Cardiometabolic Effects of Pecans as a Snack

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Trial end date: 2026-06-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

A randomized, 2-arm, parallel trial will be conducted to examine the effect of pecans on markers of peripheral vascular health, lipids and lipoproteins, blood pressure, and glycemic control.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Penn State University
• Collaborator: American Pecan Council

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• BMI 25-40 kg/m2

• ≥ 1 criterion for metabolic syndrome (i.e., waist circumference ≥ 94 cm men or ≥ 80 cm women; triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL; HDL-cholesterol ≤ 40 mg/dL men or ≤ 50 mg/dL women; systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥85 mmHg; fasting plasma glucose ≥100 mg/dL) at screening

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current use of tobacco-containing products or (≤6 months) cessation

• Allergy/sensitivity/intolerance/dislike of study foods

• Women who are pregnant, lactating, planning to become pregnant or have given birth in the past year

• Individuals who have had a cardiovascular event (heart attack, revascularization, stroke), or have a history of heart failure, liver, kidney, autoimmune diseases or inflammatory conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders or rheumatoid arthritis.

• Type 1 or type 2 diabetes

• Unstable weight ≥10% body weight for 6 months prior to enrollment

• Systolic Blood pressure >160 mmHg for systolic pressure and/or diastolic blood pressure >/100 mmHg for diastolic pressure at screening

• Fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL at screening

• Triglycerides ≥350 mg/dL at screening

• Taking any medications known to affect lipids, blood pressure, or blood glucose levels

• Diagnosed inflammatory conditions or taking prescribed , taking any chronic anti-inflammatory medications (>1 time per week over the past 3 months)

• Use of antibiotics within the prior 8 weeks

• Taking supplements (e.g., psyllium, fish oil, soy lecithin, and phytoestrogens) and botanicals known to affect study outcomes and not willing to cease for the duration of the study

• Individuals consuming >14 alcoholic drinks/week, and not willing to avoid alcohol consumption for 48 hours prior to test visit

• Pre-menopausal women who do not have a regular menstrual cycle of 25-35 days

• PI discretion