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 .
Crossover study of diets enriched with virgin olive oil, walnuts or almonds. Effects on lipids and other cardiovascular risk markers.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Virgin olive oil ( VOO ) and nuts are basic components of the Mediterranean diet , a heart-healthy dietary pattern . Nuts have well known cholesterol lowering effects , while evidence is unclear for VOO . We design ed a study in hypercholesterolemic patients to assess the effects on serum lipids and other intermediate markers of cardiovascular risk of replacing 40 % of the fat in the background diet with VOO , walnuts or almonds . METHODS AND RESULTS After a 4 week run-in period with a healthy diet , eligible c and i date s were r and omized into three diet sequences in a crossover design , with a common background diet enriched with VOO , walnuts or almonds , lasting 4 weeks each . Outcomes were changes of serum lipids and oxidation and inflammation markers , measured by st and ard methods . Plasma fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography to assess compliance . In 18 participants completing the study ( 9 women , mean age 56 y , BMI 25.7 kg/m(2 ) ) , LDL-cholesterol was reduced from baseline by 7.3 % , 10.8 % and 13.4 % after the VOO , walnut and almond diets , respectively ( P = 0.001 , Friedman test ) . Total cholesterol and LDL/HDL ratios decreased in parallel . LDL-cholesterol decreases were greater than predicted from dietary fatty acid and cholesterol exchanges among diets . No changes of other lipid fractions , oxidation analytes or inflammatory biomarkers were observed . Plasma fatty acid changes after each diet sequence supported good compliance . CONCLUSION The results confirm the cholesterol lowering properties of nut-enriched diets . They also suggest that phenolic-rich VOO has a cholesterol lowering effect independently of its fatty acid content , which clearly deserves further study
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 .