title: Almond supplementation reduces serum uric acid in coronary artery disease patients: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Elevated serum uric acid (UA), a biomarker of renal insufficiency, is also an independent prognostic marker for morbidity in coronary artery disease (CAD) and poses serious health risks. This study reports the effect of almond consumption on UA in CAD patients.
  
  
  
  A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with three groups: no-intervention (NI), Pakistani almonds (PA) or American almonds (AA). Patients were recruited from the Cardiology Clinics, Aga Khan University Hospital. Two follow-ups were scheduled at week-6 and week-12. 150 patients were randomly divided in three groups (50 per group). NI was not given almonds, whereas the PA and AA were given Pakistani and American almond varieties (10 g/day), respectively; with instruction to soak overnight and eat before breakfast.
  
  
  
  Almonds supplementation significantly reduced (p < 0.05) serum UA among groups, and over time. At week-6, UA concentrations were -13 to -16 % less in PA and AA; at week-12 the concentrations were -14 to -18 % less, compared to NI. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and body weights of the participants remained fairly constant among all the groups.
  
  
  
  Almonds (10 g/day), eaten before breakfast, reduces serum UA in CAD patients. Prevention of hyperuricemia can confer protection from kidney and vascular damage and if extrapolated for general population, dietary almonds can offer grander health benefit. Trial is registered at Australian New Zealand Clinical trial registry as ACTRN12614000036617.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Humaira
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jamshed
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. anwar.gilani@aku.edu.|Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan, Shahara-i-Jamhuriat, G-5/2, Islamabad, Pakistan. anwar.gilani@aku.edu.
authors.forename: Anwar-Ul-Hassan
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Gilani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fateh Ali Tipoo
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Faridah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Jamshed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sumaira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Madiha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masroor
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D062408:Breakfast; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009754:Nuts; D010154:Pakistan; D000068181:Prunus dulcis / Q000145:classification; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014527:Uric Acid
keywords: Coronary artery disease; Hyperuricemia; Low dose; Nuts; Soaked almonds