controlled trial

“…We previously showed that a 7-d PUFA-rich diet (containing walnuts) improved fasting and postprandial peptide YY, a satiety hormone ( 28 ) . Furthermore, previous research involving 8–19 weeks of peanut or pecan consumption resulted in a 5–11 % increase in resting metabolic rate ( 16 , 29 , 30 ) . Finally, we know that not all the energy in some nuts is fully metabolised and absorbed ( 31 , 32 ) .…”

Metabolic responses to 8 weeks of consuming cottonseed oil versus olive oil in adults with dyslipidaemia: a randomised trial

“…Participants had 10 min to drink the meal after which 4 oz of water was used to rinse out the container, which was then also consumed. HF meal challenges are commonly provided as a liquid rather than solid meal, [37][38][39] likely due to their ability to be consumed quickly and easily, and have been shown to be comparable for measuring circulatory markers of lipid metabolism and metabolic function parameters in previous studies. 40,41 An SFA-rich meal challenge was used to observe how diets enriched with CSO and OO influence metabolic responses to an occasional unhealthy meal.…”