Overall , high-walnut-enriched diets significantly decreased total and LDL cholesterol for the duration of the short-term trials .
BACKGROUND Consumption of nuts has been associated with a decreased risk of  cardiovascular disease events  and death .
Walnuts in particular have a unique profile : they are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids , which may improve blood lipids and other cardiovascular disease risk factors .
OBJECTIVES We aim ed to conduct a literature review and a meta- analysis to combine the results from several trials and to estimate the effect of walnuts on blood lipids .
Effect of Walnut-Enriched Restructured Meat in the Antioxidant Status of Overweight/Obese Senior Subjects with at Least One Extra CHD-Risk Factor
Background : A number of recent studies indicate that antioxidants reduce the oxidative stress associated with the development of coronary heart diseases ( CHD ) . Objective : ( i ) To investigate whether the erythrocyte catalase ( CAT ) , superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) , total glutathione , reduced glutathione ( GSH ) , oxidized glutathione ( GSSG ) , and lipid peroxidation ( LPO ) , and serum uric acid and paraoxonase-1 ( PON1 ) are modified at increased CHD-risk individuals consuming walnut-enriched meat ( WM ) , ( ii ) to evaluate whether these changes were influenced by basal serum cholesterol , body mass index or smoking habit . Design : The study was a non blinded , cross-over , placebo-controlled trial in which 22 volunteers ( 60 % overweight and 40 % obese ) with increased CHD-risk were r and omly assigned to receive WM or control meat ( CM ) during two different periods of 5 weeks . Results : A significant interaction time*treatment ( p < 0.05 ) was observed in all enzymes and substrates tested except HDL-C , uric acid and LPO . The treatment significantly increased CAT activity , total glutathione and GSSG ( p < 0.05 ) . Significant gender*time*treatment interaction ( p = 0.043 ) for total glutathione was found increasing at the end of the WM period in male but not changing in female . Total glutathione and GSH/GSSG ratio ( p < 0.05 ) were lower in smokers . Hypercholesterolemics presented higher uric acid ( p < 0.05 ) but no enzyme activities or substrate concentrations were different from those of normocholesterolemics . Conclusions : The WM tested appears to be a functional food as it improved the antioxidant status of increased CHD-risk volunteers . Despite its high energy content , it also appears adequate for overweight and obese people because did not exert negative effect upon body weight
Overall , high-walnut-enriched diets significantly decreased total and LDL cholesterol for the duration of the short-term trials .
BACKGROUND Consumption of nuts has been associated with a decreased risk of  cardiovascular disease events  and death .
Walnuts in particular have a unique profile : they are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids , which may improve blood lipids and other cardiovascular disease risk factors .
OBJECTIVES We aim ed to conduct a literature review and a meta- analysis to combine the results from several trials and to estimate the effect of walnuts on blood lipids .