Healthy Properties of Two Almond Varieties. CEA vs. CARMEL

NCT ID: NCT03844867

Last Updated: 2019-02-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 84 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-02-09
• Study Completion Date: 2018-01-01

Brief Summary

The cultivation of almond (Amygdalus communis L.) has always been a hallmark of the Mediterranean, representing a resource both food and economic. Almonds are high in fat (55.3%, mainly (39.4%) they consist of MUFA), are an excellent source of vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, fiber, riboflavin and protein, phenolic and polyphenolic.

Numerous studies correlate moderate and regular consumption of nuts with an important role in health. In particular, habitual almond consumption does not lead to weight gain, and their inclusion in low-calorie diets appears to promote more weight loss than a comparable carbohydrate-based low-calorie diet. Also, almonds have a low glycemic index and do not adversely impact insulin sensitivity. So they reduce certain risk factors linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Almonds are an excellent source of bioavailable α-tocopherol, and increasing their intake enhances the resistance of LDL against oxidation. In addition, the polyphenolic constituents of almonds have been characterized recently and found to possess antioxidant actions. Some studies show as consumption of almonds has been shown to be associated with lower levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides thanks of their poly-unsaturated fatty acids.

Despite Mediterranean countries have dominated world trade for a long time, from the '80 years, Italy underwent a strong production crisis, mainly due to the lack of new plants conducted according to the most modern techniques of cultivation and competition from other crops considered more profitable (e.g. wine, horticultural and citrus). The United States, in particular California, currently control more than a third of the world production of almond, using different cultivars and agronomic practices, based on more modern systems.

In Apulia, various native cultivars have been developed such as "Filippo Cea", which have resisted the invasion of the most productive varieties of California.

The aim of the project is to assess the quality and the beneficial effects of almonds, comparing a local cultivar (Filippo Cea) with an imported (Carmel) one. The study will be characterized by different phases:

• Organoleptic analysis of the two different cultivars of almonds
• evaluation of gastrointestinal motility after taking the two types of almonds.

Detailed Description

The cultivation of almond (Amygdalus communis L.) has always been a hallmark of the Mediterranean, representing a resource both food and economic. To traditional uses, mostly related the confectionery industry, they are added other in cosmetics.

The plant is perfectly adapted to the Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers, and is often associated to olive, carob and fig trees, species with similar climatic requirements. Almonds are a nutrient-dense food. They are high in fat (55.3%), mainly (39.4%) they consist of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Moreover, almonds are an excellent source of vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, fibre, riboflavin and protein. In addition, almond proteins are unusually high in arginine and possess good digestibility. Recent studies have shown that almonds also contain a diverse array of phenolic and polyphenolic.

Numerous studies correlate the moderate and regular consumption of nuts with an important role in health. In particular, habitual almond consumption does not lead to weight gain, and their inclusion in low-calorie diets appears to promote more weight loss than a comparable carbohydrate-based low-calorie diet. Also, almonds have a low glycemic index and do not adversely impact insulin sensitivity. So they reduce certain risk factors linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Almonds are an excellent source of bioavailable α-tocopherol, and increasing their intake enhances the resistance of LDL against oxidation. In addition, the polyphenolic constituents of almonds have been characterized recently and found to possess antioxidant actions. Some studies show as consumption of almonds has been shown to be associated with lower levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides thanks of their polyunsaturated fatty acids.

They are also indicated in the diet of elderly people by helping to increase bone mineral density. Important is also the antibacterial and antifungal power of almond oils shown in recent years.

Despite Mediterranean countries (particularly Spain and Italy) have dominated world trade for a long time, from the '80 years, Italy underwent a strong production crisis, mainly due to the lack of new plants conducted according to the most modern techniques of cultivation and competition from other crops considered more profitable (eg. wine, horticultural and citrus). The United States currently control more than a third of the world production of almond, using different cultivars and agronomic practices, based on more modern systems. Californian industry is characterized by much larger companies than Italian and modern mechanized harvesting systems linked to the condition of serious shortage of manpower. This allowed it to create a standardized product with no impurities, selected and beautifully packaged who conquered large segments of trade, while not offering a high standard from the point of view of the qualitative composition.

In Apulia, almond of Toritto has spread on the border between pre-Murgia and Alta Murgia which takes its name from the country where it is produced. Here various native cultivars have been developed such as "Filippo Cea", the "Antonio De Vito" and "Genco", which have resisted the invasion of the most productive varieties of California. Almond of Toritto is a product of excellence, recognized as typical Apulian product, entered in the list of Italian traditional food products of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

Conditions

Healthy Subjects

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: SCREENING
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Filippo Cea and Carmel

Subjects \<65 years.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Filippo Cea and Carmel

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Subjects will be given a subjective organoleptic assessment of both the almonds (Filippo Cea and Carmel) administered blindly and randomly.

Motility test: Each subject will be subjected to gastrointestinal motility study according to international guidelines, i.e. he will be evaluated in 3 different days. The test will be made in response to test-meal ('NutriDrink') or Filippo Cea almonds (12 gr. fat=24 gr. almonds) or Carmel almonds (12 gr. fat = 24 gr. almonds).

Interventions

Filippo Cea and Carmel

Subjects will be given a subjective organoleptic assessment of both the almonds (Filippo Cea and Carmel) administered blindly and randomly.

Motility test: Each subject will be subjected to gastrointestinal motility study according to international guidelines, i.e. he will be evaluated in 3 different days. The test will be made in response to test-meal ('NutriDrink') or Filippo Cea almonds (12 gr. fat=24 gr. almonds) or Carmel almonds (12 gr. fat = 24 gr. almonds).

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy volunteers.
• Aged 18-80 years old.
• Normal and obese subjects.
• Able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

• Refusal to sign the informed consent.
• Diagnosis of organic diseases including neoplastic inflammatory illness or cardiovascular diseases.
• Hypersensibility to almonds.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Bari

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

piero portincasa

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Piero Portincasa, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology - Clinica Medica "A. Murri"

Locations

Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology - Clinica medica "A. Murri"

Bari, BA, Italy

Countries

Italy

References

Ahrens S, Venkatachalam M, Mistry AM, Lapsley K, Sathe SK. Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) protein quality. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2005 Sep;60(3):123-8. doi: 10.1007/s11130-005-6840-2.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 16187015 (View on PubMed)

Wu X, Beecher GR, Holden JM, Haytowitz DB, Gebhardt SE, Prior RL. Lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant capacities of common foods in the United States. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Jun 16;52(12):4026-37. doi: 10.1021/jf049696w.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 15186133 (View on PubMed)

Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, Marchie A, Parker TL, Connelly PW, Qian W, Haight JS, Faulkner D, Vidgen E, Lapsley KG, Spiller GA. Dose response of almonds on coronary heart disease risk factors: blood lipids, oxidized low-density lipoproteins, lipoprotein(a), homocysteine, and pulmonary nitric oxide: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. Circulation. 2002 Sep 10;106(11):1327-32. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000028421.91733.20.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 12221048 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

5037

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id