Many of the brightest minds in nutrition science recently gathered to discuss the state of play of health research on nuts and dried fruits.

The historical NUTS2022 international scientific meeting, hosted by the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council, took place in Spain, in late October 2022.

Twenty-five global experts, from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Iran, Italy, Norway, Spain, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States, considered the evidence to date on the health benefits of nuts and dried fruits.

Importantly, they also discussed health research gaps and future opportunities.

While some areas of research have had more focus than others, the health benefits of nuts are wide-ranging. And there is irrefutable evidence that nuts are nutrient-dense foods, with a unique matrix of essential nutrients and health-promoting bioactives. NUTS2022 global experts

The researchers highlighted that a joint effort must be made to bring awareness to the importance of including nuts and dried fruits, as part of a healthy diet.

The proceedings from the meeting have been published in a special issue of the scientific journal Nutrients.

Nut and health research: A ‘stocktake’

Two papers, coming out of NUTS2022, set the scene on what areas of nut and health research are well-established, and which avenues of knowledge need to be explored further.  

• Where we are and where we are going in nut research (Salas-Salvado et al, 2023)
• Novel lines of research on the environmental and human health impacts of nut consumption (Tapsell et al, 2023)

Other published papers from NUTS2022:

Nuts and cardiovascular disease outcomes: A review of the evidence and future directions. (Glenn et al, 2023)
This narrative review highlights that there is substantial evidence that consuming nuts will have a positive impact on primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). For instance, higher consumption of nuts has been associated with a 19% and 25% lower risk of CVD incidence and mortality, respectively.

Nuts, energy balance and body weight. (Baer et al, 2023)
Evidence from randomised controlled trials and observational cohorts consistently shows that higher nut consumption does not cause greater weight gain. This review runs outlines the mechanisms that likely contribute to these findings, including aspects of nut composition which affect nutrient and energy availability, as well as satiety signaling.

Impact of nut consumption on cognition across the lifespan. (Nishi et al, 2023)
This narrative review found a possible role for nuts in the maintenance of cognitive health and prevention of cognitive decline across the lifespan, particularly in older adults and those at higher risk. Walnuts, as a rich source of the plant-based polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, are most promising for cognitive health.

Nuts in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. (Nishi et al, 2023)
The findings from epidemiological and clinical evidence, suggest higher nut consumption may have beneficial effects, with mechanistic studies assessing nuts and individual nut-related components, supporting this possibility. However, limited definitive evidence is available on the role of nuts in diabetes prevention and management.

Effect of nuts on gastrointestinal health. (Mandalari et al, 2023)
This narrative review outlines the physiological processes that contribute to the digestion of nuts, and how this may impact gut microbiota composition. To date, some scientific evidence suggests an increase in faecal butyrate after almond consumption, and a role for walnuts in the prevention of ulcerative colitis and protection against gastric mucosal lesions.

Dried fruits, nuts, and cancer risk and survival: A review of the evidence and future research directions. (Bolling et al, 2023)
Among the evidence outlined in this narrative review, prospective cohort studies suggest a higher consumption of nuts is linked with a reduced risk of several site-specific cancers (including colon, lung, and pancreas), while a daily handful is associated with a 21% reduction in the rate of cancer mortality.

Effects of nut consumption on blood lipids and lipoproteins: A comprehensive literature update. (Guasch-Ferré et al, 2023)
This comprehensive narrative overview, of 19 systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials, found a consistent beneficial effect of most nuts (total nuts and specific nut types, including walnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts, and pistachios), across meta-analyses in reducing total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Effect of nuts on markers of inflammation and oxidative stress: A narrative review. (Rajaram et al, 2023)
This narrative review suggests some nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, may favourably modify inflammation, and others, such as Brazil nuts, may favourably influence oxidative stress. However, more large-scale randomised controlled trials are needed to further explore the antioxidant/anti-inflammatory potential of nuts.