Almonds in the diet simultaneously improve plasma α-tocopherol concentrations and reduce plasma lipids

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association Vol. 105; no. 3; pp. 449 - 454
• Main Authors: Jambazian, Pera R., Haddad, Ella, Rajaram, Sujatha, Tanzman, Jay, Sabaté, Joan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.2005; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; almonds; alpha-Tocopherol; alpha-Tocopherol - analysis; alpha-Tocopherol - blood; analysis; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - analysis; Antioxidants - metabolism; beta-Tocopherol; beta-Tocopherol - blood; Biological and medical sciences; blood; blood lipids; chemistry; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cross-Over Studies; Diet; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Erythrocytes; Erythrocytes - chemistry; Female; gamma-Tocopherol; gamma-Tocopherol - blood; Humans; Lipids; Male; Medical sciences; metabolism; Nutrition; Nutrition Policy; Nutritional Requirements; Nuts; Plasma; Prevention and actions; Prunus; Prunus - chemistry; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Recommended Dietary Allowances; Specific populations (family, woman, child, elderly...); Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood; vitamin E; vitamin E status; Human; Healthy subject; Nutrition; Vitamin; Lipids; α-Tocopherol; Concentration; Antioxidant; Feeding; Blood plasma; Randomization; Almond; Diet
• ISSN: 0002-8223; 2212-2672; 1878-3570; 2212-2680
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2004.12.002

The objective of this study was to assess the dose-response effect of almond intake on plasma and red blood cell tocopherol concentrations in healthy adults enrolled in a randomized, crossover feeding trial. Participants were 16 healthy men and women, aged 41±13 years. After a 2-week run-in period, participants were fed three diets for 4 weeks each: a control diet, a low-almond diet, and a high-almond diet, in which almonds contributed 0%, 10%, and 20% of total energy, respectively. Changes in blood tocopherol levels were assayed by high pressure liquid chromatography. Incorporating almonds into the diet helped meet the revised Recommended Dietary Allowance of 15 mg/day α-tocopherol and increased lipid-adjusted plasma and red blood cell α-tocopherol concentrations. A significant dose-response effect was observed between percent energy in the diet from almonds and plasma ratio of α-tocopherol to total cholesterol.