Effects of longer-term mixed nut consumption on lipoprotein particle concentrations in older adults with overweight or obesity.

• Date posted:  03/26/2024 
• Posted In:
• Cashews,
• Hazelnuts,
• Mixed Nuts,
• Pistachios,
• Walnuts,
• Body Weight/Satiety,
• Cardiovascular Health,

Nijssen, K.M.R., M.A. Chavez-Alfaro, P.J. Joris, J. Plat, R.P. Mensink, 2024. Effects of longer-term mixed nut consumption on lipoprotein particle concentrations in older adults with overweight or obesity. Nutrients. 17(1):8. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010008

Background: Recently, we reported that longer-term mixed nut intake significantly reduced serum total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, but these markers may not fully capture lipoprotein-related cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Objectives: This randomized, controlled, single-blinded, crossover trial in older adults with overweight or obesity examined the effects of longer-term mixed nut consumption on lipoprotein particle size, number, and lipid distribution. Methods: Twenty-eight participants (aged 65 ±3years; BMI 27.9 ± 2.3 kg/m2) completed two 16-week periods (control [no nuts] vs. mixed nuts (60 g/day: 15g of walnuts, pistachios, cashews, and hazelnuts), separated by an 8-week washout. Plasma lipoprotein particle numbers, sizes, and lipid distributions across subclasses were analyzed using high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Results: Mixed nut consumption significantly reduced Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) concentrations (−0.07 g/L; p = 0.009), total cholesterol (−0.27 mmol/L; p = 0.047), non-HDL cholesterol (−0.28 mmol/L; p = 0.022), and total triacylglycerol (TAG) (−0.27 mmol/L; p = 0.008). Total very large-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particle numbers decreased by 24 nmol/L (p < 0.001), with reductions observed across all VLDL subclasses. Total LDL particle numbers (p = 0.044), specifically intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) (p = 0.002) and large LDL particles (p = 0.015), were also reduced, while HDL particle numbers and sizes were unaffected. The mixed nut intervention significantly reduced cholesterol concentrations across all VLDL subclasses and IDL (all p < 0.01), with no changes in LDL or HDL subclasses. TAG concentrations showed reductions across all lipoprotein subclasses (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Longer-term mixed nut consumption may lower CVD risk in older adults and favorable shifts in ApoB-containing lipoprotein subclasses towards a less atherogenic profile.