Postprandial Response to Almond Consumption in Overweight Hispanic Pregnant Women
Postprandial Response to Almond Consumption in Overweight Hispanic Pregnant Women
Currently, about one third of all women entering pregnancy are obese. The prevalence of
 metabolic disorders during pregnancy has increased concurrently with the rise in maternal
 obesity. Although dietary interventions are used routinely to reduce metabolic disease in
 non-pregnant obese individuals, no specific dietary advice is provided to obese, pregnant
 women unless they develop gestational diabetes mellitus. In this study, the investigators
 will specifically assess the effect of replacing dairy fats with almonds in a breakfast meal
 on the postprandial metabolic response. This cross-over, randomized control trial will
 examine the postprandial metabolic response to 0 or 2 oz of almonds in standardized test
 meals in pregnant Hispanic women with prepregnancy BMI between 25 and 40. Hispanics are at
 higher risk for gestational diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. The investigators
 hypothesize that consuming almonds in place of dairy fat reduces the glycemic response and
 improves the postprandial lipid profile in these high-risk women.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Pregnant Hispanic women

 -  Between 30 and 36 weeks gestation

 -  Prepregnancy BMI between 25 and 40

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus

 -  Preexisting diabetes mellitus

 -  Renal disease

 -  Thyroid disease

 -  Cardiovascular disease

 -  History of drug abuse

 -  Nut allergies