Background: Nut consumption, including peanuts, has been associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). More recently, interest has grown in the potential value of including nuts in diets of individuals with diabetes.

Objective: To determine if tree nuts and peanuts improve glycemic control in non-insulin dependent diabetes, as assessed by HbA1c and to assess whether these outcomes relate to improvements in CHD risk (serum lipids, blood pressure and oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers).

Methods: Approximately 120 NIDDM subjects (BMI <32 kg/m2) treated with oral hypoglycemic agents (HbA1c 6.5-8.0%) were recruited to a 3 month parallel design study. Subjects were randomized to one of three treatments: 1) Test (Full Dose Nut Diet): Raw nuts were added as supplements to the subject’s usual diet based on required energy intake (>2,400kcal/d received100g/d nuts, ~600kcal ; 1,600–2,400kcal/d received 75g/d nuts, ~450kcal; <1,600kcal/d received 50g/d, ~300 kcal); 2) Test (Half Dose Nut Diet): Subjects received half dose of nuts and half dose of control muffin according to calorie needs; and 3) Control: whole wheat muffins were matched with energy content of nut supplements. One-week weighed diet histories were obtained and fasting blood samples collected at baseline and weeks 2, 4, 8, 10 and 12 for markers of glycemic control and CHD risk factors.

Results: Final data to be presented.