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Nut consumption, body weight and insulin resistance

Abstract

The beneficial effects of nuts on cardiovascular health are well known. However, since nuts provide a high caloric and fat content, some concern exists regarding a potential detrimental effect on body weight and insulin resistance. The current data available did not support such a negative effect of nut consumption on the short term or when nuts are included on diets that meet energy needs. Furthermore, there is some intriguing evidence that nuts can help to regulate body weight and protect against type II diabetes. This, however, still has to be proved and more research is needed to address the specific effects of nuts on satiety, energy balance, body weight and insulin resistance.

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Acknowledgements

Isabel Megias is in receipt of a fellowship from the Fundación IRCIS.

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Guarantor: J Salas-Salvadó.

Contributors: All authors contributed equally to the planning and documentation of the manuscript. P G-L wrote the report under the direction of J S-S who also reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to J Salas-Salvadó.

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García-Lorda, P., Megias Rangil, I. & Salas-Salvadó, J. Nut consumption, body weight and insulin resistance. Eur J Clin Nutr 57 (Suppl 1), S8–S11 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601802

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