Blood Lipid Levels in Response to Almond Consumption: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: While the benefits of almond consumption in reducing levels of TC and LDL-C are well established, the effects on additional lipids that have emerged as important predictors of cardiovascular disease, such as ApoB and the ratio of ApoB:ApoA, are not well characterized. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the effects of almond consumption on blood lipids were comprehensively assessed.

METHODS

On 12 May 2025, ProQuest Dialog™ was used to search ten literature databases (AdisInsight: Trials; Allied & Complementary Medicine™; BIOSIS Previews; CAB ABSTRACTS; Embase; Embase Preprints; Foodline: SCIENCE; FSTA; MEDLINE; National Technical Information Service). Randomized controlled trials at least 4 weeks in duration were included if the investigational product was almonds; the control was void of nuts/tree nuts; the subjects were adults without CVD; and blood lipid levels were assessed. Health Canada's Quality Appraisal Tool for Intervention Studies was used to assess each study's risk of bias. The mean difference in the effect for each parameter was pooled across studies in a random effects model, using the inverse of the variance as the weighting factor.

RESULTS

36 publications (48 almond-control datasets) representing 2485 participants were included. Almond consumption significantly reduced LDL-C (-0.132 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.190, -0.075 mmol/L; < 0.001), TC (-0.160 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.218, -0.101 mmol/L; < 0.001), non-HDL-C (-0.204 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.281, -0.127 mmol/L; < 0.001), TC:HDL-C (-0.154; 95% CI: -0.246, -0.063; = 0.001), LDL-C:HDL-C (-0.112; 95% CI: -0.199, -0.026; = 0.011), ApoB (-4.552 mg/dL; 95% CI: -6.460, -2.645 mg/dL; < 0.001), and ApoB:ApoA (-0.027; 95% CI: -0.046, -0.008; = 0.006), with a borderline significant reduction in TG (-0.037 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.079, 0.005; = 0.085) and no effects on HDL-C, ApoA, or Lp[a]. The effects persisted when the analyses were limited to higher quality studies, except for the reduction in TG.

CONCLUSIONS

Almond consumption improves levels of LDL-C, TC, non-HDL-C, TC:HDL-C, LDL-C:HDL-C, ApoB, and ApoB:ApoA, though dedicated clinical trials are needed to better understand effects on TG levels.