Supplementation with mixed nuts does not improve inflammatory biomarkers or dietary inflammatory potential in post-myocardial infarction: a secondary analysis of the DICA-NUTS trial
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Systemic inflammation is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events, and nut-enriched diets are often recommended after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the effects of mixed nuts on inflammatory biomarkers in secondary prevention remain unclear. This study evaluated the impact of incorporating mixed nuts into the Brazilian Cardioprotective Diet (DICA Br) on systemic inflammation and dietary inflammatory potential in post-AMI patients.
METHODS AND RESULTS
This secondary analysis of the DICA-NUTS randomized controlled trial included 170 adults post-AMI, assigned to receive either the DICA Br diet alone (n = 85) or the same diet supplemented with 30 g/day of mixed nuts (10 g each of peanuts, cashews, and Brazil nuts; n = 85) for 16 weeks. Plasma concentrations of interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Dietary inflammatory potential was assessed using the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and the energy-adjusted DII (E-DII™). No significant between-group differences were observed for any inflammatory biomarker or for DII and E-DII scores. Within the DICA group, IL-4 levels decreased (-4.56 pg/mL; 95% CI -9.00 to -0.11; p = 0.045), with a concurrent increase in the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (0.035; 95% CI 0.003 to 0.067; p = 0.04). IFN-γ concentrations were higher in the lowest DII tertile (p = 0.046) and…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 170 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Chaos and quantum thermalization
- The Dalton quantum chemistry program system
- Cord Blood Leptin and Adiponectin as Predictors of Adiposity in Children at 3 Years of Age: A Prospective Cohort Study
- Bioaccessibility and bioavailability of phenolic compounds
- Quantitative metabolomics by H-NMR and LC-MS/MS confirms altered metabolic pathways in diabetes
- The Glutamate Hypothesis in ALS: Pathophysiology and Drug Development
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.