Health Benefits Related to Tree Nut Consumption and Their Bioactive Compounds

Inhibitory effect of extracts from edible parts of nuts on α-amylase activity: a systematic review

Elevated blood glucose concentration is a risk factor for developing metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance, leading to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Nuts have the potential to inhibit α-amylase activity, and so lower postprandial glucose, due to their content of polyphenols and other bioactive compounds. We conducted a systematic literature review to assess the ability of extracts from commonly consumed edible parts of nuts to inhibit α-amylase. Among the 31 included papers, only four utilised human α-amylases. These papers indicated that polyphenol-rich chestnut skin extracts exhibited strong inhibition of both human salivary and pancreatic α-amylases, and that a polyphenol-rich almond skin extract was a potent inhibitor of human salivary α-amylase. The majority of the reviewed studies utilised porcine pancreatic α-amylase, which has ∼86% sequence homology with the corresponding human enzyme but with some key amino acid variations located within the active site. Polyphenol-rich extracts from chestnut, almond, kola nut, pecan and walnut, and peptides isolated from cashew, inhibited porcine pancreatic α-amylase. Some studies used α-amylases sourced from fungi or bacteria, outcomes from which are entirely irrelevant to human health, as they have no sequence homology with the human enzyme. Given the limited research involving human α-amylases, and the differences in inhibition compared to porcine enzymes and especially enzymes from microorganisms, it is recommended that future in vitro experiments place greater emphasis on utilising enzymes sourced from humans to facilitate a reliable prediction of effects in intervention studies.

Associations of dietary patterns and perceived stress with memory deficits in patients with heart failure

This study aimed to examine the relationships between dietary patterns and perceived stress with memory deficits in 291 patients with heart failure aged 45-85 years. A total of 142 (48.8%) patients reported memory deficit. Three dietary patterns were identified by K-means clustering: nut-fruit-dairy, meat-processed, and traditional (high intake of cereals) diets. Compared to the traditional diet, the nut-fruit-dairy diet and meat-processed diet were associated with lower levels of deficits in short-term memory, delayed memory, and overall memory. What's more, perceived stress was positively associated with deficits in short-term memory and overall memory, but the association was only found in patients adhering to the traditional diet using stratified analyses. Our findings suggest that adhering to a healthy diet may be conducive to improving deficits in short-term memory, delayed memory, and overall memory, while also buffering the adverse association between perceived stress and deficits in short-term memory and overall memory.

Phytochemicals and bioactive constituents in food packaging - A systematic review

Designing and manufacturing functional bioactive ingredients and pharmaceuticals have grown worldwide. Consumers demand for safe ingredients and concerns over harmful synthetic additives have prompted food manufacturers to seek safer and sustainable alternative solutions. In recent years the preference by consumers to natural bioactive agents over synthetic compounds increased exponentially, and consequently, naturally derived phytochemicals and bioactive compounds, with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, becoming essential in food packaging field. In response to societal needs, packaging needs to be developed based on sustainable manufacturing practices, marketing strategies, consumer behaviour, environmental concerns, and the emergence of new technologies, particularly bio- and nanotechnology. This critical systematic review assessed the role of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds from natural resources in food packaging and consumer behaviour patterns in relation to phytochemical and biologically active substances used in the development of food packaging. The use of phytochemicals and bioactive compounds inside packaging materials used in food industry could generate unpleasant odours derived from the diffusion of the most volatile compounds from the packaging material to the food and food environment. These consumer concerns must be addressed to understand minimum concentrations that will not affect consumer sensory and aroma negative perceptions. The research articles were carefully chosen and selected by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines.

Perspective: Challenges and Future Directions in Clinical Research with Nuts and Berries

Consumption of nuts and berries are considered part of a healthy eating pattern. Nuts and berries contain a complex nutrient profile consisting of essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and phenolics in quantities that improve physiological outcomes. The spectrum of health outcomes that may be impacted by the consumptions of nuts and berries includes cardiovascular, gut microbiome, and cognitive, among others. Recently, new insights regarding the bioactive compounds found in both nuts and berries have reinforced their role for use in precision nutrition efforts. However, challenges exist that can affect the generalizability of outcomes from clinical studies, including inconsistency in study designs, homogeneity of test populations, variability in test products and control foods, and assessing realistic portion sizes. Future research centered on precision nutrition and multi-omics technologies will yield new insights. These and other topics such as funding streams and perceived risk-of-bias were explored at an international nutrition conference focused on the role of nuts and berries in clinical nutrition. Successes, challenges, and future directions with these foods are presented here.

A 4-Week Pecan-Enriched Diet Improves Postprandial Lipid Peroxidation in Aging Adults

Pecans are rich in bioactive compounds known to reduce oxidative stress and provide glucoregulatory benefits. Few studies assessing the effect of a pecan-enriched diet on such health outcomes suggest potential improvements to cardiometabolic health; however, this has not been studied in an older adult population. Thus, we aimed to examine the effect of daily pecan consumption for 4-weeks on fasting and postmeal antioxidant status, oxidative stress, and markers of glycemia in healthy aging adults. In this randomized, parallel, controlled trial, 41 healthy adults (50-75 years) either consumed 68 g of pecans/day (pecan; n = 21) or avoided all nuts (control; n = 20). At pre- (V1) and postintervention visits (V2), blood samples were obtained at fasting, and 30, 60, and 120 min following a high saturated fat meal to assess changes in malondialdehyde, which is a measure of lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glucose, and insulin. Across the intervention, there were no differences in fasting or postprandial TAC, glucose, or insulin for pecan versus control. There was a trend for a difference in fasting lipid peroxidation from V1 to V2 by treatment (P = .06) driven by a slight reduction for pecan versus control (Δpecan: -2.0 ± 1.1 vs. Δcontrol: +0.6 ± 0.8 μM). In addition, postprandial lipid peroxidation was suppressed at V2 for pecan, and this was different from control (pecan areas under the curve (AUC): 10.6 ± 1.3 μM/h to 9.1 ± 1.2 μM/h vs. control AUC: 8.9 ± 1.3 μM/h to 9.2 ± 1.1 μM/h; P = .03). These findings suggest that a 1 month, pecan-enriched diet is protective against postmeal oxidative stress. Longer interventions or a diabetic population may be needed to observe glucoregulatory benefits. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04385537.

A Review of the Anti-Obesity Effects of Wild Edible Plants in the Mediterranean Diet and Their Active Compounds: From Traditional Uses to Action Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets

Obesity is a long-term condition resulting from a continuous imbalance between the amount of energy consumed and expended. It is associated with premature mortality and contributes to a large portion of the global chronic disease burden, including diabesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and some cancers. While lifestyle changes and dietary adjustments are the primary ways to manage obesity, they may not always be sufficient for long-term weight loss. In these cases, medication may be necessary. However, the options for drugs are limited due to their potential side effects. As a result, there is a need to identify safe and effective alternative treatments. Recently, dietary compounds, plants, and bioactive phytochemicals have been considered as promising sources for discovering new pharmacological agents to treat obesity and its related complications. These natural products can function independently or synergistically with other plants to augment their effects at various levels of the body. They can modulate appetite, lipase activity, thermogenesis and fat synthesis and degradation, satiation, adipogenesis, and adipocyte apoptosis. Additionally, targeting adipocyte growth and differentiation with diverse medicinal plants/diet is a significant strategy for devising new anti-obesity drugs that can intervene in preadipocytes, maturing preadipocytes, and mature adipocytes. Clinical trials have shown that the wild edible plants in the Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of obesity and its related diseases. This review examines the effectiveness of the common components of the Mediterranean diet in managing obesity and its associated health issues. We conducted a comprehensive literature review using PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Medline Plus to gather data on the therapeutic effects of the Mediterranean diet and phytochemicals in treating obesity and its associated diseases.

A pecan-enriched diet reduced postprandial appetite intensity and enhanced peptide YY secretion: A randomized control trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Tree nuts have been shown to have satiating qualities; however, little is known concerning the effect of pecans on measures of appetite. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a pecan-enriched diet on subjective, physiological, and direct measures of appetite in older adults.

METHODS

This was a randomized, controlled trial in which healthy older adults (50-75 y) were randomized to either consume 68 g of pecans/day (pecan; n = 21) or avoid all nuts (control; n = 23) for 4 weeks. At pre- (V1) and post-diet (V2) visits body weight (BW) and body fat percentage (BF) were assessed and actual change in these outcomes for pecan were compared to theoretical changes if pecans were consumed without compensation. Subjective appetite was measured using visual analog scale (VAS), and blood was collected to assess changes in physiological appetite before and every 30 min for 4 h following a high-fat meal. Energy intake (EI) at a buffet meal was then assessed in the laboratory ("in-lab"). VAS assessments continued hourly for the next 7 h and EI ("at-home") was self-reported.

RESULTS

BW and BF did not change for pecan or control across the intervention and theoretical change in BW (theoretical: 2.2 ± 0.1 vs. actual: 0.4 ± 0.2 kg; p < 0.0001) and BF (theoretical: 0.4 ± 0.04 vs. actual: 0.2 ± 0.2%; p < 0.0001) was significantly greater than actual change for pecan. From V1 to V2, there was an increase in fasting (pecan: 77.0 ± 4.6 to 93.5 ± 6.1 vs control: 76.0 ± 5.0 to 72.5 ± 5.0 pg/mL; p = 0.01) and postprandial peptide YY for pecan vs. control (p = 0.04); however, fasting and postprandial cholecystokinin and ghrelin did not differ (p > 0.05). There were no differences in the change in subjective appetite ratings at fasting, following the high-fat meal (in-lab), at-home, or across the full day between groups (p > 0.05 for all). However, there was a significant suppression of peak desire to eat ratings for pecan vs. control (pecan: 67.9 ± 4.6 to 57.1 ± 5.2 vs. control: 61.9 ± 4.2 to 60.6 ± 4.3 mm; p = 0.04). Combined, buffet meal, and at-home EI did not differ significantly within pecan and control; however, there was a trend (p = 0.11) for a between group difference in buffet meal EI driven by increased EI for control (+137 ± 86 kcal) vs. decreased EI for pecan (-45 ± 77 kcal).

CONCLUSION

A 4-week pecan-enriched diet led to enhanced satietogenic metrics compared to a diet void of all nuts. As weight remained stable during the intervention, adding pecans to the daily diet may be beneficial to appetite control and weight maintenance in a healthy older population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04385537.

The effect of an anti-inflammatory diet on chronic pain: a pilot study

Objective

Rheumatic diseases result in chronic pain (CP) and require treatment with drugs whose prolonged administration is associated with side effects. However, publications in the academic literature have suggested that diet modification and food supplementation can play a crucial role in alleviating the symptoms of inflammatory disease. Thus, it is hoped that the use of an anti-inflammatory diet for pain management might result in improved quality of life. Hence, here we aimed to investigate the effect of anti-inflammatory foods in patients with CP caused by rheumatic diseases.

Methods

After an exhaustive bibliography search, we designed a 13-item anti-inflammatory dietary guide based on a Mediterranean diet without red meat, gluten, or cow's milk (the AnMeD-S). We then conducted a pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of this anti-inflammatory diet in patients with CP. A food consumption score (with a maximum of 156 points) was then applied to evaluate patient adhesion to the proposed diet. Forty-five patients with CP were followed-up for 4 months. Variables related with quality of life (including pain perception, depression status, and sleep satisfaction) were measured using 9 validated questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were recorded before and after the participants followed the anti-inflammatory diet.

Results

We found a correlation between increased anti-inflammatory food intake and improved physical characteristics, stress, and pain in the patients we assessed. Moreover, decreased consumption of pro-inflammatory foods was positively correlated with sleep satisfaction. Following the AnMeD-S was associated with improved physical characteristics and quality-of-life in patients with CP.

Conclusion

The AnMeD-S, includes anti-inflammatory foods and restricts the consumption of certain pro-inflammatory foods (such as those containing gluten). This dietary pattern could provide relief from CP and improve the symptoms of stress and depression, as well as reducing sleep disturbances.

Effect of Nut Consumption on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Although previous epidemiological studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between nut consumption and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the evidence remains inconclusive and contentious. The aim of our study was to further conduct a meta-analysis of observational studies to explore the latest evidence of the influence of nut consumption on NAFLD. This meta-analysis included a comprehensive search of all articles published in the PubMed and Web of Science online databases as of April 2023. A total of 11 articles were included, comprising 2 prospective cohort studies, 3 cross-sectional studies, and 7 case-control studies, and a random effects model was used to evaluate the relationship between nuts and NAFLD. Results showed that the odds ratio (OR) of NAFLD was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81-0.99, p < 0.001) when comparing the highest and lowest total nut intake, indicating a significant negative correlation. Furthermore, subgroup analysis revealed that the protective effect of nuts on NAFLD was more significant in females (OR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.78-0.98, I² = 76.2%). In summary, our findings provide support for a protective relationship between nut intake and risk of NAFLD. Further exploration of the association between other dietary components and NAFLD is an important avenue for future research.

Health risk-benefit assessment of the commercial red mangrove crab: Implications for a cultural delicacy

Mangrove forests, provide vital food resources and are an endangered ecosystem worldwide due to pollution and habitat destruction. A risk-benefit assessment (RBA) was performed on the red mangrove crab (Ucides occidentalis) from the threatened Guayas mangroves in Ecuador. It was aimed to assess the combined potential adverse and beneficial health impact associated with crab consumption and define a recommended safe intake (SI) to improve the diet of the Ecuadoran population while ensuring safe food intake. Target hazard quotients (THQs), benefit quotients (Qs), and benefit-risk quotients (BRQs) were calculated based on the concentrations of the analyzed contaminants (121 pesticide residues, 11 metal(loid)s, antimicrobial drugs from 3 classes) and nutrients (fatty acids, amino acids, and essential nutrients). Except for inorganic arsenic (iAs), the THQ was below 100 for all investigated contaminants, suggesting that the average crab consumer is exposed to levels that do not impose negative non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic health effects in the long and/or short term. Concentrations of iAs (average AsIII: 25.64 and AsV: 6.28 μg/kg fw) were of the highest concern because of the potential to cause negative health effects on long-term consumption. Despite the thriving aquaculture in the Guayas estuary, concentrations of residues of the antimicrobial drugs oxytetracycline (OTC), florfenicol, and nitrofurans still were low. Based on the fact that different risk reference values exist, related to different safety levels, four SI values (0.002, 0.04, 4, and 18 crabs/day) were obtained. The strictest intake values indicate a concern for current consumption habits. In conclusion, the red mangrove crab contains various important nutrients and can be part of a balanced diet for the Ecuadorian population when consumed in limited portions. The present study emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the quality of the environment as a prerequisite for procuring nutritious and safe food.

Composition of Nuts and Their Potential Health Benefits-An Overview

The possibility that nut intake may defend human health is an interesting point of view and has been investigated worldwide. Consequently, nuts are commonly promoted as healthy. In recent decades, the number of investigations proposing a correlation between nut consumption and a decrease in the risk of key chronic diseases has continued to increase. Nuts are a source of intake of fiber, and dietary fiber is associated with a reduced occurrence of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Nuts likewise provide minerals and vitamins to the diet and supply phytochemicals that function as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and phytoestrogens agents and other protective mechanisms. Therefore, the main goal of this overview is to summarize current information and to describe the utmost new investigation concerning the health benefits of certain nuts.

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Fat Content, Fatty Acids, Antioxidants and Oxidative Stability of Almonds, and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Study of Treated Nuts

Gamma irradiation has been applied as an efficient and inexpensive method for the sterilization of nuts for years. However, along with the benefits of such treatment, negative effects are possible because of the formation of reactive oxygen species with a toxic effect on important biologically active substances. Because of the scarce and contradictory information in the literature about gamma-irradiated almonds, the aim of our work was the examination of the lipid changes, antioxidant activity, and oxidative stability of almonds treated by 10 and 25 kGy gamma rays, as well as changes in intensity of the EPR spectra as an indicator for the stability of radiation-induced free radicals. The results revealed no significant differences in the EPR spectra of almonds treated at 10 and 25 kGy doses, neither in their intensity nor in kinetic behaviour. The EPR signals decayed exponentially over 250 days, with a decreasing of central line by 90%, with satellite lines by about 73%. No significant changes in the fat content, fatty acids composition, and acid value of irradiated almonds were observed. However, the amount of (alpha)tocopherols decreased from 292 to 175 mg/kg, whereas the conjugated dienes and trienes increased, K₂₃₂ from 1.3 to 3 and K₂₆₈ from 0.04 to 0.15, respectively, with the increasing of irradiation dose. The same was observed for total polyphenols in defatted almonds (1374 to 1520 mg/100 g), where in vitro antioxidant activity determined by ORAC and HORAC methods increased from 100 to 156 µmol TE/g and from 61 to 86 µmol GAE/g, respectively. The oxidative stability of oil decreased from 6 to 4 h at 120 °C and from 24.6 to 18.6 h at 100 °C (measured by Rancimat equipment). The kinetic parameters characterizing the oxidative stability of oil from 10 kGy irradiated almonds were studied before and after addition of different concentrations of ascorbyl palmitate as a synergist of tocopherols. Its effectiveness was concentration-dependent, and 0.75 mM ensured the same induction period as that of non-irradiated nut oil. Further enrichment with alpha-tocopherol in equimolar ratio with palmitate did not improve the oil stability. In conclusion, gamma irradiation is an appropriate method for the treatment of almonds without significant changes in fat content and fatty acids composition. The decreasing of oxidative stability after higher irradiation could be prevented by the addition of ascorbyl palmitate.

Economic sustainability assessment of Mediterranean crops: A comparative Life Cycle Costing (LCC) analysis

The production of food with beneficial health effects is at the attention of consumer entrepreneurs and public decision-makers. Plants with established health benefits such as almonds, olives from which olive oil is made, and figs have always been cultivated in the Mediterranean basin. In the past, these three crops were widely cultivated in Italy, particularly in the southern part, where the best soil and climate conditions persisted. Today, however, almond and fig production is at an all-time low. The present study aims to assess the economic sustainability of investments in shell almond, olive, and fig farms by integrating Life Cycle Costing (LCC) methodology with specific economic indicators. In addition, a comparison between the three crops is made based on all economic results. The analysis allowed for the consideration of all costs over the entire life cycle of the investments, streamlining business decision-making for the choice between different alternatives. The results demonstrated greater economic profitability of investments in shelled almonds and dried figs and an adequate level of profitability. On the other hand, the results for olive trees were low. In this context, the production of almonds and figs could represent an important agribusiness chain, useful for the improvement of the rural economy.

Association between nut consumption and mortality among Chinese older people: A national cohort study based on CLHLS from 2008 to 2018

Background

Few quantitative studies have explored the associations between nut consumption and better health outcomes among a national cohort of community-dwelling older Chinese people. Given the need for more evidence to support the health benefits of nuts among Chinese people, we investigated whether nut consumption was associated with subsequent 10-year mortality.

Methods

We analyzed data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The data on nut consumption at baseline were collected using a questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. The vital status and date of death were ascertained by a close family member or village doctor of the deceased participant during the follow-up survey. Cox analyses were performed to explore the association between nut consumption and mortality. Subgroup analyses by age group (<80 or ≥80 years), sex (male/female), activities of daily living (impaired or normal), and physical exercise (yes or no) were performed to assess whether the association between nut consumption and mortality differed across different populations.

Results

The median survival time was 1,302 days for the 11,915 participants with complete information of survival time and nut consumption. The association between nut consumption and mortality was significant after the adjusting for significant factors in the univariate Cox analyses. The hazard ratios were lower in male participants, those who were <80 years old, and those who did not engage in physical exercise at baseline. The association between nut consumption and mortality was not significant among participants with normal activities of daily living.

Conclusion

The association between nut consumption and mortality was not significant among participants who had normal activities of daily living but was significant among participants who had impaired activities of daily living. Including nuts in the diets cloud help to extend the lifespan in older Chinese people, especially those with impaired activities of daily living.

Dietary Diversity, Micronutrient Adequacy and Bone Status during Pregnancy: A Study in Urban China from 2019 to 2020

Diet quality during reproduction is crucial to maternal and infant health. However, the association between dietary diversity and bone health of pregnant women remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the dietary quality of Chinese urban gravidas using the dietary diversity score (DDS), and to explore the relationship of the DDS with micronutrient adequacy and bone health. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 775 pregnant women aged 18 years or older in urban China. Dietary diversity was assessed using the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) indicator. A 24-h dietary recall was used to collect diet data and to calculate the MDD-W and the nutrient intake. Bone health was measured using quantitative ultrasound and assessed by the speed of sound (SOS). Pearson's correlation coefficients between the DDS and the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) were calculated. A multivariable linear regression model was used to estimate the effect size of the DDS on the SOS. The mean DDS was 6.61 ± 1.53 points and 91.0% of participants reported the consumption of five or more food groups. Women in the diverse diet subgroup (DDS ≥ 7 points) were more likely to consume all kinds of food except starchy staples and had higher NARs. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the DDS and the NAR ranged from 0.161 to 0.484. For participants in the second trimester, those with a diverse diet had a higher SOS. A multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the DDS was positively and significantly associated with the SOS (β = 17.18, 95% CI = 5.97-28.39, p = 0.003), but this was not the case for women in the first and third trimesters. Urban Chinese women had good dietary diversity during pregnancy. A higher dietary diversity was associated with a higher NAR. From the point of view of bone, a diverse diet was positively correlated with better bone status, suggesting the importance of improving diet diversity for pregnant women, especially from mid-pregnancy.

Physiological or Pathological Molecular Alterations in Brain Aging

Aging is a natural phenomenon that occurs due to a variety of loosely understood mechanisms [...]

Anti-Diabesity Middle Eastern Medicinal Plants and Their Action Mechanisms

Over the last four decades, the escalation in diabetes and obesity rates has become epidemic all over the world. Diabesity describes the strong link between T2D and obesity. It correlates deeper with the elevated risks of developing cardiovascular disease hypertension, stroke, and several malignancies. Therapeutic usage of medicinal plants and natural products in the treatment of diabetes and obesity has long been known to physicians of Greco-Arab and Islamic medicine. Improved versions of their abundant medicinal plant-based formulations are at present some of the most popular herbal treatments used. Preclinical and clinical data about medicinal plants along with their bioactive constituents are now available, justifying the traditionally known therapeutic uses of products derived from them for the prevention and cure of obesity-related T2D and other health problems. The aim of this review is to systematize published scientific data dealing with the efficiency of active ingredients or extracts from Middle Eastern medicinal plants and diet in the management of diabesity and its complications. Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and PubMed were searched for publications describing the medicinal plants and diet used in the management of T2D, obesity, and their complications. The used keywords were “medicinal plants” or “herbals” in combination with “obesity,” “diabetes,” “diabetes,” or nephropathy. More than 130 medicinal plants were identified to target diabesity and its complications. The antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects and action mechanisms of these plants are discussed here. These include the regulation of appetite, thermogenesis, lipid absorption, and lipolysis; pancreatic lipase activity and adipogenesis; glucose absorption in the intestine, insulin secretion, glucose transporters, gluconeogenesis, and epigenetic mechanisms.

Prevalence of Aflatoxins in Selected Dry Fruits, Impact of Storage Conditions on Contamination Levels and Associated Health Risks on Pakistani Consumers

Dry fruits and nuts are nutritious foods with several health-promoting properties. However, they are prone to contamination with aflatoxins at all stages of production and storage. The present study aimed to determine the natural occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), and total aflatoxins (AFT) in dates, pistachios, and walnuts collected from four districts of South Punjab (Pakistan), and to assess the associated health risks as estimated by dietary exposure and the Margin of Exposure (MoE) determinations. The contents of AFB1 and AFT in these food products were monitored during storage under three different conditions (open-air, hermetically closed jars, and refrigeration at 4 °C) to determine the most efficient conditions in preventing aflatoxin accumulation. HPLC-fluorescence analysis of 60 samples of these products for aflatoxin contamination showed that 52 (86.7%) samples were contaminated at different levels, with a maximum of 24.2 ng/g. The overall (all samples) mean concentrations of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, and AFT were 3.39 ± 2.96, 1.39 ± 1.68, 1.63 ± 1.48. 1.12 ± 1.23, and 7.54 ± 6.68, respectively. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and MoE of aflatoxins through the consumption of the products ranged from 0.06 ng/kg bw/day to 2.0 ng/kg bw/day and from 84.84 to 2857.13, respectively, indicating that consumers are at high health risk. Significant differences were recorded between aflatoxin levels in the samples stored under different storage conditions, with storage under refrigeration (4 °C) being the most effective in controlling aflatoxin accumulation, although storage in closed jars was also efficient and offers a more flexible alternative to retailers. The findings of the study urge official authorities of Pakistan to implement appropriate regulatory and control measures and surveillance program to alleviate the potential public health risks associated with the consumption of dry fruits and nuts in the scope of their increased consumption.

Recent developments for controlling microbial contamination of nuts

In recent years, the consumption of nuts has shown an increasing trend worldwide. Nuts are an essential part of several countries' economies as an excellent source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. They are contaminated by environmental factors, improper harvesting practices, inadequate packaging procedures, improper storage, and transportation. The longer storage time also leads to the greater chances of contamination from pathogenic fungi. Nuts are infected with Aspergillus species, Penicillium species, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes. Therefore, nuts are associated with a high risk of pathogens and mycotoxins, which demand the urgency of using techniques for enhancing microbial safety and shelf-life stability. Many techniques such as ozone, cold plasma, irradiation, radiofrequency have been explored for the decontamination of nuts. These techniques have different efficiencies for reducing the contamination depending on processing parameters, type of pathogen, and conditions of food material. This review provides insight into decontamination technologies for reducing microbial contamination from nuts.

Association between Phytochemical Index and Inflammation in Korean Adults

While the relationship between phytochemicals and inflammation has been confirmed by in vivo or in vitro studies, large-scale epidemiological studies comprehensively analyzing phytochemical-rich food groups remain scarce. Therefore, we evaluated the association between the phytochemical index (PI) and the inflammation levels in Korean adults. The data were derived from the 2015–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and a total of 18,699 participants were analyzed. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels >3.0 mg/L and white blood cell (WBC) counts >10 × 103/μL were defined as “elevated.” The PI was calculated based on eight food groups using a 24-h dietary recall. The odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) for elevated hs-CRP levels and WBC counts, according to the PI quintile, were calculated using the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Participants in the higher PI group had lower means of hs-CRP levels and WBC counts than those in the lower PI group (all p for trend <0.001). In fully adjusted logistic regression models, elevated hs-CRP levels and WBC counts in the highest PI group were lower by 40% (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.49–0.76) and 34% (OR: 0.66, CI: 0.47–0.93), respectively. Conclusions: A high consumption of phytochemical-rich foods is associated with lower inflammation. This suggests that adopting phytochemical-rich dietary patterns may be an effective approach for reducing inflammation.

The Effects of Peanuts and Tree Nuts on Lipid Profile in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled-Feeding Clinical Studies

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus was found to be associated with metabolic disorders, particularly abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. Dietary food choices may have profound effects on blood lipids. The primary objective of this study was to examine the effects of peanuts and tree nuts intake on lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: According to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines, we performed a systematic search of randomized controlled clinical trials and systematic reviews published in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane library, from inception through June 2021. Studies in populations with type 2 diabetes, which compare nuts or peanuts to a controlled-diet group were included. We used the mean difference with 95% CIs to present estimates for continuous outcomes from individual studies. In addition, we used the GRADEpro tool to evaluate the overall quality of evidence.

Results: Sixteen studies involving 1,041 participants were eligible for this review. The results showed that peanuts and tree nuts supplementation did not induce significant changes in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (mean difference = −0.11; 95%CI: −0.25 – 0.03, p = 0.117) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (mean difference = 0.01; 95%CI: −0.01 – 0.04, p = 0.400) in patients with type 2 diabetics. In addition, we found that peanuts and tree nuts intake may cause a significantly reduction in total cholesterol (TC) (mean difference = −0.14; 95%CI: −0.26 – −0.02, p = 0.024) and triglyceride (TG) (mean difference = −0.10; 95%CI: −0.17 – −0.02, p = 0.010). In the subgroup analysis, a significantly greater reduction in TC was observed in studies which duration was <12 weeks (mean difference = −0.22; 95%CI: −0.37 – −0.08, p = 0.002). The quality of the body of evidence was “moderate” for TC and TG, the quality of evidence for LDL-C and HDL-C were “low.”

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that consuming peanuts and tree nuts might be beneficial to lower TC concentration and TG concentration in type 2 diabetics subjects. Furthermore, peanuts and tree nuts supplementation could be considered as a part of a healthy lifestyle in the management of blood lipids in patients with type 2 diabetes. Given some limits observed in the current studies, more well-designed trials are still needed.

Advances in Rootstock Breeding of Nut Trees: Objectives and Strategies

The production and consumption of nuts are increasing in the world due to strong economic returns and the nutritional value of their products. With the increasing role and importance given to nuts (i.e., walnuts, hazelnut, pistachio, pecan, almond) in a balanced and healthy diet and their benefits to human health, breeding of the nuts species has also been stepped up. Most recent fruit breeding programs have focused on scion genetic improvement. However, the use of locally adapted grafted rootstocks also enhanced the productivity and quality of tree fruit crops. Grafting is an ancient horticultural practice used in nut crops to manipulate scion phenotype and productivity and overcome biotic and abiotic stresses. There are complex rootstock breeding objectives and physiological and molecular aspects of rootstock-scion interactions in nut crops. In this review, we provide an overview of these, considering the mechanisms involved in nutrient and water uptake, regulation of phytohormones, and rootstock influences on the scion molecular processes, including long-distance gene silencing and trans-grafting. Understanding the mechanisms resulting from rootstock × scion × environmental interactions will contribute to developing new rootstocks with resilience in the face of climate change, but also of the multitude of diseases and pests.