An Almond Meal-Rich Diet Improves Red Blood Cell Count and Reduces Odds of Anemia in a Mouse Model of Aging

Anemia in aging is multifaceted and may be in part caused by increased inflammation and oxidative stress. Almonds contain nutrients that may improve inflammation or antioxidant activity, which can improve red blood cell (RBC) integrity and mitigate anemia. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of almond consumption on hematologic markers in a mouse model of aging. Forty-eight 18-month-old male and female C57BL/6 mice were randomized to receive a control diet or an almond-supplemented diet (15% calories from almond meal) for 12 or 21 weeks (four groups, n = 12/group). Blood and tissues were collected after respective intervention periods for analyses of hematologic markers (complete blood count analysis) and antioxidant status (RBC alpha-tocopherol concentration and superoxide dismutase activity). Mice consuming the almond-supplemented diet had significantly lower red cell distribution width at 12 weeks (p = 0.05) and significantly higher RBC count at 21 weeks (p = 0.04). Regression analyses indicated that almond intake resulted in higher RBC count (β = 0.82, p = 0.026) and lower odds of anemia (OR = 0.20, p = 0.046) after adjusting for sex of mice and length of intervention. These findings suggest that almond intake in aging mice improved selected hematologic markers and reduced anemia risk.