Effect of Walnut Consumption on Serum Lipid Profiles, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Nitric Oxide in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the major causes of death worldwide. There is a direct relationship between increased levels of blood cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL), nitric oxide (NO), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the CAD. Walnut may reduce these factors and consequently decrease the risk of CAD. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of walnut consumption on TG, LDL, cholesterol, HDL, NO, and hs-CRP in patients with CAD and healthy people. Patients and Methods: In this randomized crossover clinical trial, 70 patients with CAD were divided into two groups: case and control groups. The patients were given 40 g walnuts daily for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the TG, LDL, cholesterol, HDL, NO and hs-CRP levels were measured. The experiment was also carried out on healthy people (3 groups) with normal range of lipid. The LDL, HDL, cholesterol, and hs-CRP levels were measured using commercially available kits. The nitric oxide level was measured using the Griess reaction method. Results: The cholesterol and LDL levels decreased significantly from 202.43 to 187.46 and 123.80 to 108.63 mmol/L (7.9% and 13.9 %), respectively in healthy subjects after the treatment (P < 0.01). In the experimental group, there was no significant difference in cholesterol (P = 0.110) and LDL levels (P = 0.176) before and after the treatment. Moreover, no significant difference was observed in other parameters between the two groups. Conclusions: The walnut consumption did not affect cholesterol levels in patients with CAD; however, it might be administered as an agent for reducing the cholesterol, which is one of the risk factors associated with CAD.