Nut consumption associated with reduced overall mortality

1. Based on data from three different cohorts, there was about a 20% lower risk of death amongst participants who had the greatest amount of nut consumption. There was also reduced cardiovascular disease amongst these participants.

2. There was no significant difference observed regarding this positive trend between peanuts compared to other nuts, which is of particular interest since peanuts are much more cost-effective.

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)       

Study Rundown: Nuts are often hailed for their numerous health benefits. Epidemiologic data suggests that consuming nuts, particularly peanuts, may lead to survival benefits. These other studies were conducted largely amongst well-educated, Caucasian adults. However, similar studies have not been conducted amongst lower socioeconomic status (SES) Americans or ethnically diverse people. Of particular interest was peanut consumption because of their cost-effectiveness. This study, which gathered data from studies conducted amongst lower SES Americans and amongst the urban Chinese, showed that there was about a 20% lower risk of death amongst participants who had the greatest amount of nut consumption. There was also reduced cardiovascular disease amongst these participants. There was no significant difference observed regarding this positive trend between peanuts compared to other nuts, which is of particular interest since peanuts are much more cost-effective.

A major strength of this study was the large number of participants included in the three cohorts. The follow-up periods were relatively long, particularly in the Shanghai women’s cohort. Weaknesses of the study included the slightly different questionnaires between the two countries, and the differences in the composition of nut consumption (i.e., peanuts vs. other nuts). Also, there were a number of differences in demographics amongst the cohorts.

Click to read the study, published today in JAMA Internal Medicine

Relevant Reading: Frequency of nut consumption and mortality risk in the PREDIMED nutrition intervention trial

In-Depth [prospective cohort]: This study consisted of the following cohorts: Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS), Shanghai Men’s Health Study (SMHS), and Shanghai Women’s Health Study (SWHS). The SCCS cohort was composed of primarily lower SES participants from 12 southern states in the United States. The SMHS and SWHS cohorts were composed of urban communities from Shanghai. In all of these cohorts, participants with a history of cancer were excluded from the study. The dietary history was based off of the previously validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

In the SCCS, there was 21% reduced mortality amongst the participants in the highest quintile of nut consumption compared with the lowest quintile. Similarly, amongst the two Shanghai cohorts, there was 17% reduced mortality in the group with the highest consumption of nuts. There was also lower risk of ischemic heart disease amongst those participants with the highest nut consumption (HR 0.62; 95%CI 0.45-0.85 in blacks; HR 0.60; 95%CI 0.39-0.92 in whites; and HR 0.70; 95%CI 0.54-0.89 in Asians). There was also no difference observed between peanuts and other nuts, which has important implications for those of lower SES and their health since peanuts are cost-effective.

Image: PD

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