This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (41)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Related article  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

J. David Curb, MD; Gilbert Wergowske, MD; Joan C. Dobbs, PhD; Robert D. Abbott, PhD; Boji Huang, MD, PhD

Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:1154-1158.

Background  Recent studies have identified potential beneficial effects of eating nuts, most of which have substantial amounts of monounsaturated fats. Macadamia nuts are 75% fat by weight, 80% of which is monounsaturated.

Objective  To examine variations in serum lipid levels in response to a high–monounsaturated fat diet based on macadamia nuts.

Methods  A randomized crossover trial of three 30-day diets was conducted in 30 volunteers aged 18 to 53 years from a free-living population. Each was fed a "typical American" diet high in saturated fat (37% energy from fat); an American Heart Association Step 1 diet (30% energy from fat); and a macadamia nut–based monounsaturated fat diet (37% energy from fat) in random order. Serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured.

Results  Mean total cholesterol level after the typical American diet was 5.20 mmol/L (201 mg/dL). After the Step 1 diet and the macadamia nut diet, total cholesterol level was 4.99 mmol/L (193 mg/dL) and 4.95 mmol/L (191 mg/dL), respectively. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was 3.37 mmol/L (130 mg/dL) (typical diet), 3.21 mmol/L (124 mg/dL) (Step 1 diet), and 3.22 mmol/L (125 mg/dL) (macadamia nut diet). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was 1.43 mmol/L (55 mg/dL) (typical), 1.34 mmol/L (52 mg/dL) (Step 1), and 1.37 mmol/L (53 mg/dL) (macadamia nut). Lipid values after the Step 1 and macadamia nut diets were significantly different from those after the typical diet (P<.05).

Conclusions  The macadamia nut–based diet high in monounsaturated fat and the moderately low-fat diet both had potentially beneficial effects on cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels when compared with a typical American diet.

From the Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine (Drs Curb, Wergowske, Abbott, and Huang), and Division of Geriatric Medicine (Drs Curb and Wergowske), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu; Exploring New Concepts, Honolulu (Dr Dobbs); and Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville (Dr Abbott).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

RELATED ARTICLE

Archives of Internal Medicine Reader's Choice: Continuing Medical Education
Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(8):1206-1207.
FULL TEXT  

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Regular Consumption of Nuts Is Associated with a Lower Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Women with Type 2 Diabetes
Li et al.
J. Nutr. 2009;139:1333-1338.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effects of dietary fatty acid composition on 24-h energy expenditure and chronic disease risk factors in men
Cooper et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2009;89:1350-1356.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effects of Dietary Palmitoleic Acid on Plasma Lipoprotein Profile and Aortic Cholesterol Accumulation Are Similar to Those of Other Unsaturated Fatty Acids in the F1B Golden Syrian Hamster
Matthan et al.
J. Nutr. 2009;139:215-221.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Impact of Peanuts and Tree Nuts on Body Weight and Healthy Weight Loss in Adults
Mattes et al.
J. Nutr. 2008;138:1741S-1745S.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Role of Tree Nuts and Peanuts in the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease: Multiple Potential Mechanisms
Kris-Etherton et al.
J. Nutr. 2008;138:1746S-1751S.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A Macadamia Nut-Rich Diet Reduces Total and LDL-Cholesterol in Mildly Hypercholesterolemic Men and Women
Griel et al.
J. Nutr. 2008;138:761-767.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pistachio Nut Consumption and Serum Lipid Levels
Sheridan et al.
J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 2007;26:141-148.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Nuts on Blood Lipid Profiles in Humans
Mukuddem-Petersen et al.
J. Nutr. 2005;135:2082-2089.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pecan Effects on Serum Lipoproteins and Dietary Intakes of Hyperlipidemic Individuals Consuming Self-Selected Diets
Eastman and Clayshulte
Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal 2005;33:197-207.
ABSTRACT  

Including Walnuts in a Low-Fat/Modified-Fat Diet Improves HDL Cholesterol-to-Total Cholesterol Ratios in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Tapsell et al.
Diabetes Care 2004;27:2777-2783.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A Prospective Cohort Study of Nut Consumption and the Risk of Gallstone Disease in Men
Tsai et al.
Am J Epidemiol 2004;160:961-968.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Frequent nut consumption and decreased risk of cholecystectomy in women
Tsai et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2004;80:76-81.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Type 2 diabetes and the vegetarian diet
Jenkins et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2003;78:610S-616.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Dietary cis-monounsaturated fatty acids and metabolic control in type 2 diabetes
Ros
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2003;78:617S-625.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Nut consumption and body weight
Sabate
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2003;78:647S-650.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Serum lipid response to the graduated enrichment of a Step I diet with almonds: a randomized feeding trial
Sabate et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2003;77:1379-1384.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Dose Response of Almonds on Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors: Blood Lipids, Oxidized Low-Density Lipoproteins, Lipoprotein(a), Homocysteine, and Pulmonary Nitric Oxide: A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial
Jenkins et al.
Circulation 2002;106:1327-1332.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effect on Body Weight of a Free 76 Kilojoule (320 Calorie) Daily Supplement of Almonds for Six Months
Fraser et al.
J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 2002;21:275-283.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Scientific Evidence for a Beneficial Health Relationship Between Walnuts and Coronary Heart Disease
Feldman
J. Nutr. 2002;132:1062S-1101.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effect of a Chicken-Based Diet on Renal Function and Lipid Profile in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A randomized crossover trial
Gross et al.
Diabetes Care 2002;25:645-651.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

More Benefits from Nuts
JWatch General 2000;2000:5-5.
FULL TEXT