Anti-inflammatory effects of the Mediterranean diet: the experience of the PREDIMED study

Several epidemiological and clinical studies have evaluated the effects of a Mediterranean diet (Med-Diet) on total cardiovascular mortality; and all concluded that adherence to the traditional Med-Diet is associated with reduced cardiovascular risk. However; the molecular mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Since atherosclerosis is nowadays considered a low-grade inflammatory disease; recent studies have explored […]

Almond consumption improved glycemic control and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Almond consumption is associated with ameliorations in obesity; hyperlipidemia; hypertension; and hyperglycemia. The hypothesis of this 12-week randomized crossover clinical trial was that almond consumption would improve glycemic control and decrease the risk for cardiovascular disease in 20 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (9 male; 11 female; 58 years old; body mass […]

Hazelnut consumption decreases the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation; plasma oxidized LDL level and increases the ratio of large/small LDL in normolipidemic healthy subjects

OBJECTIVE: Nut consumption has beneficial effects on protection for development of atherosclerotic process. METHODS: Single intervention study design was used to determine the effects of hazelnut-enriched diet (1 g/kg/day) during 4 weeks period on atherogenic tendency of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by evaluating susceptibility of LDL to oxidation; alpha-tocopherol content of LDL; LDL subfractions; plasma oxidized […]

Pistachios Increase Serum Antioxidants and Lower Serum Oxidized-LDL in Hypercholesterolemic Adults

Pistachios are high in lutein; beta-carotene; and gamma-tocopherol relative to other nuts; however; studies of the effects of pistachios on oxidative status are lacking. We conducted a randomized; crossover controlled-feeding study to evaluate 2 doses of pistachios on serum antioxidants and biomarkers of oxidative status in 28 hypercholesterolemic adults (LDL-cholesterol >/=2.86 mmol/L). Participants consumed 3 […]

Effects on coronary heart disease of increasing polyunsaturated fat in place of saturated fat: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND: Reduced saturated fat (SFA) consumption is recommended to reduce coronary heart disease (CHD); but there is an absence of strong supporting evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of clinical CHD events and few guidelines focus on any specific replacement nutrient. Additionally; some public health groups recommend lowering or limiting polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) consumption; a […]

Dietary intake and food sources of fatty acids in Australian adolescents

BACKGROUND: Dietary fat consumed during childhood and adolescence may be related to the development of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases in adulthood; however; there is a lack of information on specific fatty acid intakes and food sources in these populations. Our study aimed to assess fatty acid intakes in Australian adolescents; compare intakes with national […]

Cross-sectional association of nut intake with adiposity in a Mediterranean population

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Nut intake has been inversely related to body mass index (BMI) in prospective studies. We examined dietary determinants of adiposity in an elderly Mediterranean population with customarily high nut consumption. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 847 subjects (56% women; mean age 67 years; BMI 29.7kg/m(2)) at high cardiovascular […]

Functional Foods as Modifiers of Cardiovascular Disease

There is growing consensus that systemic inflammation is at the heart of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Inflammation is a key feature of the immune system; functioning to defend tissue integrity and function. However; chronic stimulation of inflammatory mediators leads to lasting vascular reactivity; insulin resistance; hyperlipidemia; and; subsequently; chronic disease. Dietary practices to minimize inflammatory stimuli […]

Effects of one serving of mixed nuts on serum lipids; insulin resistance and inflammatory markers in patients with the metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Knowledge of the effect of nut consumption on metabolic syndrome (MetS) components is limited. We assessed the effects of nut intake on adiposity; serum lipids; insulin resistance; and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with MetS. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a randomized; parallel-group; 12-week feeding trial; 50 patients with MetS were given recommendations for […]