Effects of Almonds in Glucose-intolerant Adults (AGAMEMNON)

Tree nuts - such as almonds - contribute to beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet on risk for cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, inflammation and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Almonds provide few carbohydrates, but lots of unsaturated fat and dietary fiber. But to which extent and by which mechanisms may almonds improve all aspects of the Metabolic Syndrome? Previous clinical trials showed weaker effects than rodent studies, most possibly due to low statistical power and metabolically insusceptible patients. The 3-year AGAMEMNON project aims to investigate, if 16 weeks of supplementation with almonds (vs. no treatment) in 150 patients with prediabetes and NAFLD leads to significant improvements in glycemia and liver fat, lipid metabolism, body composition and inflammation. The isocaloric design will outrule effects of weight loss and will allow the analysis of metabolic pathways between fat depots, inflammation, insulin resistance and gut function. Lipidomics are assessed as novel predictor of disease progression and metabolic response.