The association between insulin resistance and the consumption of nut including peanut, pine nut and almonds in working-aged Korean population

Objective: Studies have reported that nuts intake is potentially beneficial to cardiometabolic health. However, there have been heterogeneous results regarding the association between nut intake/consumption and the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM). Insulin resistance (IR) is a major pathophysiology of DM. Thus, this study was to assess the association between nuts consumption and IR. Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting: Multivariable-adjusted OR and 95 % CI for increased IR (adjusted OR (95 % CI)) were calculated according to the frequency of consuming one serving dose (15 g) of nuts including peanut, pine nut and almond (< 1/month, 1/month-1/week, 1-3/week, 3-5/week, >= 5/week). Elevated IR was defined in homoeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance corresponding to the fourth quartile levels within each study group. Subgroup analysis was conducted for gender, glycaemic status (normal, prediabetes and DM) and age (>= and < 40 years). Participants: 379 310 Koreans who received health check-up. Results: Compared with nut consumption < 1/month (reference), nuts consumption >= 1/month had the lower OR and 95 % CI for elevated IR (1/month-1/week: 0 center dot 90 (95 % CI 0 center dot 89, 0 center dot 92), 1-3/week: 0 center dot 90 (95 % CI 0 center dot 87, 0 center dot 92), 3-5/week: 0 center dot 94 (95 % CI 0 center dot 89, 0 center dot 98) and >= 5/week: 0 center dot 90 (95 % CI 0 center dot 86, 0 center dot 94)). This association was more remarkable in women, normal glycaemic group and young age group (< 40 years). However, men, prediabetes, DM and old age group did not show the significant association. Conclusion: Nuts consumption >= 1/month was less associated with elevated IR. Increased nuts consumption may have a favourable effect on IR.

Automated summary

A study of 379,310 Koreans found that consuming nuts at least once a month was associated with lower risk of elevated insulin resistance, particularly in women, individuals with normal blood sugar levels, and those under 40 years old.