NCT01832909

The Measured Energy Value of Walnuts in the Human Diet

Macronutrient Absorption From Walnuts: The Measured Energy Value of Walnuts in the Human Diet

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 18 (actual)
• Sponsor: USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center · Federal
• Sex: All
• Age: 25 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The objective of this study is to measure the energy value of walnuts in the human diet and study molecular mechanisms that may help explain the beneficial health effects of walnuts. The hypothesis is that there will be less metabolizable energy in walnuts due to decreased fat digestibility.

Detailed description

Previous studies have demonstrated that nut consumption imparts a variety of health benefits, including reduction of cardiovascular disease and improved satiety. The aim of this study is to determine the energy value of walnuts in the human diet and to probe mechanisms by which walnuts impart health benefits. The metabolizable energy value of walnuts will be calculated based on the chemical composition and energy content of the consumed diet and excreta. This will provide a better estimate of the energy value of walnuts than simply calculating energy value based on Atwater factors. In addition to determining the energy value of walnuts, we will evaluate the effects of walnut-rich diets on plasma phytonutrient levels and on gene expression changes to determine what protective mechanisms are activated by walnut consumption.

Conditions

• Metabolizable Energy of Walnuts

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Walnut Diet	Controlled diet with 1.5 oz/d of walnuts.
OTHER	Control Diet	Controlled diet without walnuts.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-04-01
• Primary completion: 2013-06-01
• Completion: 2013-06-01
• First posted: 2013-04-16
• Last updated: 2013-09-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States