Title:
The effect of nut consumption on blood lipids: A pooled analysis

Summary:
Epidemiological studies have consistently associated nut consumption with reduced risk for coronary heart disease. Subsequently, many dietary intervention trials investigated the effects of nut consumption on blood lipid levels.

The objectives of this study were to estimate the effects of nut consumption on blood lipid levels and to examine whether different factors modify the effects. We pooled individual primary data from nut consumption trials conducted in 7 countries among 583 men and women with normolipidemia and hypercholesterolemia who were not taking lipid-lowering medications. In a pooled analysis, we used mixed linear models to assess the effects of nut consumption and the potential interactions. With a mean daily consumption of 67g of nuts, the following estimated mean reductions were achieved: total cholesterol concentration (10.9 mg/dL [5.1% change]), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (LDL-C) (10.2 mg/dL [7.4% change]), ratio of LDL-C to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (HDL-C) (0.22[8.3% change]) and ratio of total cholesterol concentration to HDL-C (0.24 [5.6% change]) (P<.001 for all) (to convert all cholesterol concentrations to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.0259). Triglyceride levels were reduced by 20.6 mg/dL (10.2%) in subjects with blood triglyceride levels of at least 150 mg/dL (P<.05) but not in those with lower levels (to convert triglyceride level to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.0113).

The effects of nut consumption were dose related, and different types of nuts had similar effects on blood lipid levels. The effects of nut consumption were significantly modified by LDL-C, body mass index, and were greatest among subjects with high baseline LDL-C and with low body mass index and among those consuming Western diets. Nut consumption improves blood lipid levels in a dose-related manner, particularly among subjects with higher LDL-C or with lower BMI.

Publications:
Sabaté J, Oda K, Ros E. Nut Consumption and Blood Lipids: A Pooled Analysis of 25 Intervention Trials. Arch Int Med 2010:170;821-827. full text

Presentations:
Sabaté J, Wien M, Hasso-Haddad E. Impact of nut intake on serum lipids and lipoprotiens: a pooled analysis of 25 intervention trials. International Congress on Nutrition. Bangkikm Thailand, October 2009. abstract

Tanzman JS, Sabaté J. Do non-fat constituents contribute to the cholesterol-lowering effect of nuts? A meta-analysis. Experimental Biology 2004, Washington, DC, April 2004. abstract

Sabaté J, Tanzman J. Pooled analysis on the effect of walnut consumption on serum lipids. Experimental Biology 2004, Washington, DC, April 2004. abstract

Sabaté J., Fulgoni V. Nut consumption lowers total and LDL-cholesterol but does not change HDL-cholesterol serum levels: results of a pool analysis. Ninth European Nutrition Congress, Rome, Italy, October 2003. abstract

Date: 2004

Funded by: International Tree Nut Council, Nutrition Research & Education Foundation