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 .
Effects of Plant-Based Diets High in Raw or Roasted Almonds, or Roasted Almond Butter on Serum Lipoproteins in Humans
Objective : To compare the lipid-altering effect of roasted salted almonds and roasted almond butter with that of raw almonds , as part of a plant-based diet . Methods : Thirty-eight free-living , hypercholesterolemic men ( n = 12 ) and women ( n = 26 ) with a mean total serum cholesterol ( TC ) of 245 + 29 mg/dL ( mean + SD ) followed a heart-healthy diet  including 100 g of one of three forms of almonds : roasted salted almonds , roasted almond butter or raw almonds for four weeks . Measurements of serum TC , triglycerides ( TG ) , selected lipoproteins and blood pressure were taken at baseline and after four weeks . Results : All three forms of almonds in the context of a heart-healthy diet significantly lowered low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( LDL ) from baseline to the completion of the study . Both raw and roasted almonds significantly lowered TC , whereas the decrease by almond butter ( in a smaller cohort ) did not reach statistical significance . High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( HDL ) did not significantly change with raw or roasted almonds but slightly increased with almond butter . At the end of the study , blood pressure did not change significantly from baseline values for any of the groups . Conclusion : These results suggest that unblanched almonds — whether raw , dry roasted , or in roasted butter form — can play an effective role in cholesterol-lowering , plant-based diets
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 .