Hazelnut consumption decreases the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation, plasma oxidized LDL level and increases the ratio of large/small LDL in normolipidemic healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
Nut consumption has beneficial effects on protection for development of atherosclerotic process.


METHODS
Single intervention study design was used to determine the effects of hazelnut-enriched diet (1 g/kg/day) during 4 weeks period on atherogenic tendency of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by evaluating susceptibility of LDL to oxidation, alpha-tocopherol content of LDL, LDL subfractions, plasma oxidized (ox) LDL, lipid and lipoprotein levels in normolipidemic healthy subjects (n=21). Statistical analysis was performed using paired t test, ANOVA for repeated measurements test, Pearson's and Spearman correlation analyses.


RESULTS
Lag time for oxidation (baseline 54.6+/- 12.3 min, 15th day 59.3+/- 13.4 min, 30th day 65.2+/- 17.8 min, p=0.001) and ,alpha--tocopherol content of LDL (baseline 4.82+/- 1.2 microg/mg LDL protein, 15th day 4.88+/- 1.4 microg/mg LDL protein, 30th day 5.35+/- 1.7 microg/mg LDL protein, p=0.02) were found to be increased while ox-LDL levels (baseline 57.2+/- 16.2 U/L, 15th day 51.2+/- 13.6 U/L, 30th day 48.2+/- 14.2 U/L, p=0.001) decreased during the study period. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) B and apo B/apo AI ratio were found to be significantly lower while apo AI was higher (p<0.05). In respect to LDL subfraction, ratio of large/small LDL was significantly increased at the end of the study (baseline 3.79+/- 1.35, 15th day 3.41+/- 1.60, 30th day 4.28+/- 2.44, p= 0.046).


CONCLUSIONS
Hazelnut-enriched diet may play important role in decrease in atherogenic tendency of LDL by lowering the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation and plasma ox-LDL levels, and increasing the ratio of large/small LDL beyond its beneficial effect on lipid and lipoprotein levels.
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Fulya Balaban
FB
Yücesan
Asim
A
Orem
Birgül Vanizor
BV
Kural
Cihan
C
Orem
Ibrahim
I
Turan
D000328:Adult; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D031211:Corylus; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood
D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019332:Endothelin-1; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D014280:Triglycerides; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D002784:Cholesterol; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol