In the US, 37.1 million adults have diabetes mellitus and 96 million have prediabetes.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for 95% of the cases and results in many public
health complications that increase economic burden and reduce productivity and quality of
life. Eight out of 10 people with T2DM die from cardiovascular disease, while those with
T2DM also face a 50% higher risk of developing dementia compared to healthy individuals.
Also, studies indicate that intestinal health significantly influences the development of
T2DM. Of note, the burden of T2DM is particularly pronounced in non-Hispanic Black and
Hispanic populations compared to the non-Hispanic White population. Prevention and
treatment of T2DM focus on lifestyle changes including dietary modifications. Plant-based
foods, including peanuts and peanut products, have been increasingly recognized for their
importance in the prevention and management of prediabetes and T2DM due to their unique
nutritional profile, including their favorable fatty acid composition, fiber content, and
bioactive compounds. While emerging evidence indicates that peanut improves
cardiometabolic, cognitive and intestinal health, no studies have collectively and
comprehensively evaluated the effects of peanut or peanut product consumption on the
cardiometabolic, cognitive, and intestinal health of individuals with prediabetes or
T2DM. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether adults with prediabetes consuming 43 g
of peanut butter (1 snack cup) 3 x/week, 42 g of dry roasted peanuts (1/3 of a cup)
3x/week, or 56 g of peanut flour 1x/week for six months will have 1) reduced levels of
serum HbA1c, fasting glucose (FBG), insulin, HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment of
insulin resistance) and improved lipid profile, 2) reduced blood pressure, improved
endothelial function, arterial stiffness and microvascular function, 3) Improved gut
microbiota composition and reduced intestinal permeability, 4) improved cognitive
function (verbal memory and executive functions [inhibition, working memory, cognitive
flexibility]) and brain health metrics as assessed by neuroimaging, and 5) reduced serum
markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. The effectiveness of the intervention on
the abovementioned outcomes among races including non-Hispanic Black (NHBA), non-Hispanic
White (NHWA), non-Hispanic Asian (NHAA) and Hispanic (HA) adults will also be compared.
Lastly, whether changes in cardiometabolic and cognitive outcomes are associated with
changes in intestinal microbiota outcomes and whether changes in cardiometabolic outcomes
are associated with changes in cognitive function parameters will be explored.