Effects of a high walnut and high cashew nut diet on selected markers of the metabolic syndrome: a controlled feeding trial.
We investigated the effects of a high walnut diet and a high unsalted cashew nut diet on selected markers of the metabolic syndrome. In a randomized, parallel, controlled study design, sixty-four subjects having the metabolic syndrome (twenty-nine men, thirty-five women) with a mean age of 45 (sd 10) years and who met the selection criteria were all fed a 3-week run-in control diet. Hereafter, participants were grouped according to gender and age and then randomized into three groups receiving a controlled feeding diet including walnuts, or unsalted cashew nuts or no nuts for 8 weeks. Subjects were required to have lunch at the metabolic ward of the Nutrition Department of the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). Both the walnut and the unsalted cashew nut intervention diets had no significant effect on the HDL-cholesterol, TAG, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, serum fructosamine, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, blood pressure and serum uric acid concentrations when compared to the control diet. Low baseline LDL-cholesterol concentrations in the cashew nut group may have masked a possible nut-related benefit. Plasma glucose concentrations increased significantly (P = 0.04) in the cashew nut group compared to the control group. By contrast, serum fructosamine was unchanged in the cashew nut group while the control group had significantly increased (P = 0.04) concentrations of this short-term marker of glycaemic control. Subjects displayed no improvement in the markers of the metabolic syndrome after following a walnut diet or a cashew nut diet compared to a control diet while maintaining body weight.
Mukuddem-Petersen
Janine
J
School of Computer, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Potchefstroom, South Africa. Janine.MukuddemPetersen@NWU.ac.za
Stonehouse Oosthuizen
Welma
W
Jerling
Johann C
JC
Hanekom
Susanna M
SM
White
Zelda
Z
D000328:Adult; D031021:Anacardium; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D019270:Fructosamine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D031324:Juglans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009754:Nuts; D010349:Patient Compliance; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D014527:Uric Acid; D019270:Fructosamine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein