![]() |
|
|
3 Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center, and 4 Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism; St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2T2; 5 Department of Nutritional Sciences; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E2; 6 Almond Board of California, Modesto, CA 95354; and 7 Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cyril.kendall{at}utoronto.ca.
Nut consumption has been associated with reduced coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. In addition to cholesterol-lowering properties, almonds have been shown to lower oxidized LDL concentrations. However, little is known regarding their effects on other markers of oxidative stress. The dose-response effects of whole almonds, taken as snacks, were compared with low-saturated fat (<5% energy) whole-wheat muffins (control) in the therapeutic diets of hyperlipidemic subjects. In a randomized crossover study, 27 hyperlipidemic men and women consumed 3 isoenergetic (mean 423 kcal/d or 1770 kJ/d) supplements each for 1 mo. Supplements consisted of full-dose almonds (73 ± 3 g/d), half-dose almonds plus half-dose muffins (half-dose almonds), and full-dose muffins (control). Subjects were assessed at wk 0, 2 and 4. Mean body weights differed
300 g between treatments, although the weight loss on the half-dose almond treatment was greater than on the control (P < 0.01). At 4 wk, the full-dose almonds reduced serum concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) (P = 0.040) and creatinine-adjusted urinary isoprostane output (P = 0.026) compared with the control. Serum concentrations of
- or
-tocopherol, adjusted or unadjusted for total cholesterol, were not affected by the treatments. Almond antioxidant activity was demonstrated by their effect on 2 biomarkers of lipid peroxidation, serum MDA and urinary isoprostanes, and supports the previous finding that almonds reduced oxidation of LDL-C. Antioxidant activity provides an additional possible mechanism, in addition to lowering cholesterol, that may account for the reduction in CHD risk with nut consumption.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
E. Ros Nuts and novel biomarkers of cardiovascular disease Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2009; 89(5): 1649S - 1656S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||