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Review
. 2017 Jun 28;9(7):673.
doi: 10.3390/nu9070673.

Nuts and Dried Fruits: An Update of Their Beneficial Effects on Type 2 Diabetes

Pablo Hernández-Alonso  1   2 , Lucía Camacho-Barcia  3   4 , Mònica Bulló  5   6 , Jordi Salas-Salvadó  7   8
Affiliations
Review

Nuts and Dried Fruits: An Update of Their Beneficial Effects on Type 2 Diabetes

Pablo Hernández-Alonso et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Nuts and dried fruit are essential foods in the Mediterranean diet. Their frequent consumption has been associated with the prevention and/or the management of such metabolic conditions as type 2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. Several previous reviews of epidemiological studies and clinical trials have evaluated the associations of nuts and/or dried fruit with various metabolic disorders. However, no reviews have focused on the mechanisms underlying the role of nuts and/or dried fruit in insulin resistance and T2D. This review aims to report nut and dried-fruit nutritional interventions in animals and humans, and to focus on mechanisms that could play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of insulin resistance and T2D.

Keywords: clinical trials; diabetes; dried fruits; insulin resistance; mechanisms; nuts.

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Conflict of interest statement

Pablo Hernández-Alonso, Lucía Camacho-Barcia and Mònica Bulló have nothing to declare. Jordi Salas-Salvadó is a nonpaid member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the International Nut Council.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Role of nutrients from nuts and dried fruits in glucose and insulin metabolism, and cellular and molecular mechanisms related to T2D/IR. CHO, carbohydrate; CMF, cellular membrane fluidity; GI, glycaemic index; IR, insulin resistance; MUFA, monounsaturated fatty acid; PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid; T2D, type 2 diabetes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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