UCSF

Background

Almonds have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol but there is limited information regarding their effects on the dyslipidemia characterized by increased levels of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles that is associated with abdominal adiposity and high carbohydrate intake. The objective of the present study was to test whether substitution of almonds for other foods attenuates carbohydrate-induced increases in small, dense LDL in individuals with increased abdominal adiposity.

Methods

This was a randomized cross-over study of three 3wk diets, separated by 2wk washouts: a higher-carbohydrate (CHO) reference diet (CHO_high), a higher-CHO diet with isocaloric substitution of 20% kcal (E) from almonds (CHO_{high + almonds}), and a lower-CHO reference diet (CHO_low) in 9 men and 15 women who were overweight or obese. The two CHO_high diets contained 50% carbohydrate, 15% protein, 35% fat (6% saturated, 21% monounsaturated, 8% polyunsaturated), while the CHO_low diet contained 25% carbohydrate, 28% protein, 47% fat (8% saturated, 28% monounsaturated, 8% polyunsaturated). Lipoprotein subfraction concentrations were measured by ion mobility.

Results

Relative to the CHO_low diet: 1) the CHO_{high + almonds} diet significantly increased small, dense LDLIIIa (mean difference ± SE: 28.6 ± 10.4 nmol/L, P = 0.008), and reduced LDL-peak diameter (- 1.7 ± 0.6 Å, P = 0.008); 2) the CHO_high diet significantly increased medium-sized LDLIIb (24.8 ± 11.4 nmol/L, P = 0.04) and large VLDL (3.7 ± 1.8 nmol/L, P = 0.05). Relative to CHO_low, the effects of CHO_high on LDLIIIa (17.7 ± 10.6 nmol/L) and LDL-peak diameter (- 1.1 ± 0.6 Å) were consistent with those of CHO_{high + almonds}, and the effects of CHO_{high + almonds} on LDLIIb (21.0 ± 11.2 nmol/L) and large VLDL (2.8 ± 1.8 nmol/L) were consistent with those of CHO_high, but did not achieve statistical significance (P > 0.05). None of the variables examined showed a significant difference between the CHO_{high + almonds} and CHO_high diets (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Our analyses provided no evidence that deriving 20% E from almonds significantly modifies increases in levels of small, dense LDL or other plasma lipoprotein changes induced by a higher carbohydrate low saturated fat diet in individuals with increased abdominal adiposity.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01792648 .