title: Serum lipid effects of a high-monounsaturated fat diet based on macadamia nuts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have identified potential beneficial effects of eating nuts, most of which have substantial amounts of monounsaturated fats. Macadamia nuts are 75% fat by weight, 80% of which is monounsaturated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine variations in serum lipid levels in response to a high-monounsaturated fat diet based on macadamia nuts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized crossover trial of three 30-day diets was conducted in 30 volunteers aged 18 to 53 years from a free-living population. Each was fed a "typical American" diet high in saturated fat (37% energy from fat); an American Heart Association Step 1 diet (30% energy from fat); and a macadamia nut-based monounsaturated fat diet (37% energy from fat) in random order. Serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean total cholesterol level after the typical American diet was 5.20 mmol/L (201 mg/dL). After the Step 1 diet and the macadamia nut diet, total cholesterol level was 4.99 mmol/L (193 mg/dL) and 4.95 mmol/L (191 mg/dL), respectively. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was 3.37 mmol/L (130 mg/dL) (typical diet), 3.21 mmol/L (124 mg/dL) (Step 1 diet), and 3.22 mmol/L (125 mg/dL) (macadamia nut diet). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was 1.43 mmol/L (55 mg/dL) (typical), 1.34 mmol/L (52 mg/dL) (Step 1), and 1.37 mmol/L (53 mg/dL) (macadamia nut). Lipid values after the Step 1 and macadamia nut diets were significantly different from those after the typical diet (P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The macadamia nut-based diet high in monounsaturated fat and the moderately low-fat diet both had potentially beneficial effects on cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels when compared with a typical American diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu 96817, USA. curb@phri.hawaii-health.com
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Curb
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wergowske
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dobbs
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005224:Fats, Unsaturated; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009754:Nuts; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005224:Fats, Unsaturated; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol