NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
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Peanut

Arachis hypogaea

Affordable legume nut linked to lower CVD and total mortality

Moderate evidence 🥜Nuts🫀Heart & Metabolic⏳Longevity

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Moderate
Research weight
Citations
9 verified / 9
Classification
Nuts
❝
What the evidence says. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent.

Nutrition per serving 1 oz (28 g, ~28 peanuts)

28gSERVING
  • Sugars 1.3 g5%
  • Fibre 2.4 g9%
  • Other carbs 0.9 g3%
  • Protein 7.3 g26%
  • Fat 14 g50%
  • Other 2.1 g8%
What's in one serving, by weight — average composition (USDA).
Fiber9%Protein15%Vitamin E16%Magnesium11%Copper36%Manganese24%Zinc8%Selenium4%
One serving as % of the adult daily requirement (FDA Daily Values). The bold outer ring = 100% of a day's needs.
161 kcal7.3 g protein2.4 g fiber14 g fat
NutrientPer serving% daily value
Fiber2.4 g9%
Protein7.3 g15%
Vitamin E2.4 mg16%
Magnesium48 mg11%
Copper0.32 mg36%
Manganese0.55 mg24%
Zinc0.93 mg8%
Selenium2 µg4%
Phosphorus107 mg9%
Potassium200 mg4%
Iron1.3 mg7%
Calcium26 mg2%
Folate68 µg17%

Composition data: USDA FoodData Central ↗

What is Peanut?

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a nut or seed used for higher intake associated with lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in large cohorts. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Moderate. Peanuts are botanically a legume but nutritionally behave like tree nuts, supplying unsaturated fat, plant protein, fiber and L-arginine. The strongest human data are observational: in a prospective study of over 200,000 people across the US Southern Community Cohort and the Shanghai cohorts (Luu 2015), higher peanut/nut intake was associated with roughly 17-21% lower total mortality, driven mainly by fewer cardiovascular deaths. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials (2019) found peanut intake produced modest reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure, though effects on LDL cholesterol were inconsistent and often non-significant. Randomized evidence specific to peanuts on hard endpoints is limited; the landmark PREDIMED trial (Estruch 2018) used mixed nuts (mostly walnuts, with almonds and hazelnuts) rather than peanuts, so its ~28% reduction in major cardiovascular events is not peanut-specific. Overall the evidence is moderate and largely consistent with the broader nut literature, but causal proof for peanuts alone is weaker than for walnuts or almonds.

Purported Benefits

✓Higher intake associated with lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in large cohorts
✓Modest improvements in total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
✓Lowers diastolic blood pressure in pooled trial data
✓Helps with satiety and weight maintenance despite calorie density
✓Part of nut-supplemented Mediterranean diet shown to cut major CVD events in an RCT
✓Provides plant protein, fiber and unsaturated fat as a low-cost nut alternative

Dosing & Compounds

Typical Dose
About 1 oz (28 g) per day, a small handful, unsalted
Active Compounds
Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA, oleic acid)Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, linoleic acid)Plant proteinDietary fiberL-argininePhytosterolsMagnesiumNiacin and folateResveratrol and polyphenols

Safety & Cautions

Peanut allergy is one of the most common and severe food allergies and can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis; people with peanut allergy must avoid all peanuts and peanut-containing products. Peanuts are a legume, not a tree nut, but cross-reactivity and shared processing lines mean tree-nut-allergic individuals should be cautious. Peanuts are calorie-dense (~160-170 kcal per 28 g), so portion control matters for weight management; choose unsalted to limit sodium. Peanuts stored improperly can harbor aflatoxin, a mold-derived carcinogen, so buy fresh, well-stored product and discard moldy or shriveled nuts. Whole peanuts and globs of peanut butter are a choking hazard for children under 4. Salted/honey-roasted versions add sodium and sugar. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Peanut with any medicine.

Key Studies

meta-analysis of RCTs Houston 2023 (Adv Nutr) ✓ Full text
Meta-analysis of 129 RCTs (9,099 participants): tree nut/peanut consumption significantly lowered LDL cholesterol (-0.11 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.14 to -0.07), total cholesterol (-0.13 mmol/L, -0.18 to -0.09) and triglycerides (-0.06 mmol/L, -0.08 to -0.03); no effect on blood pressure.
RCT + meta-analysis Parilli-Moser 2022 (Front Nutr) ✓ Full text
ARISTOTLE RCT (n=63, 6 months, 25 g/day roasted peanuts or 32 g/day peanut butter) plus meta-analysis: peanut products lowered triglycerides (MD -0.13 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.20 to -0.07) and, in healthy subjects, total cholesterol (MD -0.40, -0.71 to -0.09) and the LDL/HDL ratio.
meta-analysis of cohorts + RCTs Nishi 2021 (Obes Rev) ✓ Full text
Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohorts and RCTs: despite being calorie-dense, nuts showed no adverse effect on body weight in RCTs (high certainty) and higher intake was associated with lower body weight and body fat in cohorts.
Meta-analysis Jafari Azad et al. peanut systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs ✓ PubMed
Peanut consumption modestly lowered total cholesterol, triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure, with no consistent significant effect on LDL cholesterol.
dose-response meta-analysis Aune 2016 (BMC Med) ✓ Source
Dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies (up to 819,000 participants): one 28 g/day serving of nuts associated with 29% lower coronary heart disease, 21% lower CVD, 15% lower total cancer and 22% lower all-cause mortality.
RCT Estruch et al. PREDIMED (republished) ✓ PubMed
A Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts cut major cardiovascular events ~28% vs a low-fat control over ~4.8 years; nuts were mostly walnuts/almonds/hazelnuts, not peanuts.
Cohort Luu et al. (Southern Community Cohort + Shanghai cohorts) ✓ PubMed
Among >200,000 adults, highest vs lowest peanut/nut intake was associated with ~17-21% lower all-cause mortality, predominantly from reduced cardiovascular mortality.
prospective cohort (pooled) Luu 2015 (JAMA Intern Med) ✓ Full text
Pooled analysis of 206,029 adults across 3 cohorts (US Southern Community + Shanghai men/women): highest vs lowest nut/peanut intake associated with ~17-21% lower total mortality (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.73-0.86 in US; HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.77-0.88 in Asians) and reduced ischemic heart disease mortality.
prospective cohort Jiang 2002 (JAMA) ✓ PubMed
Nurses' Health Study (83,818 women): consuming peanut butter ≥5 times/week (≈140 g peanuts/wk) associated with 21% lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes vs never (multivariate RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.68-0.91; P-trend <0.001).
9 sources cited · 9 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about Peanut

What is Peanut used for?

Peanut is most often taken for Higher intake associated with lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in large cohorts, Modest improvements in total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, Lowers diastolic blood pressure in pooled trial data, Helps with satiety and weight maintenance despite calorie density. Affordable legume nut linked to lower CVD and total mortality

Does Peanut work — what does the evidence say?

Moderate evidence. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent. Peanuts are botanically a legume but nutritionally behave like tree nuts, supplying unsaturated fat, plant protein, fiber and L-arginine. The strongest human data are observational: in a prospective study of over 200,000 people across the US Southern Community Cohort and the Shanghai cohorts (Luu 2015), higher peanut/nut intake was associated with roughly 17-21% lower total mortality, driven mainly by fewer cardiovascular deaths. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials (2019) found peanut intake produced modest reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure, though effects on LDL cholesterol were inconsistent and often non-significant. Randomized evidence specific to peanuts on hard endpoints is limited; the landmark PREDIMED trial (Estruch 2018) used mixed nuts (mostly walnuts, with almonds and hazelnuts) rather than peanuts, so its ~28% reduction in major cardiovascular events is not peanut-specific. Overall the evidence is moderate and largely consistent with the broader nut literature, but causal proof for peanuts alone is weaker than for walnuts or almonds.

What is the typical dose of Peanut?

About 1 oz (28 g) per day, a small handful, unsalted

Is Peanut safe? Any cautions or side effects?

Peanut allergy is one of the most common and severe food allergies and can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis; people with peanut allergy must avoid all peanuts and peanut-containing products. Peanuts are a legume, not a tree nut, but cross-reactivity and shared processing lines mean tree-nut-allergic individuals should be cautious. Peanuts are calorie-dense (~160-170 kcal per 28 g), so portion control matters for weight management; choose unsalted to limit sodium. Peanuts stored improperly can harbor aflatoxin, a mold-derived carcinogen, so buy fresh, well-stored product and discard moldy or shriveled nuts. Whole peanuts and globs of peanut butter are a choking hazard for children under 4. Salted/honey-roasted versions add sodium and sugar.

How many studies support Peanut?

NutriDex cites 9 sources for Peanut, graded "Moderate".

Cite this page
APA

Peh, D. (2026). Peanut (Arachis hypogaea): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 26 Jun 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/peanut

BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_peanut,
  author       = {Peh, Daryl},
  title        = {Peanut (Arachis hypogaea): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
  url          = {https://nutridex.info/s/peanut},
  note         = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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