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Effects of pistachios on emerging CVD risk factors in moderately hypercholesterolemic individuals
Author(s) -
Holligan Simone,
Gebauer Sarah,
West Sheila,
Kay Colin D,
KrisEtherton Penny
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.971.21
Subject(s) - crossover study , medicine , lipid profile , significant difference , food science , zoology , cholesterol , chemistry , biology , alternative medicine , pathology , placebo
Pistachios are a known source of several cardioprotective, bioactive components. A randomized, crossover, controlled feeding study was conducted to determine their dose‐related effects on emerging CVD risk factors in persons (N=28) with moderately elevated LDL‐C levels (≥ 2.86 mmol/L). Three test diets (2100 kcal/d; SFA ~ 8%; cholesterol < 300mg/dl) of either a low‐fat, control diet (CON; 25% total fat); a low‐dose diet (1 PD) with 32–63 g/d pistachios (CON + 10% energy from pistachios, 30% total fat); or a high‐dose diet (2 PD) with 63–126 g/d pistachios (CON + 20% energy from pistachios, 34% total fat) were evaluated. We report a significant difference (P < 0.05) in small‐dense LDL levels (sdLDL) between the 2 PD (34.96 ± 1.74 mg/dl) and the CON diet (44.10 ± 2.58 mg/dl) with no significant difference between the 1 PD (42.37 ± 3.29 mg/dl) and CON diet or between the 1 PD and 2 PD diets. No significant effects on Lipoprotein (a) or HDL subpopulations were detected. Similar, significant decreases in LDL‐C for both the 1PD and 2PD versus CON were seen but differences in sdLDL are important since this is a strong predictor of CVD risk status. These results support the use of 63–126 g/d of pistachios in a cholesterol‐lowering diet due to their effects on LDL‐C and sdLDL levels. Funding provided by The Western Pistachio Association and the General Clinical Research Center of The Pennsylvania State University (NIH grant M01RR10732). Grant Funding Source : ASN