Macadamia nut consumption modulates favourably risk factors for coronary artery disease in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Macadamia nuts are rich source of monounsaturated fats (oleic and palmitoleic acids) and contain polyphenol compounds; therefore; their consumption can be expected to impart health benefits to humans. This study was conducted to examine the effects of consuming macadamia nuts in hypercholesterolemic male individuals on plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress; coagulation and inflammation. Seventeen hypercholesterolemic […]

Macadamia nut consumption lowers plasma cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic men.

This study was conducted to assess the cholesterol-lowering potential of macadamia nuts. Seventeen hypercholesterolemic men (mean age 54 y) were given macadamia nuts (40-90 g/d); equivalent to 15% energy intake; for 4 wk. Plasma total cholesterol; LDL cholesterol; HDL cholesterol; triglycerides and homocysteine concentrations and the fatty acid composition of plasma lipids were determined before […]

Cardiovascular disease prevention in Eastern Europe.

During the last 30 y the region of highest premature cardiovascular mortality has shifted from the US and Finland to Central and Eastern Europe. Present male cardiovascular mortality in Latvia; Estonia; the Russian Federation; and Hungary has overtaken the maximum cardiovascular mortality reached in the US in the 1960s. This epidemic is only partially explainable […]

Tree nuts and the lipid profile: a review of clinical studies

Tree nuts have a fatty acid profile that favourably affects blood lipids and lipoproteins. They are low in saturated fat and high in unsaturated fatty acids and are rich sources of other nutrients. An extensive database consistently shows total and LDL cholesterol-lowering effects of diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in unsaturated […]

Diet composition and the metabolic syndrome: what is the optimal fat intake?

Two cholesterol-raising fatty acids in the diet; saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids; increase the serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. This fact justifies the recommendation of a reduced intake of cholesterol-raising fatty acids. Emerging data suggest that diets higher in unsaturated fatty acids; particularly monounsaturated fatty acids; have several advantages over high-carbohydrate intakes. This […]

Activity in vitro of resveratrol on granulocyte and monocyte adhesion to endothelium.

BACKGROUND: Resveratrol is a phytoalexin present in red wine. It has been shown to protect LDL from peroxidative degradation. OBJECTIVE: In consideration of the low plasma concentration of orally adsorbed resveratrol (which is insufficient for antioxidant protection of LDL); we studied another effect of the compound. DESIGN: Because resveratrol is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor like […]