EFFECTS OF A DIET RICH IN MACADAMIA NUTS ON CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK FACTORS

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。大量的流行病学研究已经证实了树坚果和豆科花生对心脏的保护作用。许多临床研究评估了食用坚果对心血管疾病（CVD）多种危险因素的影响，我们的研究团队在研究坚果对心血管危险标志物的影响方面有相当丰富的经验（kriss -Etherton， Pearson等，1999;kriss -Etherton， Yu-Poth等，1999;West， Likos等，2002;Zhao， Etherton等，2004）。在目前的医学文献中，杏仁和核桃的研究最为深入。相比之下，人们对其他坚果的了解就少得多，包括夏威夷坚果。澳洲坚果是特别有趣的，因为与其他坚果相比，它们具有独特的营养和脂肪酸谱。特别是，它们是单不饱和脂肪酸的丰富来源，以及许多保护心脏的营养素，包括纤维、维生素E和植物固醇。由于这种营养“包装”，与“普通美国人”的饮食相比，食用夏威夷坚果很可能能显著降低多种心血管疾病的风险因素。Garg等人进行的荟萃分析结果发现，高MUFA饮食与高碳水化合物饮食相比，空腹TG水平降低19%，VLDL-C降低22%，HDL-C适度升高，但对LDL-C没有负面影响。总的来说，澳洲坚果中的营养物质已经被证明对脂质代谢有独立的有益作用。本研究设计为2期5周的随机交叉研究。参与者将在饮食周期内获得所有食物，并在每个周期结束时评估终点（血脂、炎症和氧化应激标志物、血管健康）。将对两个饮食期的数据进行比较。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Numerous epidemiologic studies have established cardioprotective effects of tree nuts and the legume peanuts. Many clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of nut consumption on multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and our research team has considerable experience in studying the effects of nuts on markers of cardiovascular risk (Kris-Etherton, Pearson et al. 1999; Kris-Etherton, Yu-Poth et al. 1999; West, Likos et al. 2002; Zhao, Etherton et al. 2004). In the current medical literature, almonds and walnuts have been studied the most intensively. In contrast, less is known about other nuts, including macadamia nuts. Macadamia nuts are of particular interest because, compared to the other nuts, they have a unique nutrient and fatty acid profile. In particular, they are a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids, and numerous cardioprotective nutrients including fiber, vitamin E, and plant sterols. Because of this nutrient "package", it is likely that macadamia nut consumption can significantly reduce multiple CVD risk factors, compared to an "average American" diet. Results of a meta-analysis conducted by Garg et al. found that diets high in MUFA vs. high in carbohydrate reduce fasting TG levels by 19%, decrease VLDL-C by 22%, and moderately increase HDL-C without negatively affecting LDL-C. Taken together, the nutrients present in macadamia nuts have been shown previously to have independent beneficial effects on lipid metabolism. This study is designed as a 2 period, 5-week randomized crossover study. Participants will be given all of their food for the diet periods and endpoints will be assessed at the end of each period (lipids, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, vascular health). Data will be compared between each of the two diet periods.