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Consumption of nuts increases serotonin levels
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
Recent scientific studies have shown that eating nuts increases blood serotonin levels in patients with metabolic syndrome, who have a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
In the study, the scientists attempted for the first time to analyze the impact of a nut-rich diet on the development of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a disease that, according to WHO estimates, affects about 20% of the world's adult population, and increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The clinical part of the study consisted of observing two groups of people: the first group consumed foods rich in nuts (in particular, walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts), the second group consumed foods that did not contain any nuts at all.
Patients who ate a nut-rich diet had higher levels of tryptophan and serotonin metabolites, fatty acids and polyphenols in their urine than those who did not eat nuts. However, the scientists were unable to determine whether these metabolites were increased by exogenous intake of these substances from nuts or by endogenous stimulation of their own serotonin.
This study is the first to show that nut consumption may provide health benefits by reducing substances in the body associated with inflammation and other cardiovascular risk factors in patients with metabolic syndrome.