Serum lipid response to the graduated enrichment of a step 1 diet with almonds: a randomized feeding trial.

BACKGROUND: Frequent consumption of nuts may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by favorably altering serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of 2 amounts of almond intake with those of a National Cholesterol Education Program Step I diet on serum lipids; lipoproteins; apolipoproteins; and glucose in healthy and mildly hypercholesterolemic adults. […]

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 […]

Nut consumption and protection against coronary heart disease death in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). World Congress of Cardiology 2006; Abstract number 270; www.escardio.org.

Purpose: Nuts have been suggested to be protective of coronary heart disease. However; all epidemiologic information to date is derived from cohorts based on American populations; which may have different dietary backgrounds and nut intake patterns than other populations. Methods: The association of nut intake and coronary heart disease mortality was examined in 399;633 subjects; […]

Dietary fibre; nuts and cardiovascular diseases.

Dietary fibre has a range of metabolic health benefits. Through a variety of mechanisms; dietary fibre; and the viscous variety in particular; slows down gastric emptying and intestinal transit; decreases the rate of intestinal carbohydrate absorption; and increases faecal bile acid excretion. Therefore; consumption of some types of soluble fibre can enhance satiety; which is […]

Nuts: a new protective food against coronary heart disease

Recent epidemiological findings indicate that frequent nut consumption offers protection from fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease events. Although human nutrition studies seem to indicate that nut consumption lowers total and LDL cholesterol; the unique nutrient composition of nuts invites speculation on other mechanisms of protection.

Vitamin E consumption and the risk of coronary heart disease in men.

BACKGROUND. The oxidative modification of low-density lipoproteins increases their incorporation into the arterial intima; an essential step in atherogenesis. Although dietary antioxidants; such as vitamin C; carotene; and vitamin E; have been hypothesized to prevent coronary heart disease; prospective epidemiologic data are sparse. METHODS. In 1986; 39;910 U.S. male health professionals 40 to 75 years […]

Fatty acid composition of nuts – implications for cardiovascular health.

It is well established that; due to their high content of saturated fatty acids (SFA); the intake of meat and meat products is strongly associated with elevated blood cholesterol concentrations and an increased risk of hypertension; diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Conversely; the intake of foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids; such as those contained in […]