Nuts and health outcomes: new epidemiologic evidence.

This article reviews recent epidemiologic evidence on nut intake and health outcomes. It focuses on studies in which nut consumption is directly assessed or when nuts are included in a dietary score or pattern. Epidemiologic studies have been remarkably consistent in showing an association between nut consumption and a reduced risk of coronary heart disease […]

Dietary fiber intake and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in French adults

Background: Increased consumption of dietary fiber is widely recommended to maintain or improve health; but knowledge of the relation between dietary fiber sources and cardiovascular disease risk factors is limited. Objective: We examined the relation between the source or type of dietary fiber intake and cardiovascular disease risk factors in a cohort of adult men […]

Adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern is positively associated with plasma adiponectin concentrations in diabetic women.

Background: Although the typical diet of the Mediterranean region has received much recognition over the past several years for its association with substantial health benefits; it remains unknown whether its favorable effects are mediated through changes in adiponectin concentrations. Objective: The objective was to determine whether adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet is associated with higher […]

Fatty acids in serum phospholipids and carotid intima-media thickness in Spanish subjects with primary dyslipidemia

BACKGROUND: Low rates of incident ischemic heart disease (IHD) and cardiac death occur in Spain despite a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. High consumption of unsaturated fatty acid-rich foods; such as olive oil; nuts; and seafood; might underlie this paradox. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether serum phosphatidylcholine enrichment in oleic; linoleic; alpha-linolenic; and n-3 (omega-3) […]

Adherence to a Mediterranean diet and risk of gastric adenocarcinoma within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort study

BACKGROUND: The Mediterranean dietary pattern is believed to protect against cancer; although evidence from cohort studies that have examined particular cancer sites is limited. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the association between adherence to a relative Mediterranean diet (rMED) and incident gastric adenocarcinoma (GC) within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. DESIGN: […]

A saturated fatty acid-rich diet induces an obesity-linked proinflammatory gene expression profile in adipose tissue of subjects at risk of metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND: Changes in dietary fat composition could lower the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Adipose tissue is an interesting tissue in this respect because of its role in lipid metabolism and inflammation. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the effect of a saturated fatty acid (SFA)- and a monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)-rich diet on insulin […]

Nuts and novel biomarkers of cardiovascular disease

Nuts are energy-dense foods; rich in total fat and unsaturated fatty acids. The favorable fatty acid profile probably contributes to the beneficial effects of nut consumption observed in epidemiologic studies (prevention of coronary heart disease and diabetes) and feeding trials (cholesterol lowering). Besides fat; the complex matrices of nuts contain many bioactive compounds: vegetable protein; […]

Walnuts and fatty fish influence different serum lipid fractions in normal to mildly hyperlipidemic individuals: a randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND: Increased consumption of n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids decreases the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine whether walnuts (plant n-3 fatty acid) and fatty fish (marine n-3 fatty acid) have similar effects on serum lipid markers at intakes recommended for primary prevention of CHD. DESIGN: In a randomized crossover […]

Prospective study of nut consumption; long-term weight change; and obesity risk in women

BACKGROUND: Data concerning the long-term association between nut consumption and weight change in a free-living population are sparse. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the relation between nut consumption and long-term weight change. DESIGN: The participants were 51;188 women in the Nurses' Health Study II aged 20-45 y; who had no cardiovascular disease; diabetes; or […]