Effects of hazelnut-enriched diet on plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein profiles in hypercholesterolemic adult men.
OBJECTIVE
Frequent consumption of nuts is associated with favorable plasma lipid profiles and reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). This study was conducted to investigate the effects of hazelnut-enriched diet on plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein profiles in hypercholesterolemic adult men compared with baseline and control diet, and also to measure the anthropometric parameters, habitual physical activities, nutrient intake and endothelial function.


METHODS
Fifteen hypercholesterolemic men aged 48+/-8 years were recruited voluntarily. A well-controlled, 2-period (P1 and P2) study design with a total of 8-week was implemented. In the P1, subjects consumed a control diet (low-fat, low-cholesterol and high-carbohydrate). During the P2, the control diet was supplemented with MUFA-rich hazelnut (40 g/day), which provided 11.6% of total energy content. Anthropometric parameters and habitual physical activities were recorded. Plasma total and HDL cholesterol, TAG, ApoA-1, Apo B, total homocysteine and glucose concentrations were measured. All parameters and measurements were obtained at baseline and end of each 4-week diet period.


RESULTS
Body weights of subjects remained stable throughout the study. Compared with baseline, the hazelnut-enriched diet decreased (P<0.05) the concentrations of VLDL cholesterol, triacylglycerol, apolipoprotein B by 29.5, 31.8, and 9.2%, respectively, while increasing HDL cholesterol concentrations by 12.6%. Total/HDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratios favorably decreased (P<0.05). Although insignificant there was a decreasing trend for the rest of parameters, particularly in total (5.2%) and LDL cholesterol (3.3%) in subjects consuming a hazelnut-enriched diet compared to that of the baseline. No changes were found in fasting levels of glucose, Apo A-1 and homocysteine between the control and hazelnut-enriched diets.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that a high-fat and high-MUFA-rich hazelnut diet was superior to a low-fat control diet because of favorable changes in plasma lipid profiles of hypercholesterolemic adult men and, thereby positively affecting the CHD risk profile.


BACKGROUND
Funding provided by a grant from the Hazelnut Promotion Group, Giresun, Turkey.
Mercanligil
S M
SM
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. seyitmer@hacettepe.edu.tr
Arslan
P
P
Alasalvar
C
C
Okut
E
E
Akgül
E
E
Pinar
A
A
Geyik
P O
PO
Tokgözoğlu
L
L
Shahidi
F
F
D000886:Anthropometry; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D031211:Corylus; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D014280:Triglycerides; D006710:Homocysteine; D002784:Cholesterol