A LOW-DOSE ALMOND-BASED DIET DECREASES LDL-C WHILE PRESERVING HDL-C

Background: The aim of this study was to compare lipid-altering effects of an almond-based diet with a reference diet. In a randomized single blind, cross-over clinical trial study, the effect of almond (25 g/day) on serum lipoproteins of mild hypercholesterolemic patients were studied. Methods: This eight-week dietary trial was divided into two consecutive four-week intervention periods. Both diets conformed to National Cholesterol Educational Program (NECP) step 1 diet and contained identical foods and macronutrients, except for almond. After a washout period, each patient consumed the opposite dietary regimen for 4 weeks. In the almond group, subjects used 25 g/ day of almond powder. Thirty hyperlipidemic adult men and women were considered eligible, after a preliminary medical history review and laboratory screening for lipid profile. Results: Combined average for both of the cross-over phases showed that almond induced a reduction in total cholesterol (TC) of 8 ± 27mg/dL and in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDLC) of 9 ± 29 mg/dL. The reference diet did not induce a significant reduction in TC and LDL-C (for TC P < 0.01, and LDL-C, P < 0.05). Neither treatments induced significant changes in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG). Conclusion: Our findings suggest a favorable lipid-altering effect induced by the almond, even in lower dose than previous studies (25 g vs. 100 g). These may be due to the interactive or additive effects of the numerous bioactive constituents found in almond.