Dose Response Effects of Pecan Consumption

Summary

The bioactive compounds contained in tree nuts have been shown to beneficially affect cardiometabolic health outcomes. Pecans contain more total phenols, sterols, and flavonoids than any other tree nut. They also are a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), fiber, vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. These bioactive components in pecans are likely the reason for the previously documented improvements in cardiometabolic health.

The specific aims of this study are to:

* Examine the effect of pecan consumption at doses of 6%, 13%, and 20% of total energy needs on fasting and postprandial blood lipids.
* Examine the effect of pecan consumption at doses of 6%, 13%, and 20% of total energy needs on plasma markers associated with overall health.
* Examine the effect of pecan consumption at doses of 6%, 13%, and 20% of total energy needs on subjective and physiologic postprandial measures of hunger and satiety.

Participants will be asked to:

* Consume pecans daily for 28 days or maintain their current habitual diet.
* Attend three short weekly visits for fasting blood craws, body measurements, and collect their next week's supply of study materials.
* Attend two longer (5 h) testing visits which include consuming a standard breakfast meal and having their blood drawn periodically before and after breakfast.

Researchers will compare pecan LOW, pecan MID, pecan HIGH, and the Control group to examine the physiologic effects of incorporating various dosages of pecans into one's diet.

Conditions

• Dyslipidemias
• Overweight and Obesity
• Nutrition, Healthy

Interventions

OTHER

Pecan LOW

Participants are provided with a quantity of pecans that delivers 6% of the participant's estimated energy needs for 28 days.

OTHER

Pecan MID

Participants are provided with a quantity of pecans that delivers 13% of the participant's estimated energy needs for 28 days.

OTHER

Pecan HIGH

Participants are provided with a quantity of pecans that delivers 20% of the participant's estimated energy needs for 28 days.

OTHER

CONTROL

Participants are asked to maintain their current habitual diet and to avoid any tree nut/peanut consumption for the entire 28-day intervention period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Georgia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jamie A Cooper, Ph.D. · University of Georgia

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

30 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-08-01

Primary Completion

2025-04-14

Completion

2025-04-14

Countries

• United States

Study Locations