title: A moderate-fat diet containing pistachios improves emerging markers of cardiometabolic syndrome in healthy adults with elevated LDL levels.
abstract: A randomised, cross-over, controlled-feeding study was conducted to evaluate the cholesterol-lowering effects of diets containing pistachios as a strategy for increasing total fat (TF) levels v. a control (step I) lower-fat diet. Ex vivo techniques were used to evaluate the effects of pistachio consumption on lipoprotein subclasses and functionality in individuals (n 28) with elevated LDL levels ( ≥ 2·86 mmol/l). The following test diets (SFA approximately 8 % and cholesterol < 300 mg/d) were used: a control diet (25 % TF); a diet comprising one serving of pistachios per d (1PD; 30 % TF); a diet comprising two servings of pistachios per d (2PD; 34 % TF). A significant decrease in small and dense LDL (sdLDL) levels was observed following the 2PD dietary treatment v. the 1PD dietary treatment (P= 0·03) and following the 2PD dietary treatment v. the control treatment (P= 0·001). Furthermore, reductions in sdLDL levels were correlated with reductions in TAG levels (r 0·424, P= 0·025) following the 2PD dietary treatment v. the control treatment. In addition, inclusion of pistachios increased the levels of functional α-1 (P= 0·073) and α-2 (P= 0·056) HDL particles. However, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1-mediated serum cholesterol efflux capacity (P= 0·016) and global serum cholesterol efflux capacity (P= 0·076) were only improved following the 2PD dietary treatment v. the 1PD dietary treatment when baseline C-reactive protein status was low ( < 103μg/l). Moreover, a significant decrease in the TAG:HDL ratio was observed following the 2PD dietary treatment v. the control treatment (P= 0·036). There was a significant increase in β-sitosterol levels (P< 0·0001) with the inclusion of pistachios, confirming adherence to the study protocol. In conclusion, the inclusion of pistachios in a moderate-fat diet favourably affects the cardiometabolic profile in individuals with an increased risk of CVD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University,110 Chandlee Laboratory,University Park,PA16802,USA.
authors.forename: Simone D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Holligan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University,110 Chandlee Laboratory,University Park,PA16802,USA.
authors.forename: Sheila G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University,110 Chandlee Laboratory,University Park,PA16802,USA.
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gebauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University,110 Chandlee Laboratory,University Park,PA16802,USA.
authors.forename: Colin D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University,110 Chandlee Laboratory,University Park,PA16802,USA.
authors.forename: Penny M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kris-Etherton
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008517:Phytotherapy; D027927:Pistacia; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010840:Phytosterols; D012855:Sitosterols; D014280:Triglycerides; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol