Research Symposium

BIO

Coming from Cardenas, Cuba and making it all the way to Florida is a blessing. With this life opportunity, I plan to pursue medicine as one of my main life goals. I am very passionate about health, fitness, and sports.

Almond Consumption as a Dietary Strategy For Improving Vascular function and Hemodynamics in adults with Overweight and Obesity

Abstract

Leandro Lantigua-Somoano, Saiful Singar, Bahram Arjmandi

Objectives: Overweight and obesity elevate the risk of metabolic disorders. This study examined the effects of almond intake, a nutrient-rich snack, on flow-mediated dilation and resting blood pressure in physically active middle-aged adults with overweight or obesity.

Methods: A crossover RCT included 17 males and 21 postmenopausal females aged 50–64 with a BMI of 25.0–34.9 kg/m². Participants consumed 64 g of almonds or an isocaloric control snack daily for 12 weeks, separated by a 4-week washout. Flow-mediated dilation and resting blood pressure were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Linear mixed model analyses were conducted to determine the main (treatment and time) and interaction effects. A p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Almond consumption significantly increased FMD maximum diameter (+0.256 mm, p=0.0158). A significant treatment-by-time interaction (p=0.0477) indicated greater FMD change from baseline to 12 weeks in the almond group (+0.1058 mm) versus control. Time alone showed a borderline effect on FMD maximum diameter (+0.186 mm, p=0.0712) and significantly reduced normalized FMD (−4.171×10⁻⁷ cm/Pa·s, p=0.0495). Other primary outcomes, including blood pressure and heart rate, did not exhibit meaningful main or interaction effects for treatment or time.

Conclusions: In conclusion, almond consumption significantly improved FMD among overweight or obese adults aged 50–64, suggesting potential vascular benefits. Despite a borderline effect of time on maximum FMD diameter, no clear main or interactive effects emerged for blood pressure or heart rate. Further investigation is needed to confirm these findings and clarify underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: Almond, Vascular Function, Obesity