Previous studies have shown that nut consumption reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, a new systematic review published in the May 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine found that diets rich in nuts were associated with reduced total cholesterol and bad cholesterol.
Researchers pooled data from 25 trials conducted in 7 countries that compared a control group to an experimental group assigned to consume nuts. An average of 67 grams of nuts per day were consumed over 3 to 8 weeks, they found that total cholesterol was reduced by 5.1% and bad cholesterol by 7.4%, but there was a lesser effect on reducing the cholesterol levels of people with higher BMIs.
Critics noted that the overall population of the studies was relatively small, the study results might have been affected by the different diets used in different studies. The experimental diet lasted only 3 to 8 weeks long, so it is not clear what effect it would have over the longer term. It is also unclear whether the reductions in cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol would be enough to lower the risk of coronary heart disease. Although nuts may reduce cholesterol, they are high in saturated fats and should be eaten in moderation.
Source: "Nut Consumption and Blood Lipid Levels - A Pooled Analysis of 25 Intervention Trials". Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(9):821-827. ( f/t via Athens)
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