Baru almond improves lipid profile in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects: A randomized, controlled, crossover study

• Published in: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases Vol. 24; no. 12; pp. 1330 - 1336
• Main Authors: Bento, A.P.N., Cominetti, C., Simões Filho, A., Naves, M.M.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Adult; almonds; biomarkers; blood lipids; Body Composition; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular diseases; clinical trials; corn starch; Cross-Over Studies; Diet; dietary fiber; Dyslipidemias; Female; Health Status; human health; Humans; hypercholesterolemia; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Hypercholesterolemia - diet therapy; indigenous species; Internet; lipid composition; Lipids - blood; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; Male; metabolism; Middle Aged; monounsaturated fatty acids; Nuts; oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative stress; placebos; Prunus - chemistry; risk; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism; vitamin E; Young Adult; zinc; Oxidative stress; Apo; Nuts; Dyslipidemias; LDL-c; PUFA; MUFA; SOD; TBARS; SFA; TC; HDL-c; TE; TG; VLDL; Hcys; FRAP; Cardiovascular diseases; BMI; apolipoprotein; triacylglycerol; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; total cholesterol; Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Total; saturated fatty acid; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; monounsaturated fatty acid; homocysteine; body mass index; thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; superoxide dismutase; very low-density lipoprotein; polyunsaturated fatty acid; trolox equivalent
• ISSN: 0939-4753; 1590-3729; 1590-3729
• DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2014.07.002

The usual consumption of nuts reduces cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk by improving serum lipids and oxidation status. Baru almonds (Dipteryxalata Vog.), a native species of Brazilian Savannah, have considerable contents of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), dietary fiber, vitamin E and zinc, which could exert positive effects in serum lipids and markers of oxidation. However, there is no study about the effect of their consumption on human health. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of baru almonds supplementation on lipid profile and oxidation of mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects. A randomized, crossover, placebo controlled study was performed with 20 mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects (total cholesterol (TC) mean ±SEM = 5.8 ± 0.2 mmol/L). The assay had 2 periods of 6 weeks each and a 4-week washout period between the treatments. Subjects were randomly allocated in alternated periods receiving the following treatments per period: supplementation with 20 g/day of baru almonds or placebo (1 corn starch capsule/day). Compared to placebo, supplementation of baru almonds reduced TC (−8.1 ± 2.4%, P = 0.007), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (−9.4 ± 2.4%, P = 0.006) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c) (−8.1 ± 3.0%, P = 0.013). There were no significant changes on the oxidation biomarkers evaluated. Dietary supplementation of mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects with baru almonds improved serum lipid parameters, so that this food might be included in diets for reducing the CVD risk. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) (website: http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br). Register number: RBR-4zdy9p. •This is the first study about the effects of baru almonds on human health.•Subjects' body composition remained stable throughout the study.•Subjects maintained their habitual dietary intake throughout the study.•Baru almond supplementation reduced serum concentrations of TC, non-HDL-c and LDL-c.•The consumption of baru almond did not change the oxidation biomarkers evaluated.