A Pilot Study on the Effects of Nut Consumption on Cardiovascular Biomarkers

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and changes in lifestyle can minimize the likelihood of succumbing to heart disease. Anti-inflammatory agents are commonly used to reduce the chronic inflammatory state behind the pathogenesis of CVD. Multiple studies have been published correlating nut consumption with a reduction in both heart attacks and strokes. The goal of this study is to determine to what extent the consumption of almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts have on the blood markers associated with cardiac disease and inflammation. Methods: This was a six-week study in which subject’s baseline values act as controls. Fasting blood draws occurred at week 0, week 2, and after four weeks of intervention (week 6). All participants had undesirable lipid profiles and no medications related to heart disease. Results: Total cholesterol (TC): high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) ratio was lowered a statistically significant amount at the six-week time point (3.89 ± 0.74) compared to both the zero-week (4.93 ± 1.16, p < 0.01) and two-week (4.63 ± 1.20, p < 0.5) timepoints. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) measurements were lowered a statistically significant amount at the six-week time point (135.6 ± 15.0 mg/dL) compared to the zero-week (159.7 ± 12.3 mg/dL, p < 0.01). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was lowered a statistically significant amount at six-week time point (10.44 ± 5.05 mm/h) compared to the zero-week (14.44 ± 5.12 mm/h, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Blood markers associated with CVD specifically and the general marker for inflammation associated with many chronic diseases can be favorably modified with the consumption of specific nuts as demonstrated by this study.

The relationship between nut consumption and premature coronary artery disease in a representative sample of Iranians: Iran-premature coronary artery disease (IPAD) study

“…Replacing SFA with MUFA and PUFA helps reduce CVD and mortality (28) . It is equally necessary to take into account the beneficial effects of nuts on CVD risk factors, since earlier studies (36,37) have suggested that preventative influence of nuts on CVD and CHD likely stems from them (36) . For instance, a review of clinical trials found that nut consumption significantly reduced cholesterol concertation by 10•9 and TAG levels in patients with hypertriglyceridemia (38) .…”

Evaluating the anti‐arthritic potential of walnut ( Juglans regia L.) in FCA induced Sprague Dawley rats

“…Walnuts possess a good quantity of phenolic compounds and thus play their part in minimizing inflammation. Nuts have explicitly demonstrated the anti‐inflammatory potential that was evident through a reduction in ESR levels after consumption of walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts during four weeks trial (Adashek & Redding, 2020). In a similar study, the effect of epigallocatechin and MTX was investigated against adjuvant‐induced arthritis.…”

Nuts and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Are Nuts Safe for Patients with Fatty Liver Disease?

“…Additionally, nut intake increases the proportion of probiotic and butyrate-producing species which are associated with reduced microbially derived, proinflammatory secondary bile acids and LDL cholesterol [46,47]. Finally, regular nut consumption may also lead to a reduction in circulating levels of pro-inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), interleukin-6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein [49][50][51][52] which are associated with higher risk of cardio-vascular mortality and are usually elevated in NAFLD and implicated in its pathogenesis [53].…”