Effect of tree nuts on metabolic syndrome criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Blanco Mejia S, Kendall CW, Viguiliouk E, et al.

BMJ Open. 2014;4(7):e004660. Published 2014 Jul 29.

Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of tree nuts on criteria of the MetS. They searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library (through 4 April 2014) and included relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of ≥3 weeks reporting at least one criterion of the MetS.

Pooled analyses show a MetS benefit of tree nuts through modest decreases in triglycerides and fasting blood glucose with no adverse effects on other criteria across nut types. As our conclusions are limited by the short duration and poor quality of the majority of trials, as well as significant unexplained between-study heterogeneity, there remains a need for larger, longer, high-quality trials.