Body Weight and Liver Biomarkers After 3-months of Energy Restriction With or Without Almonds

Background: Energy restricted diets are recommended for weight management and improvements in liver health in people with elevated adiposity. This study examined the effects of an energy restricted diet incorporating almonds compared with nut free snacks on markers of adiposity and liver health. Met...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Md.), 2023-11, Vol.31, p.246-246
Main Authors: Coates, Alison, Afzali, Ofogh, Childs, Jessie, Carter, Sharayah, Lamb, Kate, Matheson, Mark, Yandell, Catherine, Buckley, Jonathon, Tan, Sze-Yen, Rogers, Geraint, Hill, Alison
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Diet
Dietary restrictions
Energy
Liver
Weight control
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Summary:Background: Energy restricted diets are recommended for weight management and improvements in liver health in people with elevated adiposity. This study examined the effects of an energy restricted diet incorporating almonds compared with nut free snacks on markers of adiposity and liver health. Methods: One Hundred and forty adults (42 M:98F, 47.5 ± 10.8 years, BMI 30.7 ± 2.3 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to almonds (n = 68, AED) or isocaloric nut free snacks (n = 72, NFD) (15% of total daily energy) as part of an energy restricted diet (~30% energy deficit) for 3 months. At baseline and 3 months the following were assessed: body weight (wt), waist circumference (wc), liver health (volume, visual appearance and elastography via ultrasound; and serum aminotransferases (AST, ALP, ALT, GGT)) and triglycerides (TAG) and the fatty liver index (FLI) score was calculated. Results: Significant reductions occurred in wt, BMI, and wc after 3 months (all p < 0.001) with no difference between groups (all p > 0.6) (wt: AED -6.9 ± 0.5, NFD -7.0 ± 0.5 kg, BMI: AED -2.4 ± 0.2, NFD -2.5 ± 0.2 kg/m2; wc: AED -7.5 ± 0.8, NFD -7.0 ± 0.8 cm). Liver volume, visual appearance, some liver enzymes (AST, ALT) and TAG improved following weight loss (all p < 0.05) with no differences between groups (all p > 0.4) (liver volume: AED -121.9 ± 46.7, NFD -93.1 ± 46.0 cm3; visual appearance: AED -0.6 ± 0.3, NFD -0.4 ± 0.3, AST: AED -1.4 ± 0.8, NFD -0.9 ± 0.8 IU/L, ALT: AED -2.5 ± 1.3, NFD -2.2 ± 1.4 IU/L, TAG: AED -0.2 ± 0.1, NFD: -0.2 ± 0.1 mmol/L) with no changes in elastography or ALP. Both GGT and FLI had significantly greater reductions in the almond group over 3 months (p < 0.05) (GGT: AED -10.2 ± 2.4, NFD 0.1 ± 2.6 IU/L; FLI: AED -23.8 ± 2.0, NFD -17.6 ± 2.1). Conclusions: Consuming an energy restricted diet containing almonds or nut free snacks for 3 months achieved comparable anthropometric improvements. The AED resulted in greater improvements in some markers of liver health resulting in a better FLI.
ISSN:1930-7381
1930-739X