Skip to main content
About the Institute
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • Russian
  • Portuguese
  • Polish

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. The power of your gut
  3. Almonds: little effect on the gut microbiota
  • Learn all about microbiota
    • The gut microbiota
    • The ENT microbiota
    • The pulmonary microbiota
    • The urinary microbiota
    • The skin microbiota
    • The vaginal microbiota
  • Microbiota and related conditions
    • Digestive disorders
    • Women disorders
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Skin disorders
    • Pediatric disorders
    • Psychiatric disorders
    • Neurological disorders
    • Respiratory disorders
    • Urinary disorders
  • Act on your microbiota
    • Probiotics
    • Prebiotics
    • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
    • Diet
  • Publications
    • News
    • International Microbiota Observatory
    • Thematics folders
    • Thematic pages
    • Microbiota Q & A
    • Patients Stories
    • Experts' point of view
    • Press room
    About the Institute

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Healthcare professionals section

Find here your dedicated section
Biocodex logo
The power of your gut
My microbiota as a woman
Our marvelous microbiota

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. The power of your gut
  3. Almonds: little effect on the gut microbiota
The power of your gut

Almonds: little effect on the gut microbiota

Diet
The gut microbiota

Finally, arguments supporting the health benefits of almonds will perhaps need to be revised downwards. For, against all expectations, a recent study showed that 2 snacks of almonds had little effect on the gut microbiota.

The power of your gut
My microbiota as a woman
Our marvelous microbiota
  • Learn all about microbiota
    • The gut microbiota
    • The ENT microbiota
    • The pulmonary microbiota
    • The urinary microbiota
    • The skin microbiota
    • The vaginal microbiota
  • Microbiota and related conditions
    • Digestive disorders
    • Women disorders
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Skin disorders
    • Pediatric disorders
    • Psychiatric disorders
    • Neurological disorders
    • Respiratory disorders
    • Urinary disorders
  • Act on your microbiota
    • Probiotics
    • Prebiotics
    • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
    • Diet
  • Publications
    • News
    • International Microbiota Observatory
    • Thematics folders
    • Thematic pages
    • Microbiota Q & A
    • Patients Stories
    • Experts' point of view
    • Press room
    About the Institute

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Healthcare professionals section

Find here your dedicated section
Biocodex logo

Sources

This article is based on scientific information

Sharing is caring

Your friends might be interested in this topic. Why not share it?

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail

About this article

Created 04 January 2023
Updated 06 January 2023

There is no doubt, diet is the most effective means of modulating the composition of our gut microbiota. But studies are often limited to one nutrient (the effect of a protein, fiber, etc.) without evaluating the effect of the whole foodstuff. Well, all nutrients in a foodstuff interact, with antagonistic and synergistic effects, so much so that in real life, the overall effect of a foodstuff is rarely the sum of the individual effects of each of its components. Thus, almonds, as all seeds, are rich in lipids and therefore in calories (incidentally oil is extracted from them!) but also in fibers which act on intestinal transit, in polyphenols with anti-aging properties, etc.

To evaluate the effects of almonds on the gut microbiota, American almond producers have just funded a study which represents, in terms of quality, the Holy Grail in nutrition: a (sidenote: Randomized trial Study in which the products tested are distributed randomly, between the participants. ) (sidenote: Controlled trial a study in which participants are given either a test product (capsule containing the active compound) or a placebo (control capsule not containing the active compound), thus allowing for comparison. ) . Thus, 87 young volunteers little inclined to eat fruit and vegetables were distributed randomly between 3 comparable groups. Their mission: to consume, every day for 4 weeks, two snacks in place of their usual snacks, comprising either 2 handfuls of whole almonds, or the equivalent in ground almonds, or 2 muffins with the same calorie content (controls).

26 g of almonds = around 20 almonds (1 handful)

Disappointing results, limited health benefits

The least that can be said, is that the results observed will not have matched the level of investment. The authors hoped to observe that the almonds had a boosting effect on the intestinal (sidenote: Bifidobacterium A genus of Y-shaped bacteria, most species of which are beneficial to humans. They are found in the gut of humans, and in some yogurts.

They:
- Protect the gut barrier 
- Participate in the development of the immune system and help fight inflammation 
- Promote digestion and improve symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders Sung V, D'Amico F, Cabana MD, et al. Lactobacillus reuteri to Treat Infant Colic: A Meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2018 Jan;141(1):e20171811.  O'Callaghan A, van Sinderen D. Bifidobacteria and Their Role as Members of the Human Gut Microbiota. Front Microbiol. 2016 Jun 15;7:925. Ruiz L, Delgado S, Ruas-Madiedo P, et al. Bifidobacteria and Their Molecular Communication with the Immune System. Front Microbiol. 2017 Dec 4;8:2345.
)
. Well, rather the opposite happened... They wagered on an accelerated intestinal transit due to the fibers present in the almonds: but no, the oily nuts changed nothing. The study even called into question a principle accepted up until then by nutritionists, namely that, unlike finely ground almonds, whole almonds would continue, even after mastication, to retain the lipid droplets in their structure. Well, the results show that the commercial grinding of almonds produces practically no differences in terms of lipid accessibility. In other words, your body will be able to assimilate the fats and calories of whole almonds, practically as well as those of ground almonds.

The exception: a short-chain fatty acid

Only one positive note was observed: the consumption of almonds (whole and ground) led to a significant increase in the production, by the gut bacteria, of a (sidenote: Short chain fatty acids (SGFA) Short chain fatty acids are a source of energy (fuel) for an individual’s cells. They interact with the immune system and are implicated in communication between the gut and the brain.   Silva YP, Bernardi A, Frozza RL. The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020;11:25. ) beneficial to our health, butyrate.

Sources

Creedon AC, Dimidi E, Hung ES et al. The Impact of Almonds and Almond Processing On Gastrointestinal Physiology, Luminal Microbiology and Gastrointestinal Symptoms: a Randomized Controlled Trial and Mastication Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 Sep 20:nqac265.

Tags
Diet Prebiotic Short-chain fatty acid Butyrate Nutrition

en_view en_sources

    See also

    Actu GP : Mieux manger peut-il renforcer l’immunité ? Can healthy eating habits strengthen immunity?
    Un régime méditerranéen, bon pour le corps, bon pour le cœur The Mediterranean diet: good for the body, good for the heart
    Created 04 January 2023
    Updated 06 January 2023

    About this article

    To know more about this topic.

    Main topic

    Diet

    Related microbiotas

    The gut microbiota
    The power of your gut

    Probiotics

    Probiotics: essential information for understanding and choosing them correctly. What exactly are probiotic...

    Find out more

    Prebiotics: what you need to know

    With just one different letter separating prebiotics and probiotics, no wonder they get confused! To muddy ...

    Find out more

    How our gut constantly talks to our brain

    Our gut, often called our “second brain”, owns 200 million neurons (enteric nervous system), hosts several ...

    Find out more

    The gut microbiota

    Gut microbiota: why is it that important for your health? We have trillions1 of bacteria that populate our ...

    Find out more

    Functional gastrointestinal disorders

    Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGDs), the most common intestinal afflictions, are a collection of c...

    Find out more

    Digestive disorders

    Find out more

    Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

    Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), previously called a “functional bowel disorder”, is the most common gut-bra...

    Find out more

    Pediatric disorders

    Find out more

    Latest news

    News
    Photo: La maladie de Cushing déstabilise durablement le microbiote
    06.09.2023

    Cushing's syndrome leads to long-term disruption of the gut microbiota

    Read the article
    10.07.2023

    The longer the physical activity, the better for the microbiota

    Read the article
    Photo: Quand la migraine prend aux tripes
    29.03.2023

    Migraine: a gut feeling?

    Read the article
    Antibiotics: what impact on the microbiota and on our health?
    12.10.2022

    Antibiotics: what impact on the microbiota and on our health?

    Read the article
    Actu PRO un lien etabli entre microbiote intestinal et infections respiratoires
    07.05.2020

    The role of intestinal microbiota in respiratory infections

    Read the article
    12.09.2023

    Parkinson’s disease: the walls are closing in on Desulfovibrio bacteria

    Read the article
    Actu GP : Le jus d’orange, c’est bon pour votre microbiote !
    23.04.2020

    What to drink during the lockdown? Orange juice is good for your microbiota!

    Read the article
    Actu GP : Le thé vert, c’est bon pour mon microbiote !
    28.01.2020

    Green tea is good for your microbiota!

    Read the article
    My health, my microbiota
    Follow our Facebook page
    Our marvelous microbiota
    Get to understand our microbiota and the role they play in our body
    Find your dedicated section
    Healthcare professionals
    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
      • Press room
      About the Institute

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo
    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota
    • English
    • Français
    • Español
    • Russian
    • Portuguese
    • Polish

    Browse the site

    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
      • Press room
      About the Institute

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo

    Discover

    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Redirection

    You are about to be redirected and leave our website

    • Be redirected
    • Stay on the Biocodex Microbiota Institute's website

    Stay with us !

    Join the microbiota community and receive "The Essentials" once a month to stay up to date with the latest news on the microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    Explore

    12.09.2023

    Parkinson’s disease: the walls are closing in on Desulfovibrio bacteria

    Read the article
    Photo: La maladie de Cushing déstabilise durablement le microbiote
    06.09.2023

    Cushing's syndrome leads to long-term disruption of the gut microbiota

    Read the article
    29.08.2023

    Antibiotic resistance genes float in the clouds

    Read the article

    Stay updated

    Join the Microbiota Community and receive once a month “The Essential” to stay up to date on the latest news about microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
      • Press room
      About the Institute

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo

    Discover

    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    © 2022 Biocodex. All rights reserved.

    • Cookies Policy
    • Data protection policy
    • GTU
    • Sitemap
    • Cookies settings
    Biocodex logo