The effect of daily peanut consumption on cognitive function and indicators of mental health among healthy young women | Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer Open Menu Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Home Food Science Publisher Functional Food Center Current Archives About About the Journal Aims and Scope Contact Editing Services Editorial Team Express Peer Review Graphical Abstract Journal Insights Privacy Statement Submissions Announcements Search Search Register Login Home / Archives / Vol. 12 No. 12 (2022): December 2022 / Research Articles The effect of daily peanut consumption on cognitive function and indicators of mental health among healthy young women Authors Nicole Reeder Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7392-5464 Terezie Tolar-Peterson Department of Health Science and Human Ecology, California State University San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California, 92359 Grace A. Adegoye Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA Erin Dickinson Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA Emily McFatter Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA DOI: https://doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v12i12.1010 Abstract Background: Peanuts and tree nuts contain many bioactive compounds that may provide health benefits. There is some evidence to suggest that regular consumption of peanuts and peanut butter may improve cognitive function and mood, however, there are no prior studies examining whether daily intake of dry roasted, skinless peanuts improves cognition.  Objective:The objective of this study was to determine the effect of consuming 49 g/day of peanuts for 12 weeks on cognitive function and mental health, compared to consuming a peanut-free diet, among healthy young women.  Methods:This was a pre-post test study of 65 women (n = 32 in peanut group, n = 29 in control group). Participants in the peanut group consumed an individually portioned pack of peanuts each day for 12 weeks. Cognitive function was assessed using the CNS Vital Signs computerized neurocognitive test battery. Mental health was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42). Differences in endpoints between groups were assessed using ANCOVA tests.  Results:There was a significant difference between the two groups in reaction time (6.9 points; p = 0.029), with the control group having a greater increase in scores. There was a significant within-group effect of peanuts on processing speed, with the peanut group increasing scores by 6.3 points (95% CI: 2.7, 9.8). There was no effect of peanut consumption on depression, anxiety, or stress scores.  Conclusion:Further research is needed to fully understand the effect of different types of peanut products on cognition.  Keywords: cognition, mental health, peanuts, nuts Downloads [Abstract] [Full Article] Published 2022-12-21 Issue Vol. 12 No. 12 (2022): December 2022 Section Research Articles License Authors retain the copyright of their articles and grant the Functional Food Center (FFC) and its journals the right of first publication under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, including commercial use, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited. Authors may post and share their published work freely, provided that the original publication in this journal is acknowledged. By submitting to this journal, authors confirm that their manuscripts are original, not under consideration elsewhere, and that they hold the necessary rights to grant this license. The Functional Food Center encourages open scientific exchange and allows derivative and extended works, provided attribution to the original publication is maintained. About the Journal      Editing Services      Graphical Abstract      Journal Insights        Submissions        Editorial Team       Privacy Statement        Contact        Current        Archives   Open Journal Systems Hosting and Support by: OpenJournalSystems.com