ALA-rich walnuts reduce inflammation, shows small study

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ALA-rich walnuts reduce inflammation, shows small study

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/news-ng.asp?n=55960-ala-rich-walnuts

 

09/11/2004 - A diet rich in alpha-linolenic acid from walnuts, walnut

oil and flaxseed oil not only lowered bad cholesterol but also decreased

markers for blood vessel inflammation in men and women at risk of heart

disease, report researchers.

 

While previous studies have shown that walnuts favourably affect

cholesterol and other lipids, this new study is the first to demonstrate

that a diet high in walnuts decreases C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker

of inflammation strongly associated with heart disease.

 

" Walnuts are a good source of two essential unsaturated fatty acids,

alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid. This research shows that

walnuts, with their unique nutrient profile, can play a role in reducing

cardiovascular risk factors as part of eating plans that also control

saturated fat, trans fat, dietary cholesterol and calories, " said Dr

Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition who led the study.

 

Published in this month’s issue of the Journal of Nutrition, the study

involved 20 overweight men and three women, with moderately elevated

cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

 

The participants ate three experimental diets that provided about 35 per

cent of total calories as fat. One diet approximated the average

American diet (AAD). Another, the linoleic acid (LA) diet, included an

ounce of walnuts and a tablespoon of walnut oil that provided about 12.6

per cent of calories from linoleic acid and 3.6 per cent of calories

from alpha-linolenic acid.

 

The third, the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) diet, included the walnuts and

walnut oil as well as a teaspoon of flaxseed oil to boost the content of

alpha-linolenic acid. The fat content was 10.5 per cent of calories from

linoleic acid and 6.5 per cent from alpha-linolenic acid.

 

The participants consumed each diet for six weeks. Then they took a

two-week break before beginning the next diet. At the end of each

six-week diet period, they provided blood samples so that their

cardiovascular risk factors could be monitored.

 

Compared to the average American diet, both the LA and the ALA diets

lowered total cholesterol about 11 per cent, LDLs about 11 or 12 per

cent and triglycerides about 18 per cent. After six weeks on the diet,

CRP declined after both the LA and ALA diets but more so on the ALA

diet. Some participants had a dramatic reduction in CRP.

 

" It will be important to determine whether there is a genetic basis for

this different CRP response, " noted Kris-Etherton.