A walnut diet improves endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic subjects.
BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest that nut intake decreases coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Nuts have a cholesterol-lowering effect that partly explains this benefit. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with CAD and its risk factors and is reversed by antioxidants and marine n-3 fatty acids. Walnuts are a rich source of both antioxidants and alpha-linolenic acid; a […]
Does regular walnut consumption lead to weight gain?
Studies consistently show the beneficial effects of eating nuts; but as high-energy foods; their regular consumption may lead to weight gain. We tested if daily consumption of walnuts (approximately 12 % energy intake) for 6 months would modify body weight and body composition in free-living subjects. Ninety participants in a 12-month randomized cross-over trial were […]
Effect of walnuts on serum lipid levels and blood pressure in normal men.
BACKGROUND. In a recent six-year follow-up study; we found that frequent consumption of nuts was associated with a reduced risk of ischemic heart disease. To explore possible explanations for this finding; we studied the effects of nut consumption on serum lipids and blood pressure. METHODS. We randomly placed 18 healthy men on two mixed natural […]
Melatonin in walnuts: Influence on levels of melatonin and total antioxidant capacity of blood
OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether melatonin is present in walnuts (Juglans regia L.) and; if so; tested whether eating walnuts influences melatonin levels and the total antioxidant status of the blood. METHODS: Melatonin was extracted from walnuts and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. After feeding walnuts to rats; serum melatonin concentrations were measured using a radioimmunoassay […]
Walnuts and serum lipids.
Effects of walnut consumption as part of a low-fat; low-cholesterol diet on serum cardiovascular risk factors
Serum components; such as lipoproteins; coagulation factors (factor VII; tissue plasminogen activator (tPA); plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1); fibrinogen); and homocysteine have been associated with cardiovascular disease. Dietary intervention with a low-fat; low-cholesterol diet has favorably influenced cardiovascular disease and certain food; specifically the consumption of nuts; has been associated with reduced cardiovascular risks. The effects […]
Walnut-enriched diet increases the association of LDL from hypercholesterolemic men with human HepG2 cells
In a randomized; cross-over feeding trial involving 10 men with polygenic hypercholesterolemia; a control; Mediterranean-type cholesterol-lowering diet; and a diet of similar composition in which walnuts replaced approximately 35% of energy from unsaturated fat; were given for 6 weeks each. Compared with the control diet; the walnut diet reduced serum total and LDL cholesterol by […]
Walnut extract (Juglans regia L.) and its component ellagic acid exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in human aorta endothelial cells and osteoblastic activity in the cell line KS483.
Epidemiological studies suggest that the incidence of CVD and postmenopausal osteoporosis is low in the Mediterranean area; where herbs and nuts; among others; play an important role in nutrition. In the present study; we sought a role of walnuts (Juglans regia L.) in endothelial and bone-cell function. As the endothelial cell expression of adhesion molecules […]