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Effect of moderate walnut consumption on lipid profile, arterial stiffness and platelet activation in humans

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 234–239 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

A large intake of walnuts may improve lipid profile and endothelial function. The effect of moderate walnut consumption is not known. We investigated whether a moderate intake of walnuts would affect lipid profile, arterial stiffness and platelet activation in healthy volunteers.

Subjects/Methods:

A total of 30 healthy males were recruited into a single-blind randomized controlled crossover trial of 4 weeks of dietary walnut supplementation (15 g/day) and 4 weeks of control (no walnuts). Arterial stiffness was assessed using pulse waveform analysis to determine the augmentation index and augmented pressure. Platelet activation was determined using flow cytometry to measure circulating platelet–monocyte aggregates.

Results:

There were no differences in lipid profile after 4 weeks of walnut supplementation compared with control. Dietary intake of α-linolenic acid was increased during the walnut diet (2.1±0.4 g/day versus 0.7±0.4 g/day, P<0.0001). There were no differences in augmentation index or augmented pressure during walnut supplementation. Walnut supplementation did not affect platelet–monocyte aggregation.

Conclusions:

Dietary intervention with a moderate intake of walnuts does not affect lipid profile, arterial stiffness or platelet activation in man. Our results suggest that the potentially beneficial cardiac effects of walnuts may not be apparent at lower and more practical levels of consumption.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Clinical Research Facility at the Royal Infirmary for assistance with pulse wave analysis. We thank Lize Van Rensberg for performing the food diary analysis. We also thank Shona Johnstone for assistance with flow cytometry. JND was supported by the British Heart Foundation Grant (PG/03/009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    J N Din, S M Aftab, A W Jubb, F H Carnegy, K Lyall, J Sarma & D E Newby

  2. Department of Cardiology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    A D Flapan

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  1. J N Din
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  2. S M Aftab
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  3. A W Jubb
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  4. F H Carnegy
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  5. K Lyall
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  6. J Sarma
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  7. D E Newby
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  8. A D Flapan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J N Din.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Conference presentation: Platelet activation data presented at European Society of Cardiology Annual Congress, September 2005, Stockholm. Contributors: All authors contributed to the study design. JND, SMA, AWJ, FHC and KL were responsible for data collection and analysis. All authors contributed to data interpretation. JND, JS, DEN and ADF contributed to the writing of the manuscript.

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Din, J., Aftab, S., Jubb, A. et al. Effect of moderate walnut consumption on lipid profile, arterial stiffness and platelet activation in humans. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 234–239 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.233

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