Consumption of nuts in relation to the risk of Cadiovascular disease and other diseases and disorders

摘要

Studies in which nut consumption is correlated with CVD risk can be subdivided into observational studies and intervention studies. Observational and epidemiological studies are large-scale investigations in which people's dietary patterns are inquired about a baseline, after which the participants are followed up for years and morbidity and mortality in the study group are recorded. In some of these cohort studies, data on nut consumption were also solicited and correlated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In intervention studies, members of the experimental group are administered nuts in order to investigate the effects of this intervention. In a well designed intervention study the experimental group is compared with a control group whose members do not eat or eat less nuts, and participants are randomly allocated to one of these groups. In principle, this approach allows of investigating effects on 'hard end-points' such as cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Intervention studiesare very expensive because they require large population groups and a long period of follow-up. Therefore, intervention studies are often used to explore the effects on risk factors or biomarkers, i.e. factors known to be associated with an elevated risk of CVD. The best known risk factor is a raised serum cholesterol level. Reduction of that level via (nutritional) intervention lowers the risk for CVD. Other risk factors include hypertension and a high plasma homocysteine level. Intervention studies with nuts have focused in particular on their effect on serum cholesterol.