Peanut Snacks and Health in Older Adults Losing Weight
Tests peanut snacks against a nut-free snack in overweight older adults during weight loss.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Metabolic Health, Bones and Nuts During Weight Loss in Adults
Key facts
- Where
- New Brunswick, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 50 and 75 years old?
Source: NCT06949280, who can take part
Where in United States
- Rutgers University - NJ Inst Food Nutrition & HealthNew Brunswick, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Trial code
- NCT06949280
- Record updated
- 6 November 2026
- Original description
The aging population is rapidly increasing, and it is important to identify dietary factors that can prevent disease and promote health in this group. Legumes, such as peanuts, are a plant-based food high in protein and unsaturated fat making this a healthy choice but are not consumed frequently enough in older adults. Studies have shown that regular nut consumption is associated with lower adiposity and reduced weight gain, and several dietary pattern studies indicate that nuts and legumes are associated with better bone health. In addition, our preliminary translational data indicates that a higher monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake is associated with improved bone mineral density (BMD) and quality. Given these findings, the proposed study aims to examine the impact of consuming peanut products on bone health, metabolic health (e.g., serum glucose, insulin, lipids and inflammation), markers of brain and sleep health, and physical function in overweight and obese older adults before and after a six-month weight loss intervention using a randomized controlled design. The results of this study have the potential to provide valuable insights into the role of peanuts as a sources of fatty acids in promoting health and preventing disease in at-risk adults.Read full original descriptionShow less
Metabolic Health, Bones and Nuts Sources of Fatty Acids During Weight Loss in Adults
The aging population is rapidly increasing, and it is important to identify dietary factors that can prevent disease and promote health in this group. Legumes, such as peanuts, are a plant-based food high in protein and unsaturated fat making this a healthy choice but are not consumed frequently enough in older adults. Studies have shown that regular nut consumption is associated with lower adiposity and reduced weight gain, and several dietary pattern studies indicate that nuts and legumes are associated with better bone health. In addition, our preliminary translational data indicates that a higher monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake is associated with improved bone mineral density (BMD) and quality. Given these findings, the proposed study aims to examine the impact of consuming peanut products on bone health, metabolic health (e.g., serum glucose, insulin, lipids and inflammation), markers of brain and sleep health, and physical function in overweight and obese older adults before and after a six-month weight loss intervention using a randomized controlled design. The results of this study have the potential to provide valuable insights into the role of peanuts as a sources of fatty acids in promoting health and preventing disease in at-risk adults.
Inclusion: Men and postmenopausal women (>2 years since last menses), ages 50-75 years; Body mass index (25-42 kg/m2) or evidence of pre-clinical obesity; Agree to be randomly assigned to consume a daily peanut snack or nut-free snack for 24 weeks; Must attend on-site visits (about 10) in New Brunswick, NJ, USA (transportation/reimbursement for travel not included).
Exclusion: Regular use of medications that affect bone metabolism, including bisphosphonates or hormone replacement; Alcohol or illicit drug abuse; Peanut allergies or intolerances; Individuals with significant psychiatric or food disorders; Current diagnosis, or history of cancer in past 3 years; Current diagnosis or history of bone diseases, type I or II diabetes if using insulin, gastrointestinal disease, hyperparathyroidism, Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, untreated thyroid disease, significant immune, hepatic, cardiac, or renal disease; History of major surgery in the past 6 months; Regular use of medications for cholecystitis, urinary tract infection, severe organic diseases including coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, infectious diseases including pulmonary tuberculosis and AIDS; Any other condition deemed by the Research Physician that would prevent participation in the study, e.g. participation in another clinical research project that may interfere with the results of this study; Individuals with >5% weight loss in the past 3 months or those with extreme dietary/physical activity habits; An inability to follow the experimental intervention or to perform the required specimen collections; Participation in another clinical interventional research trial.