Effects of Longer-Term Mixed Nut Consumption on Lipoprotein Particle Concentrations in Older Adults with Overweight or Obesity.

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 ± 3 years; BMI 27.9 ± 2.3 kg/m) completed two 16-week periods (control [no nuts] vs. mixed nuts (60 g/day: 15 g 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; = 0.009), total cholesterol (-0.27 mmol/L; = 0.047), non-HDL cholesterol (-0.28 mmol/L; = 0.022), and total triacylglycerol (TAG) (-0.27 mmol/L; = 0.008). Total very large-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particle numbers decreased by 24 nmol/L ( < 0.001), with reductions observed across all VLDL subclasses. Total LDL particle numbers ( = 0.044), specifically intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) ( = 0.002) and large LDL particles ( = 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 < 0.01), with no changes in LDL or HDL subclasses. TAG concentrations showed reductions across all lipoprotein subclasses (all < 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.