Lipid Lowering Effect of Almonds (Prunus Dulcis) in Healthy Adults

Abstract

Background: Almonds (Prunus dulcis) are low in saturated fats and cholesterol and high in unsaturated fatty acids. Almonds also contain high concentrations of other nutrients like vitamin E, plantsterols, phytochemicals and dietary fibers. Almonds are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disorders (CVD) by having a potentially beneficial impact of on serum lipids due to their nutrient composition. Aim: To investigate the effect of regular almond consumption on the serum lipid profile of normolipidemic adults. Methods: In this non-randomized prospective study, 19 normolipidemic adults (10 males, 9 females) with an age range from 21 to 60 years consumed 50 grams of raw almonds for 30 days. Fasting blood samples were collected from each participant at baseline and on the 31st dayfor lipid profile analysis. Results: Marked decreases in serum total cholesterol level(p-value= 0.000) and serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level (p-value= 0.047) were observed from baseline values following almond treatment for a month. An increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) levelwas also seen but it was not statistically significant (p-value=0.081). Conclusion: Regular intake of almondscan help maintain a normallipid profile in healthy adults and reduce the risk of CVD. Almond consumption should be encouraged in the local healthy population for improved metabolic and cardiovascular health outcomes