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Tree nuts and the lipid profile: a review of clinical studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2007

Amy E. Griel  and
Penny M. Kris-Etherton
Amy E. Griel
Affiliation:
The Pennsylvania State University, S-126 Henderson Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Penny M. Kris-Etherton*
Affiliation:
The Pennsylvania State University, S-126 Henderson Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Penny M. Kris-Etherton. fax 814 863 6020, email pmk3@psu.edu
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Abstract

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Tree nuts have a fatty acid profile that favourably affects blood lipids and lipoproteins. They are low in saturated fat and high in unsaturated fatty acids and are rich sources of other nutrients. An extensive database consistently shows total and LDL cholesterol-lowering effects of diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in unsaturated fat provided by a variety of tree nuts. Collectively, a summary of studies conducted to date shows that tree nuts reduce LDL cholesterol by 3–19 % compared with Western and lower-fat diets. Nuts also contain many nutrients and bioactive compounds that appear to contribute to the favourable effects on lipids and lipoproteins – these include plant sterols, dietary fibre and antioxidants. Because of their unique nutrient profile, nuts can be part of a diet that features multiple heart-healthy foods resulting in a cholesterol lowering response that surpasses that of cholesterol-lowering diets typically used to reduce CVD risk.

Keywords

Tree nutsLipidsLipoproteinsClinical trialsHumans
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 96 , Supplement S2 , November 2006 , pp. S68 - S78
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2006

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