A moderate-fat diet containing pistachios improves emerging markers of cardiometabolic syndrome in healthy adults with elevated LDL levels

• Published in: British journal of nutrition 2014-09, Vol.112 (5), p.744-752
• Main Authors: Holligan, Simone D., West, Sheila G., Gebauer, Sarah K., Kay, Colin D., Kris-Etherton, Penny M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anticholesteremic Agents - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Cross-Over Studies; Diet; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human and Clinical Nutrition; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Lipoproteins - blood; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Low density lipoprotein; Male; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - prevention & control; Middle Aged; Nuts; Nuts - chemistry; Phytosterols - administration & dosage; Phytotherapy; Pistacia; Sitosterols - blood; Triglycerides - blood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114514001561

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