Nut consumption and musculoskeletal health: A systematic review

Age-related declines in muscle mass, strength, bone health, and physical function contribute substantially to frailty, sarcopenia, disability, and loss of independence. Nutritional strategies that may preserve musculoskeletal health are therefore of growing public health interest, particularly in aging populations. Nuts are nutrient-dense foods that provide unsaturated fatty acids, plant protein, polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds that may plausibly influence muscle recovery, muscle function, bone metabolism, and broader functional outcomes. Existing evidence includes randomized controlled trials, non-randomized interventions, and observational studies evaluating almonds, walnuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts, mixed nuts, peanuts, and total nut intake in relation to outcomes such as muscle soreness, recovery biomarkers, strength, bone mineral density, frailty, sarcopenia, disability-free survival, and functional limitations. However, findings are inconsistent across diverse study designs and populations. A systematic review is therefore warranted to comprehensively identify, appraise, and synthesize the available evidence and to clarify priorities for future research.