Nut consumption has favorable effects on lipid profiles of Korean women with metabolic syndrome

• Published in: Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 34; no. 9; pp. 814 - 820
• Main Authors: Lee, Young Joo, Nam, Ga Eun, Seo, Ji A., Yoon, Taehyung, Seo, Ilwon, Lee, Jin Hee, Im, Donggil, Bahn, Kyeong-Nyeo, Jeong, Si An, Kang, Tae Seok, Ahn, Jae Hee, Kim, Do Hoon, Kim, Nan Hee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2014
• Subjects: Adult; adults; Aged; Arachis; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; biomarkers; Body Mass Index; cardioprotective effect; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Endothelial function; Endothelium, Vascular; Feeding Behavior; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - blood; Juglans; Koreans; lipid composition; Lipid profile; lipoproteins; Lipoproteins, HDL - blood; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - diet therapy; Middle Aged; nutritional intervention; Nuts; Oxidative Stress; peanuts; Pinus; Republic of Korea; volunteers; walnuts; women; Oxidative stress; Nuts; LDL-C; Lipid profile; Inflammation; FBG; Endothelial function; Metabolic syndrome; TC; HDL-C; HOMA-IR; SD; TG; BMI; triglyceride; fasting blood glucose; homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; body mass index; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; total cholesterol; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; standard deviation
• ISSN: 0271-5317; 1879-0739; 1879-0739
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2014.08.011

Nut consumption has been studied for its cardioprotective effects. However, the findings of clinical intervention studies are inconsistent; and no intervention studies have been conducted in the Korean population. We hypothesized that nut supplementation may have favorable influence on metabolic markers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of nut consumption on metabolic parameters and biomarkers related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial function in Korean adults with metabolic syndrome. To this end, we designed a randomized, parallel, controlled dietary intervention study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02023749). Subjects with metabolic syndrome and a body mass index of at least 23 kg/m2 were randomized to the Control group and the Nut group, which received supplementation with 30 g/d of mixed nuts (walnuts, peanuts, and pine nuts) for 6 weeks. Sixty volunteers were included in the final analysis. Metabolic markers were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the study. Total cholesterol and non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels significantly improved in the Nut group compared to those in the Control group (P = .023 and P = .016, respectively) in women. Biomarkers related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial function did not significantly change from baseline in either group. Thus, supplementing a usual diet with mixed nuts for 6 weeks had favorable effects on several lipid parameters in Korean women with metabolic syndrome. These findings present a possible mechanism for the cardioprotective effects of nut consumption.