Title: Long term effects of walnut supplementation on body weight and diet patterns

Summary:
Regular consumption of nuts lowers the risk of heart attack. Walnut consumption lowers blood cholesterol and favorably modifies other blood lipid parameters. Since walnuts are fatty foods, eating them frequently may lead to weight gain, although preliminary evidence has suggested otherwise. In this study we will test the hypothesis that a daily supplement of 1 to 2 ounces of walnuts, with no dietary advice, will not change body weight. Ninety men and women volunteers will be followed for one year. During the first four months their habitual diet, body weight and selected blood parameters will be measured several times. During the following eight months while walnuts are consumed daily, the same data will be collected. Volunteers will enter the study in three groups, every four months, thus the design is balanced for seasonal effects and the length of data collection will extend over 20 months.Our proposed study will provide important data on the long term effect of walnut consumption on body weight, diet patterns and serum cholesterol.

Publications: Sabaté J, Cordero-MacIntyre Z, Siapco G, Torabian S, Haddad E, . Does regular walnut consumption lead to weight gain? Br J Nutr 2005, 94:859-864. Full Text

Presentations:
Torabian Esfahani, S, Haddad, E, Tanzman, JS, Cordero-MacIntyre, Z, Fernandez, ML, Vega-Lopez, S, Zern, T, Sabaté, J. The Long Term Effects of Walnut Consumption on the Blood Lipid Components. XIVth International Congress of Dietetics, Chicago, IL, May 2004. abstract

Cordero-MacIntyre, Z, Tanzman, JS, Torabian Esfahani, S, Fernandez, ML, Sabaté, J. Daily Walnut Supplementation Impacts Blood Glucose Levels and Body Fat. Experimental Biology 2004, Washington, DC., April 2004. abstract

Torabian Esfahani, S, Siapco, GS, Haddad E, Tanzman, J, Cordero-MacIntyre, Z, Sabaté, J. Walnuts Lower Serum Total Cholesterol in Hypercholesterolemic Subjects. Nutrition Week Conference, Las Vegas, NV, February 2004. abstract

Siapco, GS, Torabian Esfahani, S, Haddad, E, Cordero-MacIntyre, Z, Sabaté, J. Regular Walnut Consumption Increases Omega-3 gatty Acids in Erythrocyte Membranes. Nutrition Week Conference, Las Vegas, NV, February 2004. abstract

Cordero-MacIntyre, Z, Torabian, S, Metghalchi, S, Burns-Whitmore, B, Grakov, S, Sabaté, J. Impact of Walnut Consumption on Body Composition. Experimental Biology 2003, San Diego, CA, April 2003. abstract

Date: 2000

Funded by: The California Walnut Commission