There was no effect on waist circumference , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or blood pressure with the direction of effect favouring tree nuts for waist circumference .
Pooled analyses show a MetS benefit of tree nuts through modest decreases in triglycerides and fasting blood glucose with no adverse effects on other criteria across nut types .
OBJECTIVE To provide a broader evidence summary to inform dietary guidelines of the effect of tree nuts on criteria of the metabolic syndrome ( MetS ) .
Pistachio Nut Consumption and Serum Lipid Levels
Objective : Clinical and epidemiological studies have reported the beneficial effects of tree nuts and peanuts on serum lipid levels . We studied the effects of consuming 15 % of the daily caloric intake in the form of pistachio nuts on the lipid profiles of free-living human subjects with primary , moderate hypercholesterolemia ( serum cholesterol greater than 210 mg/dL ) . Methods : Design : R and omized crossover trial . Setting : Outpatient dietary counseling and blood analysis . Subjects : 15 subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia . Intervention : Fours weeks of dietary modification with 15 % caloric intake from pistachio nuts . Measures of Outcome : Endpoints were serum lipid levels of total cholesterol , HDL-C , LDL-C , VLDL-C , triglycerides and apolipoproteins A-1 and B-100 . BMI , blood pressure , and nutrient intake ( total energy , fat , protein , and fiber ) were also measured at baseline , during , and after dietary intervention . Results : No statistically significant differences were observed for total energy or percent of energy from protein , carbohydrate or fat . On the pistachio nut diet , a statistically significant decrease was seen for percent energy from saturated fat ( mean difference , −2.7 % ; 95 % CI , −5.4 % to −0.08 % ; p = 0.04 ) . On the pistachio nut diet , statistically significant increases were seen for percent energy from polyunsaturated fat ( mean difference , 6.5 % ; 95 % CI , 4.2 % to 8.9 % ; p<.0001 ) and fiber intake ( mean difference , 15 g ; 95 % CI , 8.4 g to 22 g ; p = 0.0003 ) . On the pistachio diet , statistically significant reductions were seen in TC/HDL-C ( mean difference , −0.38 ; 95 % CI , −0.57 to −0.19 ; p = 0.001 ) , LDL-C/HDL-C ( mean difference , −0.40 ; 95 % CI , −0.66 to −0.15 ; p = 0.004 ) , B-100/A-1 ( mean difference , −0.11 ; 95 % CI , −0.19 to −0.03 ; p = 0.009 ) and a statistically significant increase was seen in HDL-C ( mean difference , 2.3 ; 95 % CI , 0.48 to 4.0 ; p = 0.02 ) . No statistically significant differences were seen for total cholesterol , triglycerides , LDL-C , VLDL-C , apolipoprotein A-1 or apolipoprotein B-100 . No changes were observed in BMI or blood pressure . Conclusion : A diet consisting of 15 % of calories as pistachio nuts ( about 2–3 ounces per day ) over a four week period can favorably improve some lipid profiles in subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia and may reduce risk of coronary disease
There was no effect on waist circumference , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or blood pressure with the direction of effect favouring tree nuts for waist circumference .
Pooled analyses show a MetS benefit of tree nuts through modest decreases in triglycerides and fasting blood glucose with no adverse effects on other criteria across nut types .
OBJECTIVE To provide a broader evidence summary to inform dietary guidelines of the effect of tree nuts on criteria of the metabolic syndrome ( MetS ) .