title: Effects of daily almond consumption on cardiometabolic risk and abdominal adiposity in healthy adults with elevated LDL-cholesterol: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence consistently shows that almond consumption beneficially affects lipids and lipoproteins. Almonds, however, have not been evaluated in a controlled-feeding setting using a diet design with only a single, calorie-matched food substitution to assess their specific effects on cardiometabolic risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a randomized, 2-period (6 week/period), crossover, controlled-feeding study of 48 individuals with elevated LDL-C (149±3 mg/dL), a cholesterol-lowering diet with almonds (1.5 oz. of almonds/day) was compared to an identical diet with an isocaloric muffin substitution (no almonds/day). Differences in the nutrient profiles of the control (58% CHO, 15% PRO, 26% total fat) and almond (51% CHO, 16% PRO, 32% total fat) diets were due to nutrients inherent to each snack; diets did not differ in saturated fat or cholesterol. The almond diet, compared with the control diet, decreased non-HDL-C (-6.9±2.4 mg/dL; P=0.01) and LDL-C (-5.3±1.9 mg/dL; P=0.01); furthermore, the control diet decreased HDL-C (-1.7±0.6 mg/dL; P<0.01). Almond consumption also reduced abdominal fat (-0.07±0.03 kg; P=0.02) and leg fat (-0.12±0.05 kg; P=0.02), despite no differences in total body weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almonds reduced non-HDL-C, LDL-C, and central adiposity, important risk factors for cardiometabolic dysfunction, while maintaining HDL-C concentrations. Therefore, daily consumption of almonds (1.5 oz.), substituted for a high-carbohydrate snack, may be a simple dietary strategy to prevent the onset of cardiometabolic diseases in healthy individuals.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: NCT01101230.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (C.E.B., S.G.W., J.A.F., P.M.K.E.).
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Berryman
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (C.E.B., S.G.W., J.A.F., P.M.K.E.) Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (S.G.W.).
authors.forename: Sheila G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (C.E.B., S.G.W., J.A.F., P.M.K.E.).
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospitality Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (P.L.B.).
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Bordi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (C.E.B., S.G.W., J.A.F., P.M.K.E.).
authors.forename: Penny M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kris-Etherton
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000068181:Prunus dulcis; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL
keywords: abdominal fat; cardiometabolic disease; cardiovascular disease risk factors; diet; lipids and lipoproteins