Nuts May Improve Markers of Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome is a condition characterized by central obesity, hypertension, and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism.  Cristina Andres-Lacueva, from the University of Barcelona (Spain), and colleagues investigated the biochemical effects of nut consumption, enrolling 22 men and women wityh Metabolic Syndrome on a 12-week long study in which subjects received patients one ounce of mixed nuts (raw unpeeled walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts) daily, and compared them to a group of 20 subjects who avoided nuts for the same duration.  The team analyzed the broad spectrum of compounds excreted in the subjects’ urine and found evidence of several healthful changes among those consuming nuts.  They found that nut consumption boosted the levels of serotonin metabolites in urine, explaining that serotonin is a substance that helps transmit nerve signals and decreases feelings of hunger, makes people feel happier and improves heart health. The study authors conclude that: “The results confirmed how a nontargeted metabolomics strategy may help to access unexplored metabolic pathways impacted by diet, thereby raising prospects for new intervention targets.”