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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Components and Health Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401277
Research Project: Strategies to Alter Dietary Food Components and Their Effects on Food Choice and Health-Related Outcomes

Location: Food Components and Health Laboratory

Title: Effect of nuts on the gastrointestinal health

Author
item MANDALARI, GIUSEPPINA - University Of Messina
item GERVASI, TERESA - University Of Messina
item ROSENBERG, DANIEL - University Of Connecticut
item LAPSLEY, KAREN - Almond Board Of California
item Baer, David

Submitted to: Nutrients
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/29/2023
Publication Date: 4/1/2023
Citation: Mandalari, G., Gervasi, T., Rosenberg, D.W., Lapsley, K.G., Baer, D.J. 2023. Effect of nuts on the gastrointestinal health. Nutrients. 15:1733-1749. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071733.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071733

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Nuts are high nutrient-dense foods containing healthy lipids, dietary fiber, and bioactive phytochemicals, including vitamins and minerals. Although the beneficial effect of nut consumption on different chronic diseases has been well documented, especially in relation to their cardiometabolic benefits, less scientific evidence is available on their possible beneficial effects on gastrointestinal health. In this narrative review, we summarize the most important findings and new research perspectives in relation to the importance of nut consumption on gastrointestinal health. The integrity of the cell wall structure, cell size and particle size after mastication are known to play a crucial role in energy, nutrient and bioactive release from nuts during digestion, therefore affecting bioaccessibility. Other mechanisms, such as cell wall composition, thickness and porosity, as well as stability of the membranes surrounding the oil bodies within the cell, are also important for energy extraction. As the undigested nutrients and phytochemicals are delivered to the colon, effects on gut microbiota composition are predicted. Although the overall effect of nut consumption on microbial alpha- and beta-diversity has been inconsistent, some scientific evidence suggests an increase in fecal butyrate after almond consumption, and a beneficial role of walnuts on the prevention of ulcerative colitis and protection against the development of gastric mucosal lesions.