The effect of tree nut, peanut, and soy nut consumption on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials
Open accessAbstract
Background Although several studies have assessed the effects of nut consumption (tree nuts, peanuts, and soy nuts) on blood pressure (BP), the results are conflicting. Objective The aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to estimate the effect of nut consumption on BP. Design The databases MEDLINE, SCOPUS, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for RCTs carried out between 1958 and October 2013 that reported the effect of consuming single or mixed nuts (including walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, peanuts, and soy nuts) on systolic BP (SBP) or diastolic BP (DBP) as primary or secondary outcomes in adult populations aged ≥18 y. Relevant articles were identified by screening the abstracts and titles and the full text. Studies that evaluated the effects for <2 wk or in which the control group ingested different healthy oils were excluded. Mean ± SD changes in SBP and DBP in each treatment group were recorded for meta-analysis. Results Twenty-one RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Our findings suggest that nut consumption leads to a significant reduction in SBP in participants without type 2 diabetes [mean difference (MD): -1.29; 95% CI: -2.35, -0.22; P = 0.02] but not in the total population. Subgroup analyses of different nut types suggest that pistachios, but not other nuts, significantly reduce SBP (MD: -1.82; 95% CI: -2.97, -0.67; P = 0.002). Our study suggests that pistachios (MD: -0.80; 95% CI: -1.43, -0.17; P = 0.01) and mixed nuts (MD: -1.19; 95% CI: -2.35, -0.03; P = 0.04) have a significant reducing effect on DBP. We found no significant changes in DBP after the consumption of other nuts. Conclusions Total nut consumption lowered SBP in participants without type 2 diabetes. Pistachios seemed to have the strongest effect on reducing SBP and DBP. Mixed nuts also reduced DBP.
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Individual randomized controlled trials of nuts have demonstrated significant reductions in blood pressure.
“Individual randomized controlled trials of nuts have also demonstrated significant reductions in blood pressure 42,53”
From Portfolio Dietary Pattern and Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Controlled Trials (2018) · cites this paper as [53]
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- Authors
- Mohammadifard, N., Salehi-Abargouei, A., Salas-Salvadó, J., Guasch-Ferré, M., Humphries, K., & Sarrafzadegan, N.
- Affiliations
- Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Corresponding author
- Mohammadifard, Noushin
- Venue
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-05
- Volume
- 101
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 966-982
- ISSN
- 0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1991877144
- Cited by
- 168
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 4
- FWCI
- 2.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nuts composition and effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Sodium Intake and Health
- Keywords
- nut consumption, tree nuts, groundnut, blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pistachio, mixed nuts, type 2 diabetes, dietary intervention, hypertension prevention, Juglans regia, almond, hazelnut, Anacardium occidentale, macadamia nuts, Carya illinoinensis
- MeSH terms
- Blood Pressure, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Diet, Humans, Nuts, Arachis, Glycine max, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Databases, Factual, Prunus, Pistacia, Anacardium, Corylus, Juglans, Carya
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