Nuts and oxidation: a systematic review

In recent years; nuts have received special attention because of their potential role in preventing cardiovascular disease. Because nuts are very rich in total fat that can potentially be oxidized and their skins contain several antioxidants; studies have been conducted to evaluate the potential effect of nut consumption on oxidative stress. This review evaluates the […]

Serum sterol responses to increasing plant sterol intake from natural foods in the Mediterranean diet

BACKGROUND: Phytosterols in natural foods are thought to inhibit cholesterol absorption. The Mediterranean diet is rich in phytosterol-containing plant foods. AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess whether increasing phytosterol intake from natural foods was associated with a cholesterol-lowering effect in a substudy of a randomized trial of nutritional intervention with Mediterranean diets for primary cardiovascular […]

Consumption of pistachio nuts beneficially affected blood lipids and total antioxidant activity in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet

Although nuts are typically high in dietary fat; novel studies have shown that regular consumption of these heart-healthy foods might confer a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease risk. In the present study; we aimed to analyse the effects of pistachio consumption on blood lipids; antioxidant activity; oxidative stress and sialic acid levels in high-fat-fed rats […]

Effects of plant-based diets on plasma lipids

Dyslipidemia is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease; peripheral vascular disease; and stroke. Current guidelines recommend diet as first-line therapy for patients with elevated plasma cholesterol concentrations. However; what constitutes an optimal dietary regimen remains a matter of controversy. Large prospective trials have demonstrated that populations following plant-based diets; particularly vegetarian and vegan diets; […]

Effect of Mediterranean diet on the expression of pro-atherogenic genes in a population at high cardiovascular risk

Experimental and epidemiological studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of the traditional Mediterranean diet (TMD) on the incidence and progression of atherosclerosis. Several genes play a major role in determining atherosclerosis susceptibility. We compared the short-term effects of two TMD diets versus a control diet on the expression of pro-atherogenic genes. One TMD diet was […]

Nuts as part of a healthy cardiovascular diet

The increasing trend of obesity has been associated with a greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and may lead to more vascular disease. Nuts; a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids and fiber; have been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Numerous studies […]

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 […]