(P27-035-24) Effects of Almond Snacking on Metabolome, Bile Acids, and Gut Health Markers in Adults With Overweight or Obesity

Objectives: To assess the effects of almonds on the modulation of intestinal and circulatory metabolome, bile acids, and gut health markers in adults with overweight or obesity.

Methods: A secondary assessment was conducted on stool-serum from a previously published randomized, crossover, and controlled-feeding clinical trial in adult (n=15; age 30–70 y) with overweight or obesity. Participants consumed two isocaloric weight-maintenance diets: (1) a control average American diet (AAD), and (2) a similar diet containing 42.5 g/d of almonds (ALD). AAD included an isocaloric amount of butter, cheese, and refined grains instead of almonds. Each diet period lasted 4-weeks, followed by a 2-week compliance break. Fecal and blood specimens were collected at the end of each diet period. Fecal and serum metabolomes were measured by NMR spectroscopy. Serum bile acids (BAs) were measured by mass spectroscopy. Gut integrity, inflammation, and satiety markers were measured using multiplex ELISA assays.

Results: ALD diet induces broader changes in metabolite and BA arrays compared to AAD. In the gut, almonds lower levels of the gut-derived oncometabolite formate and branched-chain and aromatic amino acids. The total stool BAs decrease after the ALD diet compared to AAD (median: ALD: 5276 nmol/g, AAD: 8064 nmol/g). Specifically, secondary BAs, including glycolithocholic acid, tends to be lower in the ALD group. The ALD diet induce moderately modulates serum metabolite profiles. Similar to gut metabolites, branched-chain amino acids and aromatic amino acids are decreased, whereas acetate level is increased after ALD, though it does not reach significance. Interestingly, there are subtle signs of ketosis, with lowered glucose and higher 3-hydroxybutyrate, after ALD, implying that almond snacking may enhance metabolic health by stimulating ketosis. Additionally, pro-inflammatory markers, including IL-10 and IL-23, are significantly reduced, whereas active glucagon-like peptide-1 and peptide YY are significantly elevated after ALD.

Conclusions: A diet containing almonds, compared to an average American diet may benefit overall gut and metabolic health by modulating gut-plasma metabolomes and bile acid profiles and ameliorating inflammation biomarkers.

Funding Sources: Almond Board of California