Diet Quality, Pecans, and Cardiometabolic Health

Cardiometabolic Effects of Including Pecans as a Snack in Dietary Patterns That Vary in Diet Quality: a Randomized, Controlled Feeding, Crossover Study

A three-period, randomized, crossover controlled feeding trial will be conducted to examine the effect of including 2 oz./day of pecans, as a snack, in a diet representative of average American intake, compared to a diet representative of average American intake devoid of nuts, and a healthy dietary pattern including 2 oz./day of pecans on markers of peripheral vascular health, lipids and lipoproteins, blood pressure, and glycemic control.

Participants will be randomized to each diet for 4-weeks with a minimum 2-week break between the diet periods. All caloric foods and beverages will be provided. Outcome assessments will be done at baseline and the end of each diet period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• BMI ≥25 and ≤40 kg/m2
• ≥ 1 criterion for metabolic syndrome (i.e. waist circumference ≥ 94 cm men or ≥80 cm women; triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL; HDL ≤ 40 mg/dL men or ≤50 mg/dL women; systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥85 mmHg; fasting plasma glucose ≥100 mg/dL) at screening.
• non-smoking

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current tobacco use or use within the previous 6 months
• Diagnosed diabetes or fasting glucose levels > 126 mg/dL at screening
• Systolic blood pressure >160 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure > 100 mm Hg at screening.
• Use of anti-hypertensive, lipid lowering, glucose lowering drugs, steroids, or antibiotics in the previous month
• History of a cardiovascular event (heart attack, revascularization, stroke), or heart failure, liver, kidney, autoimmune diseases or inflammatory conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders or rheumatoid arthritis
• Use of supplements and botanicals known to affect study outcomes (e.g. psyllium, fish oil, soy lecithin, and phytoestrogens) and not willing to cease for the duration of the study
• Pregnancy, lactation or planning to become pregnant
• Consumption of >14 alcoholic drinks/week
• Intolerance/allergy/sensitivity to foods included in the study menus