Insights & Discussion
Walnuts appear to enhance mood in non-depressed healthy young males.
The study's methodology involved an evaluation process using 64 volunteer college students. These individuals were randomly assigned into two different treatment sequences - one involving a walnut intake followed by a placebo, and the other vice versa. Both of these sequences began with an evaluation of the volunteers' base mood, measured using Profiles of Mood States (POMS). After an eight-week interval of sticking to the prescribed plan, their mood was assessed again. This was followed by a 'washout' period of six weeks, during which the volunteer groups reversed their dietary routines - those on walnuts moved to placebo and the ones on placebo switched to walnuts. After another eight-week interval, a final mood assessment occurred.
The results displayed a lack of significant mood changes in females or when setting aside gender distinctions in the analysis. The exciting element of this study was found in assessing specifically healthy, non-depressed male subjects. There was a pertinent improvement in their Total Mood Disturbance score, implying an enhancement in mood when consuming walnuts.
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Walnut consumption while doing concurrent training improves strength, sleep quality, standing support, cognitive performance and postural balance in elderly men.
2024 Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Concurrent training associated with moderate walnut consumption improved isokinetic strength, subjective sleep quality, cognitive performance and postural balance in elderly active men: a randomized controlled trial Kamoun A, Yahia A, Farjallah MA, Maaloul R, Marzougui H, Bouaziz M, et al.
Randomised Controlled Trial Sleep Walnut
In the study, twenty healthy elderly men were grouped into two randomly controlled cohorts. There were three training sessions per week featuring a concurrent combination of strength and endurance training. One group received a diet supplemented with 15 grams per day of walnuts (CTW) over six weeks while the other didn't (CT). Their strength, sleep quality, cognitive performance and postural balance were evaluated using an isokinetic strength test, Spiegel questionnaire, Montreal cognitive assessment and balance measurements respectively, 48 hours before and after the intervention period.
The results pointed that both groups experienced significant improvements in strength and sleep quality with CTW showing a greater increase in sleep quality. CTW group showed improvements in cognitive performance and postural balance while CT group did not see these benefits. Hence it's observed that combination of concurrent training and walnut consumption was found to be effective in improving strength, sleep quality, cognitive performance and postural balance in elderly men.
A novel compound in walnuts, defined as 3-hydroxy-4-iminobutyric acid, can enhance sleep duration by disturbing motor activity and adjusting certain neurotransmitters in the brain of mice.
2023 Research Sleep Promotion by 3-Hydroxy-4-Iminobutyric Acid in Walnut Diaphragma juglandis Fructus Ji J, Ye Y, Sheng L, Sun J, Hong Q, Liu C, et al.
Sleep Walnut
The research examined the sedative and hypnotic elements of walnuts, particularly focusing on a newly discovered compound, 3-hydroxy-4-iminobutyric acid. Through careful analysis, the scientists discovered that this compound can disrupt motor activity and increase sleep duration by modulating neurotransmitters in the brain and serum of mice. The team used metabolomics to study the potential molecular mechanisms underpinning these effects, exploring the serum, various brain regions, and the gut microbiota.
In the assessment of results, it was found that 3-hydroxy-4-iminobutyric acid can alter the metabolism within the basal ganglia. Of particular interest is the compound’s potential influence on gut microbiota. Accordingly, the research expands our understanding by presenting 3-hydroxy-4-iminobutyric acid as a novel natural product that can promote sleep in mice, offering fresh insights related to the microbiota-gut-brain axis in connection to enhancing sleep.
Walnut consumption may improve attention, fluid intelligence, and reduce ADHD symptoms in adolescents who consistently incorporated them into their diet.
2023 EClinicalMedicine Effect of walnut consumption on neuropsychological development in healthy adolescents: a multi-school randomised controlled trial Pinar-Martí A, Gignac F, Fernández-Barrés S, Romaguera D, Sala-Vila A, Lázaro I, et al.
Randomised Controlled Trial ADHD Adolescents Walnut
For their methods, the investigators utilized a 6-month randomised controlled nutrition intervention across multiple schools, enrolling 771 healthy teenagers. These participants, aged between 11-16 years, were split into two groups - one that was given a daily amount of 30 grams of raw walnut kernels to incorporate into their diet and a control group. Neuropsychological aspects like working memory, attention, fluid intelligence, and executive function were assessed, along with behavioral aspects such as socio-emotional and ADHD symptoms. Alpha-linolenic acid status was determined at the start and end of the trial as a measure of compliance.
In regard to the results, general improvements in sustained attention, fluid intelligence, and a reduction in ADHD symptoms were recorded in participants who were more compliant in integrating walnuts into their diet. However, there was no significant improvement observed in the neuropsychological function of healthy adolescents overall.
A combination of Walnut Peptide and Casein Peptide substantially alleviates anxiety disorder symptoms and enhances memory by improving neurotransmitter function in mice.
2023 Frontiers in Nutrition Combination of Walnut Peptide and Casein Peptide alleviates anxiety and improves memory in anxiety mices Li Q, Jia X, Zhong Q, Zhong Z, Wang Y, Tang C, et al.
Anxiety Memory Walnut
The study investigated the effects of the combination of Walnut Peptide (WP) and Casein Peptide (CP) in mice exhibiting elevated anxiety levels by giving them these peptides through oral gavage administration. The researchers designed assessments to carefully examine changes in the subjects' anxiety and memory-related behaviors following this treatment. Besides monitoring behavior, they also scrutinized the levels of several neurotransmitters, such as Serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, dopamine, and acetylcholine, to identify the biological mechanisms underlying the observed effects.
The mice treated with the WP + CP combination demonstrated significant improvement in behavioral tests related to anxiety and memory. The analysis also showed that the peptide combination resulted in restoring neurotransmitter dysfunction observed while examining neurotransmitter levels. The peptides had the additional effect of increasing the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA, suggesting a protective role against the neurological effects of anxiety. The research revealed strong correlations between the improvement in behavioral indicators, increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotransmitter levels. The study concluded that the WP+CP combination might serve as an effective alternative therapy for anxiety disorders, implying potential usefulness as dietary supplements or inclusions in common foods.
The bioactive peptides found in walnuts have potential neuroprotective effects, including reducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, and promoting autophagy and balance in the cholinergic system.
2023 Nutrients Isolation, Identification, Activity Evaluation, and Mechanism of Action of Neuroprotective Peptides from Walnuts: A Review Zhang L, Bai YY, Hong ZS, Xie J, Tian Y
Review Article Neuroprotective Oxidative Stress Stress
The research method used includes the development of various procedures to prepare, isolate, purify, and identify the neuroprotective peptides found in walnuts. Different evaluation approaches were then used to gauge the activity of these peptides within experimental setups, placing emphasis on potential oxidative stress reduction, neuroinflammation mitigation, autophagy promotion, gut microflora regulation, and cholinergic system balance enhancement.
The discussion of the results suggests the confirmed neuroprotective benefits of walnut-derived peptides. These peptides showcased their ability to reduce oxidative stress, combat neuroinflammation, stimulate autophagy, and regulate gut microflora and the cholinergic system. Consequently, these findings highlight the value of walnuts in diet, and the potential for these peptides to be utilized as functional food ingredients promoting neurohealth.
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