Nutr Res Pract.  2017 Dec;11(6):479-486. 10.4162/nrp.2017.11.6.479.

The effects of daily intake timing of almond on the body composition and blood lipid profile of healthy adults

• Liu Y
• Hwang HJ
• Ryu H
• Lee YS
• Kim HS
• Park H

• KMID: 2395302
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2017.11.6.479

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Timing of almond intake during a day may result differently in the perspectives of body composition and changes of lipid profile. The current study was conducted to compare the effects of daily almond intake as a preload versus as a snack on body composition, blood lipid profile, and oxidative and inflammation indicators among young Korean adults aged 20-39 years old.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a pre-meal almond group (PM), a snack almond group (SN) in which participants were instructed to consume 56 g of almonds either as a preload before meals or as a snack between meals, respectively, and a control group (CL) in which participants were provided high-carbohydrate iso-caloric control food. Measurements were performed at baseline, weeks 8 and 16.
RESULTS
A total of 169 (M 77/F 92) out of the 227 participants completed the study between June 2014 and June 2015 (n = 58 for PM; 55 for SN; and 56 for CL). A significant decrease in body fat mass was observed in the PM group at both weeks 8 and 16 compared with the CL. There were significant intervention effects on changes of body fat mass (P = 0.025), body fat percentages (P = 0.019), and visceral fat levels (P < 0.001). Consuming almonds as a daily snack reduced the levels of total cholesterol (P = 0.043) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P = 0.011) without changing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol compared with the CL.
CONCLUSION
Almond consumption as a preload modified body fat percentages, whereas snacking on almonds between meals improved blood lipid profiles. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03014531.

Keyword

Almonds; snacking; body composition

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Adult*
Body Composition*
Cholesterol
Humans
Inflammation
Intra-Abdominal Fat
Lipoproteins
Meals
Prunus dulcis*
Snacks
Cholesterol
Lipoproteins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Flow chart of the study. PM, pre-meal almond group; SN, snack almond group; CL, control group.

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