International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Announces New Scientific Evidence Suggesting Nuts May Help Improve Endothelial Function

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INC International Nut and Dried Fruit Council

Jul 31, 2017, 09:23 ET

REUS, Spain, July 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) unfortunately remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Several studies have observed that nut consumption is associated with a reduced risk of CVD due to their bioactive compounds content, which have multiple potential benefits for CVD prevention^[1].

Nuts and Endothelial function (PRNewsfoto/INC Nut and Dried Fruit)

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Endothelial dysfunction is considered a precursor for atherosclerosis and an independent predictor of CVD^[2]. The endothelium, a monolayer of cells in arterial vessels, contributes to maintaining normal vascular tone and blood fluidity.

Some cardiovascular risk factors including smoking, hypertension, and high LDL-cholesterol levels, can directly induce endothelial dysfunction. In one study,a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil or nuts improved endothelial markers involved in blood pressure control in hypertensive women^[3].

A recent study evaluated the effects of peanut consumption on postprandial endothelial function and observed that the intake of 85g/day of peanuts may improve postprandial triglyceride levels and preserve endothelial function^[4]. Moreover, walnuts (30g/day) contribute to the improvement of the elasticity of blood vessels, according to the health claim approved by the European Commission in 2012. In addition, it has been reported that daily pistachio consumption may have a positive impact on improving some cardiometabolic risk factors related with alteration in endothelial function^[5],[6]. Collectively, these findings suggest that nut consumption may favorably affect endothelial function.

About the International Nut & Dried Fruit Council

INC members include more than 700 nut and dried fruit sector companies from over 70 countries. INC is the leading international organization regarding nuts and dried fruit health, nutrition, statistics, food safety, international standards, and regulations.

1. Ros, E., 2010. Health benefits of nut consumption. Nutrients , 2(7), 652-682.

2. Xiao Y., et al., 2017. Effect of nut consumption on vascular endothelial function: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Nutrition .

3. Storniolo CE, et al., 2017. A Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil or nuts improves endothelial markers involved in blood pressure control in hypertensive women. European Journal of Nutrition , 56(1), 89-97.

4. Liu X., et al., 2017. Acute Peanut Consumption Alters Postprandial Lipids and Vascular Responses in Healthy Overweight or Obese Men. The Journal of Nutrition , 147(5), 835-840

5. Sauder KA, et al., 2015. Effects of pistachios on the lipid/lipoprotein profile, glycemic control, inflammation, and endothelial function in type 2 diabetes: A randomized trial. Metabolism , 64(11), 1521-1529.

6. Kasliwal, RR. Et al. Effect of pistachio nut consumption on endothelial function and arterial stiffness. Nutrition 2015 May;31(5):678-85.