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 .
Cholesterol lowering effects of nuts compared with a Canola oil enriched cereal of similar fat composition.
BACKGROUND AND AIM Small quantities of nuts protect against subsequent cardiovascular risk . There is speculation that the cholesterol lowering effect associated with nut consumption arises primarily from the fatty acid composition of nuts but may be caused by some other component . To evaluate this possibility we compared the effect of various nuts , against a Canola oil based cereal with a comparable fatty acid profile , on lipids , lipoproteins and fatty acids to determine whether the fatty acid profile of nuts explains their cholesterol lowering effects . METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-eight men and women with mean ( s.d . ) levels of total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol of 6.0 ( 1.1 ) mmol/L , and 4.1 ( 1.0 ) mmol/L , respectively and a mean body mass index ( BMI ) of 26.9 ( 3.2 ) kg/m2 took part in a r and omised cross over trial . For two periods of six weeks , separated by a four-week washout , participants were asked to consume a low saturated fat diet , which included either 30 g/d nuts ( nut diet ) or one serving of a cereal containing Canola oil ( cereal diet ) . There were no significant differences in the lipids , lipoproteins , plasma fatty acids or other variables between the two diets at the end of the study . Total cholesterol ( TC ) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) were lower on both experimental diets than at baseline , 0.51 mmol/L and 0.40 mmol/L ( p<0.001 , p<0.01 ) , respectively on the nut diet and 0.42 mmol/L and 0.37 mmol/L ( p<0.001 , p<0.01 ) , respectively on the cereal diet . CONCLUSION A 30 g serving of nuts , or a serving of a Canola oil enriched cereal with a similar fatty acid composition reduced total and LDL cholesterol to a similar extent when consumed as part of a lipid lowering diet . Results suggest that foods with a similar fatty acid composition to nuts can produce comparable decreases in lipoprotein mediated cardiovascular risk
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 .