Significant heterogeneity was not observed by nut type or other factors .
Tree nut intake  lowers total cholesterol , LDL cholesterol , ApoB , and triglycerides .
The major determinant of cholesterol lowering appears to be nut dose rather than nut type .
BACKGROUND The effects of nuts on major cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk factors , including dose-responses and potential heterogeneity by nut type or phytosterol content , are not well established .
OBJECTIVES We examined the effects of tree nuts ( walnuts , pistachios , macadamia nuts , pecans , cashews , almonds , hazelnuts , and Brazil nuts ) on blood lipids [ total cholesterol , low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol , high-density lipoprotein , and triglycerides ] , lipoproteins [ apolipoprotein A1 , apolipoprotein B ( ApoB ) , and apolipoprotein B100 ] , blood pressure , and inflammation ( C-reactive protein ) in adults aged ≥18 y without prevalent CVD .
Walnut-enriched diet increases the association of LDL from hypercholesterolemic men with human HepG2 cells.
In a r and omized , cross-over feeding trial involving 10 men with polygenic hypercholesterolemia , a control , Mediterranean-type cholesterol-lowering diet , and a diet of similar composition in which walnuts replaced approximately 35 % of energy from unsaturated fat , were given for 6 weeks each . Compared with the control diet , the walnut diet reduced serum total and LDL cholesterol by 4.2 % ( P = 0.176 ) , and 6.0 % ( P = 0.087 ) , respectively . No changes were observed in HDL cholesterol , triglycerides , and apolipoprotein A-I levels or in the relative proportion of protein , triglycerides , phospholipids , and cholesteryl esters in LDL particles . The apolipoprotein B level declined in parallel with LDL cholesterol ( 6.0 % reduction ) . Whole LDL , particularly the triglyceride fraction , was enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids from walnuts ( linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids ) . In comparison with LDL obtained during the control diet , LDL obtained during the walnut diet showed a 50 % increase in association rates to the LDL receptor in human hepatoma HepG2 cells . LDL uptake by HepG2 cells was correlated with alpha-linolenic acid content of the triglyceride plus cholesteryl ester fractions of LDL particles ( r(2 ) = 0.42 , P < 0.05 ) . Changes in the quantity and quality of LDL lipid fatty acids after a walnut-enriched diet facilitate receptor-mediated LDL clearance and may contribute to the cholesterol-lowering effect of walnut consumption
Significant heterogeneity was not observed by nut type or other factors .
Tree nut intake  lowers total cholesterol , LDL cholesterol , ApoB , and triglycerides .
The major determinant of cholesterol lowering appears to be nut dose rather than nut type .
BACKGROUND The effects of nuts on major cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk factors , including dose-responses and potential heterogeneity by nut type or phytosterol content , are not well established .
OBJECTIVES We examined the effects of tree nuts ( walnuts , pistachios , macadamia nuts , pecans , cashews , almonds , hazelnuts , and Brazil nuts ) on blood lipids [ total cholesterol , low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol , high-density lipoprotein , and triglycerides ] , lipoproteins [ apolipoprotein A1 , apolipoprotein B ( ApoB ) , and apolipoprotein B100 ] , blood pressure , and inflammation ( C-reactive protein ) in adults aged ≥18 y without prevalent CVD .