SEARCHNARRATIVE_REVIEWnutrition, gastroenterology

narrative_review·nutrition, gastroenterology, dietetics, public health·PMC10096892

Effect of Nuts on Gastrointestinal Health

Nutrients · 5 authors, 5 centres

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TL;DR

This narrative review synthesizes evidence on how nut cellular structure influences digestion and colonic fermentation, and discusses the emerging but inconclusive findings on nut consumption and gut microbiota composition.

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This narrative review examines how the microstructure of tree nuts—including cell wall composition, thickness, porosity, and lipid encapsulation—affects digestion, bioaccessibility, and colonic fermentation of undigested nutrients and phytochemicals. The authors describe that intact cellular structures in nuts resist digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract, delivering nutrients and polyphenols to the colon where they may be fermented by gut microbiota.

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narrative_review

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nutrition

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10096892

Effect of Nuts on Gastrointestinal Health

Nutrients

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ABSTRACT

Nuts are high nutrient-dense foods containing healthy lipids, dietary fiber, and bioactive phytochemicals, including vitamins and minerals. Although the beneficial effect of nut consumption on different chronic diseases has been well documented, especially in relation to their cardiometabolic benefits, less scientific evidence is available on their possible beneficial effects on gastrointestinal health. In this narrative review, we summarize the most important findings and new research perspectives in relation to the importance of nut consumption on gastrointestinal health. The integrity of the cell wall structure, cell size and particle size after mastication are known to play a crucial role in energy, nutrient and bioactive release from nuts during digestion, therefore affecting bioaccessibility. Other mechanisms, such as cell wall composition, thickness and porosity, as well as stability of the membranes surrounding the oil bodies within the cell, are also important for energy extraction. As the undigested nutrients and phytochemicals are delivered to the colon, effects on gut microbiota composition are predicted. Although the overall effect of nut consumption on microbial alpha- and beta-diversity has been inconsistent, some scientific evidence suggests an increase in fecal butyrate after almond consumption, and a beneficial role of walnuts on the prevention of ulcerative colitis and protection against the development of gastric mucosal lesions.

CITATION EXPORT

Giuseppina Mandalari, Teresa Gervasi, Daniel W. Rosenberg et al.. Effect of Nuts on Gastrointestinal Health. Nutrients. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071733

AUTHORS

5 · 5 CENTRES

Giuseppina Mandalari, Teresa Gervasi, Daniel W. Rosenberg, Karen G. Lapsley, David J. Baer

1Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
2Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
3Centre for Molecular Oncology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030-3101, USA
4The Almond Board of California, Modesto, CA 94587, USA
5USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA

EDITOR / REVIEWER

Emilio Ros, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Joan Sabaté, Stephanie K Nishi, Young-Eun Cho