Influence of a Mediterranean Dietary Pattern on Body Fat Distribution: Results of the PREDIMED-Canarias Intervention Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of a Mediterranean dietary pattern (MeDiet) on anthropometric and body composition parameters in one of the centers of the PREDIMED randomized dietary trial. SUBJECTS/SETTINGS: 351 Canarian free-living subjects aged 55 to 80 years, with type 2 diabetes or ≥3 cardiovascular risk factors. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to one of […]

Almond consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in adults with prediabetes

OBJECTIVE: The authors tested the hypothesis that in adults with prediabetes; an almond-enriched American Diabetes Association (ADA) diet improves measures of insulin sensitivity and other cardiovascular risk factors compared with an ADA nut-free diet. METHODS: DESIGN: Randomized parallel-group trial. SETTING: Outpatient dietary counseling and blood analysis. SUBJECTS: Sixty-five adult participants with prediabetes. INTERVENTION: Sixteen weeks […]

Pistachio nuts reduce triglycerides and body weight by comparison to refined carbohydrate snack in obese subjects on a 12-week weight loss program

OBJECTIVE: There is a widely held view that; due to high fat content; snacking on nuts will lead to weight gain; ultimately causing unhealthy changes in lipid profiles. This study is designed to study the effects of pistachio snack consumption on body weight and lipid levels in obese participants under real-world conditions. METHODS: Participants were […]

The effect of a calorie controlled diet containing walnuts on substrate oxidation during 8-hours in a room calorimeter

OBJECTIVE: Dietary macronutrient proportions affect substrate utilization; but in practice people consume foods. We hypothesized that in overweight adults; a calorie controlled diet based on core foods and including walnuts may be advantageous in promoting greater use of fat stores. METHODS: This crossover study tested the effects of diet-related energy expenditure and fat oxidation in […]

Peanut consumption improves indices of cardiovascular disease risk in healthy adults

BACKGROUND: Diets containing nuts reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This has primarily been attributed to their fatty acid composition; but other constituents may also contribute. Peanuts; the most widely consumed "nut" (actually a legume); are a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA); magnesium and folate; but their effects on CVD risk factors are […]

Consumption of restructured meat products with added walnuts has a cholesterol-lowering effect in subjects at high cardiovascular risk: a randomized; crossover; placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND: Diet and lifestyle are modifiable factors involved in the development and prevention of non-communicable diseases; including cardiovascular disease. Nut consumption; particularly walnut intake; has been inversely related to incident coronary heart disease (CHD) in observational studies and to improved lipid profiles in short-term feeding trials. OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential functional effect associated with […]