Effect of almond consumption on metabolic and liver function in overweight and obese adults with increased fasting glucose.

This study showed that twice daily consumption of almond snacks (i.e. total of 56 g/day) compared with a sweet biscuit snack, was well accepted over a period of 8 weeks. Consumption of both snack types did not substantially or deferentially alter glucose variability, liver fat or liver function (as serum aminostransferases), gut permeability, systemic inflammation, or any of the traditional metabolic health markers. Serum TC/HDL-C ratio was modestly improved in women, but not in men; but as this sub-analysis was not defined a priori the results should be interpreted with some caution. Positive effects on several species of faecal microbiota were observed following almond snacks which may have important implications for improving the gut health of individuals at risk and with established type 2 diabetes. These bacterial taxa have been widely associated with the fermentation of complex carbohydrates to produce potentially beneficial metabolites. Further research in this area should focus on the functional characteristics of these microbes, and the extent to which the long-term inclusion of selective foodstuffs, such as almonds, in the diet can result in a stable increase in their prevalence. More importantly, future research should also investigate how the changes in microbes are associated with changes in cardio-metabolic health outcomes that may develop when individuals improve their overall diet quality over a longer period of time.