Nut-enriched bread is an effective and acceptable vehicle to improve regular nut consumption

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Food Science
• Human Health

Background:

• Daily nut consumption (30g) is recommended for chronic disease prevention but is often insufficient.
• Integrating nuts into staple foods like bread could increase intake.
• The health benefits and acceptability of nuts in bread are not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of nut-enriched breads on postprandial glucose levels.
• To assess the effects on satiety, gastrointestinal tolerance, and overall dietary intake.
• To determine the acceptance of nut-enriched bread compared to control bread.

Main Methods:

• A controlled, crossover study involving 32 participants.
• Participants consumed four types of bread (control, 30g hazelnuts, 30g hazelnut flour, or 15g of each) for 8 days each.
• Measurements included blood glucose response, appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms, and dietary intake.

Main Results:

• Nut-enriched breads significantly reduced the area under the blood glucose curve compared to control bread.
• No significant differences were found in satiety or gastrointestinal symptoms across bread types.
• Acceptance was highest for bread with finely sliced hazelnuts, which also improved diet quality.

Conclusions:

• Bread serves as an effective and acceptable carrier for increasing nut consumption.
• Nut-enriched bread consumption improves postprandial glycaemia and dietary profiles.
• Further long-term studies are needed to confirm sustained benefits.