Overall , high-walnut-enriched diets significantly decreased total and LDL cholesterol for the duration of the short-term trials .
BACKGROUND Consumption of nuts has been associated with a decreased risk of  cardiovascular disease events  and death .
Walnuts in particular have a unique profile : they are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids , which may improve blood lipids and other cardiovascular disease risk factors .
OBJECTIVES We aim ed to conduct a literature review and a meta- analysis to combine the results from several trials and to estimate the effect of walnuts on blood lipids .
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
Overall , high-walnut-enriched diets significantly decreased total and LDL cholesterol for the duration of the short-term trials .
BACKGROUND Consumption of nuts has been associated with a decreased risk of  cardiovascular disease events  and death .
Walnuts in particular have a unique profile : they are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids , which may improve blood lipids and other cardiovascular disease risk factors .
OBJECTIVES We aim ed to conduct a literature review and a meta- analysis to combine the results from several trials and to estimate the effect of walnuts on blood lipids .