Search

Introduction Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is as a potent proinflammatory factor acting as a chemoattractant for polymorph nuclear leukocytes and for other cells to damaged endothelium. Cytokines released by these cells [...], Background/objective: Cardiovascular risk depends largely on paraoxonase (PON-1) and apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4) gene polymorphisms. To compare the effects of consumption of walnut-enriched meat versus low-fat meat (LM) on selected soluble adhesion molecules and leukotrienes (LTB4). Subjects/Methods: In all 22 subjects at increased cardiovascular risk were taken. It is a non-blinded, cross-over, placebo-controlled study. Two 5-week experimental periods separated by 4-6 week wash-out interval. Participants consumed walnut-enriched meat during one period and LM during the other. Diet characteristics, HDLc, Apo A1, paraoxonase, sVCAM-1, sICAM-1 and LTB4 were analysed. PON-1 55, PON-1 192 and APOA4 360 polymorphism effects were also assessed. Results: Individuals consuming walnut-enriched meat displayed higher paraoxonase activity (P< 0.001), lower levels of sICAM and aVCAM (P = 0.046, P = 0.012, respectively) and leukotriene B4 (P = 0.044), and lower paraoxonase-1/HDLc and paraoxonase-1/Apo A1 ratios (both, P< 0.001) than those consuming LM. Paraoxonase levels correlated negatively with those of sICAM (r =-0.471, P Conclusions: Walnut-enriched meat appears as a functional meat as consumed in the framework of a mix diet lowered the concentration of some selected inflammatory chemoattractant biomarkers. This effect was largely influenced by PON-1 and Apo A4-360 polymorphisms. European journal of Clinical Nutrition (2011) 65, 703-710; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.20; published online 16 March 2011 Keywords: APOA4 polymorphism; PON-1 polymorphism; meat enriched in walnut paste; sVCAM-1; sICAM-1; leukotriene B4 more...

Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 1 out of 16 young women (Ehrmann, 2005). These patients have irregular menstrual periods and infertility, and elevated androgen levels causing excess facial and [...], Background/Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is commonly associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and increased inflammation, which all benefit from dietary intake of monounsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFA and n-3 PUFA). Our goal was to compare the effects of MUFA-rich almonds vs n-3/n-6 PUFA-rich walnuts on metabolic and endocrine parameters in PCOS. Subjects/Methods: Thirty-one PCOS patients randomly received either walnuts or almonds containing 31 g of total fat per day for 6 weeks. At the beginning and at the end, anthropometric parameters, fasting lipids, phospholipid-fatty acids, inflammatory markers, androgens, oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and frequently sampled intravenous-GTT were obtained. Results: Weight remained stable. Within group, walnuts increased the n-3/n-6 essential PUFA in the diet and plasma phospholipids. Walnuts decreased low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol by 6% from 3.76 ± 0.27 to 3.38 ± 0.22 mmol/l (P = 0.05) and apoprotein B by 11% from 0.72 ±0.04 to 0.64 ± 0.05 g/l (P Conclusion: Nut intake exerted beneficial effects on plasma lipids and androgens in PCOS. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2011) 65, 386-393; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2010.266; published online 15 December 2010 Keywords: PCOS; almonds; walnuts; monounsaturated fatty acids; polyunsaturated fatty acids more...

Introduction Frequent consumption of nuts may be protective against coronary heart disease (Hu and Stampfer, 1999). Nuts are rich in unsaturated fatty acids and contain potentially beneficial compounds including antioxidants, [...], Background/Objectives: A large intake of walnuts may improve lipid profile and endothelial function. The effect of moderate walnut consumption is not known. We investigated whether a moderate intake of walnuts would affect lipid profile, arterial stiffness and platelet activation in healthy volunteers. Subjects/Methods: A total of 30 healthy males were recruited into a single-blind randomized controlled crossover trial of 4 weeks of dietary walnut supplementation (15 g/day) and 4 weeks of control (no walnuts). Arterial stiffness was assessed using pulse waveform analysis to determine the augmentation index and augmented pressure. Platelet activation was determined using flow cytometry to measure circulating platelet-monocyte aggregates. Results: There were no differences in lipid profile after 4 weeks of walnut supplementation compared with control. Dietary intake of [alpha]-linolenic acid was increased during the walnut diet (2.1 [+ or -] 0.4 g/day versus 0.7 [+ or -] 0.4 g/day, P < 0.0001). There were no differences in augmentation index or augmented pressure during walnut supplementation. Walnut supplementation did not affect platelet-monocyte aggregation. Conclusions: Dietary intervention with a moderate intake of walnuts does not affect lipid profile, arterial stiffness or platelet activation in man. Our results suggest that the potentially beneficial cardiac effects of walnuts may not be apparent at lower and more practical levels of consumption. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2011) 65, 234-239; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2010.233; published online 3 November 2010 Keywords: walnuts; lipids; platelet activation; arterial stiffness; cardiovascular disease more...

A healthy lifestyle may ameliorate metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, it remains unclear if incorporating nuts or seeds into lifestyle counseling (LC) has additional benefit. A 3-arm, randomized, controlled trial was conducted among 283 participants screened for MetS using the updated National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel Ill criteria for Asian Americans. Participants were assigned to a LC on the AHA guidelines, LC + flaxseed (30 g/d) (LCF), or LC + walnuts (30 g/d) (LCW) group. After the 12-wk intervention, the prevalence of MetS decreased significantly in all groups: -16.9% (LC), - 20.2% (LCF), and -16.0% (LCW). The reversion rate of MetS, i.e. those no longer meeting the MetS criteria at 12 wk, was not significantly different among groups (LC group, 21.1%; LCF group, 26.6%; and LCW group, 25.5%). However, the reversion rate of central obesity was higher in the LCF (19.2%; P = 0.008) and LCW (16.0%; P = 0.04) groups than in the LC group (6.3%). Most of the metabolic variables (weight, waist circumference, serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein (Apo) B, ApoE, and blood pressure) were significantly reduced from baseline in all 3 groups. However, the severity of MetS, presented as the mean count of MetS components, was significantly reduced in the LCW group compared with the LC group among participants with confirmed MetS at baseline (P = 0.045). Our results suggest that a low-intensity lifestyle education program is effective in MetS management. Flaxseed and walnut supplementation may ameliorate central obesity. Further studies with larger sample sizes and of longer duration are needed to examine the role of these foods in the prevention and management of MetS. J. Nutr. 140: 1937-1942, 2010. doi: 10.3945/jn.110.126300. more...

Introduction It is widely recognized that diet is one of the important factors in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. Dietary guidelines for cardiovascular disease prevention emphasize the reduction of [...], Background/Objectives: Walnuts have been shown to reduce serum lipids in short-term well-controlled feeding trials. Little information exists on the effect and sustainability of walnut consumption for longer duration in a free-living situation. Subjects/Methods: A randomized crossover design in which 87 subjects with normal to moderate high plasma total cholesterol were initially assigned to a walnut-supplemented diet or habitual (control) diet for a 6-month period, then switched to the alternate dietary intervention for a second 6-month period. Each subject attended seven clinics 2 months apart. At each clinic, body weight was measured, and in five clinics (months 0, 4, 6, 10 and 12), a blood sample was collected. Results: Our study showed that supplementing a habitual diet with walnuts (12% of total daily energy intake equivalent) improves the plasma lipid profile. This beneficial effect was more significant in subjects with high plasma total cholesterol at baseline. Significant changes in serum concentrations of total cholesterol (P = 0.02) and triglycerides (P = 0.03) were seen and nearly significant changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 0.06) were found. No significant change was detected in either high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol LDL to HDL ratio. Conclusions: Including walnuts as part of a habitual diet favorably altered the plasma lipid profile. The lipid- lowering effects of walnuts were more evident among subjects with higher lipid baseline values, precisely those people with greater need of reducing plasma total and LDL-C. European journal of Clinical Nutrition (2010) 64, 274-279; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2009.152; published online 20 January 2010 Keywords: walnuts; total cholesterol; triglyceride; LDL-C more...

Numerous studies have indicated that individuals consuming a diet containing high amounts of fruits and vegetables exhibit fewer age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Research from our laboratory has suggested that dietary supplementation with fruit or vegetable extracts high in antioxidants (e.g. blueberries, strawberries, walnuts, and Concord grape juice) can decrease the enhanced vulnerability to oxidative stress that occurs in aging and these reductions are expressed as improvements in behavior. Additional mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of fruits and vegetables include enhancement of neuronal communication via increases in neuronal signaling and decreases in stress signals induced by oxidative/inflammatory stressors (e.g. nuclear factor [kappa]B). Moreover, collaborative findings indicate that blueberry or Concord grape juice supplementation in humans with mild cognitive impairment increased verbal memory performance, thus translating our animal findings to humans. Taken together, these results suggest that a greater intake of high-antioxidant foods such as berries, Concord grapes, and walnuts may increase 'health span' and enhance cognitive and motor function in aging. more...

Human paraoxonase (PON1) exists in 2 major polymorphic forms and has been shown to protect LDL and HDL against oxidation. The aim of this study was to assess the differences between subjects at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), taking into account the effects of PON1-Q192R and PON1-L55M polymorphisms on 1) basal serum arylesterase activity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-C, total cholesterol (TC), and oxidized-LDL (ox-LDL) concentrations; 2) the relations between arylesterase activity and lipid variables; and 3) the effect of walnut-enriched meat (WM) consumption on arylesterase activity and lipid variables. Twenty-three Caucasians at increased risk of CVD were randomly assigned to diet order groups in a crossover, nonblinded, placebo-controlled trial, consisting of two 5-wk experimental periods [WM and control meat (CM)]. Significant PON1-L55M x PON1-Q192R interactions affected basal serum HDL-C (P = 0.019), LDL-C (P = 0.028) and TC (P = 0.022) and tended to affect arylesterase activity (P = 0.083). Basal arylesterase activity was positively correlated with basal HDL-C (r = 0.53; P < 0.05) and TC (r = 0.43; P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with LPO (r = -0.70; P < 0.01) and the ox-LDL:LDL ratio (r = -0.63; P < 0.01). WM decreased arylesterase activity in PON1-55M carriers (P = 0.012) but not in PON1-L55 individuals, and decreased LPO concentrations in PON1-192R carriers (P = 0.031) but not in PON1-Q192 subjects. To conclude, serum TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C concentrations and arylesterase activity depend on the interaction of PON1-L55M and PON1-Q192R potymorphisms. However, the PON1-Q192R polymorphism is more closely related to antioxidant status. Both polymorphisms modulate the effect of WM consumption on CVD biomarkers. more...

The author and four independent experts evaluated the intent and quality of scientific evidence for a potential beneficial health relationship between the intake of walnuts and the reduction and prevention of coronary heart disease. The report also addresses the supporting evidence for the health benefit of other tree nuts and selected legumes. Compared to most other nuts, which contain monounsaturated fatty acids, walnuts are unique because they are rich in n-6 (linoleate) and n-3 (linolenate) polyunsaturated fatty acids. Walnuts contain multiple health-beneficial components, such as having a low lysine:arginine ratio and high levels of arginine, folate, fiber, tannins, and polyphenols. Though walnuts are energy rich, clinical dietary intervention studies show that walnut consumption does not cause a net gain in body weight when eaten as a replacement food. Five controlled, peer-reviewed, human clinical walnut intervention trials, involving approximately 200 subjects representative of the 51% of the adult population in the United States at risk of coronary heart disease were reviewed. The intervention trials consistently demonstrated walnuts as part of a heart-healthy diet, lower blood cholesterol concentrations. None of these studies were of extended duration that would be essential for evaluation of the sustainability of the observed outcomes. These results were supported by several large prospective observational studies in humans, all demonstrating a dose response-related inverse association of the relative risk of coronary heart disease with the frequent daily consumption of small amounts of nuts, including walnuts. J. Nutr. 132: 1062S-1101S, 2002. KEY WORDS * walnuts * coronary heart disease * nuts * legumes * polyunsaturated fatty acids more...

Recent epidemiologic studies have associated nut consumption with a reduced incidence of cardiovascular mortality. However, little is known about the contribution of nut polyphenols to antioxidant and cardiovascular protection. In this investigation, polyphenol-rich extracts from English walnuts (Juglans regia) were studied and compared with ellagic acid for their ability to inhibit in vitro plasma and LDL oxidation, as well as their effects on LDL [alpha]-tocopherol during oxidative stress. In addition, the Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity (TEAC) was determined and liquid chromatography electrospray detection mass spectrometry (LC-ELSD/MS) analyses of the walnut extracts were performed. 2,2'-Azobis'(2-amidino propane) hydrochloride (AAPH)-induced LDL oxidation was significantly inhibited by 87 and 38% with the highest concentration (1.0 [micro]mol/L) of ellagic acid and walnut extract, respectively. In addition, copper-mediated LDL oxidation was inhibited by 14 and 84% in the presence of ellagic acid and walnut extract, respectively, with a modest, significant LDL [alpha]-tocopherol sparing effect observed. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS) formation was significantly inhibited by walnut extracts and ellagic acid in a dose-dependent manner, and the extracts exhibited a TEAC value greater than that of [alpha]-tocopherol. LC-ELSD/MS analysis of the walnut extracts identified ellagic acid monomers, polymeric ellagitannins and other phenolics, principally nonflavonoid compounds. These results demonstrate that walnut polyphenolics are effective inhibitors of in vitro plasma and LDL oxidation. The polyphenolic content of walnuts should be considered when evaluating their antiatherogenic potential. J. Nutr. 131: 2837-2842, 2001. KEY WORDS: * polyphenol * ellagic acid * LDL * antioxidant * English walnuts more...

Byline: G.P. Savage (1) Keywords: Amino acids; Ash; Crude protein; Dietary fiber; Oil content; Starch; Walnuts Abstract: Walnuts (Juglans regia L.) werecollected during the 1997 harvest from 12 differentcultivars of trees grown in a replicated trial in anexperimental orchard at Lincoln University. Two UScommercial cultivars (Tehama and Vina), three Europeancommercial cultivars (Esterhazy, G139, G120) and eightNew Zealand selections (Rex, Dublin's Glory, Meyric,Stanley, 150, 151, 153) were evaluated. The total oilcontent ranged from 62.6 to 70.3% while the crudeprotein ranged from 13.6 to 18.1%. Dietary fiberranged from 4.2 to 5.2% while the starch content madeup no more than 2.8% of the remaining portion of thekernel. The amino acid content of the walnuts wassimilar between cultivars and the patterns ofessential amino acids were characteristic of a highquality protein. Author Affiliation: (1) Food Group, Animal and Food Sciences Division, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand Article History: Registration Date: 03/10/2004 more...

A diet rich in walnuts has been found to bring about changes in the fatty acid profile of triacylglycerol, phospholipid and cholesterol ester. The most consistent change was a significant rise in linoleic acid. Fatty acid profile of the major lipid fractions indicated changes which could be predicted to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease in those with slightly raised cholesterol levels. These findings may be the explanation for the cardioprotective effect of nuts seen in studies of vegetarians. more...

Recent studies have shown that incorporating moderate quantities of walnuts into the recommended cholesterol-lowering diet in the U.S. decreased serum concentrations of total cholesterol in normal American men. To explore whether walnut consumption would also prove effective as part of the Japanese diet, we studied the effects of walnut consumption on serum lipids and blood pressure in Japanese subjects. We randomly assigned 20 men and 20 women to two mixed natural diets, each to be consumed for 4 wk in a crossover design. Both diets conformed to the average Japanese diet (reference diet) and contained identical foods and macronutrients, except that 12.5% of the energy of the walnut diet was derived from walnuts (43-57 g/d) (offset by lesser amounts of fatty foods, meat and visible fat). Total cholesterol concentration was 0.16 mmol/L lower for men (P = 0.05) and 0.21 mmol/L lower for women (P [is less than] 0.01) when they consumed the walnut diet than when they consumed the reference diet. The LDL cholesterol concentrations were 0.18 mmol/L lower for men (P = 0.13) and 0.22 mmol/L lower for women (P [is less than] 0.01) when they consumed the walnut diet. The ratio of LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol and the apolipoprotein B concentration were also lowered by the walnut diet (P [is less than] 0.05). Blood pressures did not differ between the walnut and reference diet periods. Incorporating moderate quantities of walnuts into the average Japanese diet while maintaining the intake of total dietary fat and energy decreases serum total cholesterol concentrations and favorably modifies the lipoprotein profile in Japanese, particularly in women. J. Nutr. 130: 171-176, 2000. KEY WORDS: * blood pressure * Japanese diet * cholesterol * walnuts * humans more...

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2005.05.193 Byline: Gita Patel Article Note: (footnote) This article was written by Gita Patel, MS, RD, a nutrition consultant in Etna, NH. more...