A new study published in Lipids in Health and Disease has found that higher consumption of nuts and seeds was associated with more favorable non-traditional lipid indices linked to cardiovascular health.
The analysis used dietary and blood data from 2,514 adults participating in the Isfahan Cohort Study 2 in Iran. After adjustment for demographic, lifestyle and metabolic factors, participants in the highest quartile of nut and seed intake had significantly lower odds of elevated levels of several atherogenic indices, including the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), Atherogenic Combined Index (ACI), Castelli’s Risk Index-I (CRI-I), the Lipoprotein Combined Index (LCI) and the Triglycerides to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio (TG/HDL-C). The strongest associations were observed for AIP and CRI-I, with 42% and 54% lower odds, respectively, compared with participants in the lowest intake quartile.
The authors point to the nutritional composition of nuts and seeds as a possible explanation, highlighting their unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, phytosterols and polyphenols, as well as nutrients such as magnesium and potassium. The authors concluded that these components may contribute to improved lipid metabolism and cardiovascular health through effects on cholesterol, oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial function. They further suggest that incorporating nuts and seeds into the daily diet could be a practical strategy to support healthier lipid profiles, and that dietary recommendations emphasizing their consumption may contribute to the management and prevention of dyslipidemia and related cardiometabolic conditions.
The findings add to existing evidence on the relationship between nut consumption and conventional lipid measures, while extending research to a broader range of atherogenic indices.
Reference: Kakavand, N., Mohammadifard, N., Shamsi, K., Haghighatdoost, F., Bateni, M., Boshtam, M., Sabri, M., Salas-Salvadó, J., Shyam, S., & Sarrafzadegan, N. (2026). Associations between nut and seed intake and non-traditional lipid indices: a cross-sectional study from the Isfahan cohort study 2. Lipids in Health and Disease.
