Abstract
A recent meta-analysis of prospective epidemiological studies found that increased nut consumption is associated with lower CVD risk(2) and another meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials reported that almonds reduced LDL-cholesterol whilst maintaining HDL-cholesterol(3). A 6-week randomised, controlled, parallel trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02907684) in regular snack consumers at moderate risk of CVD (aged 30–70 y) was conducted aiming to investigate whether replacing habitual snacks (20% estimated daily energy requirements) with whole roasted almonds had any impact on blood lipid levels and insulin sensitivity. Estimated marginal mean changes from baseline following 6-week snack replacement intervention Mean of change values (95% CI) Variable Control group, n = 49 Almond group, n = 53 P value Total cholesterol (mmol/L) −0.00 (−0.19, 0.19) −0.22 (−0.41, −0.04) 0.096 Triglycerides (mmol/L) −0.08 (−0.19, 0.03) −0.03 (−0.13, 0.07) 0.464 LDL-cholesterol (mmol/L) 0.12 (−0.04, 0.29) −0.13 (−0.28, 0.03) 0.030* HDL-cholesterol (mmol/L) 0.02 (−0.07, 0.10) −0.06 (−0.14, 0.01) 0.170 Insulin (mlU/L) 1.46 (−0.02, 2.93) 0.62 (−0.76, 2.01) 0.416 Glucose (mmol/L) 0.05 (−0.13, 0.22) 0.06 (−0.10, 0.22) 0.928 HOMA-IR 0.42 (0.01, 0.83) 0.21 (−0.18, 0.59) 0.450 Adiponectin (mg/L) −0.26 (−0.94, 0.41) −0.16 (−0.80, 0.48) 0.831 Leptin (μg/L) −0.85 (−2.87, 1.17) 0.25 (−1.60, 2.10) 0.426 Resistin (μg/L) 0.09 (−0.27, 0.45) −0.00 (−0.34, 0.34) 0.707 Fetuin-A (mg/L) 15.18 (−23.18, 53.54) 4.33 (−31.71,40.36) 0.684 ANCOVA was used, adjusted for age, sex, baseline BMI and baseline variable value. *p < 0.05 indicates statistical significance.