| Walnut Benefits |
| Walnut is a rich source of n-6 (linoleate) and n-3 (linolenate) polyunsaturated fatty acids. It also contains a large amount of arginine, folate, fiber, tannins, and polyphenols. [1] |
ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES
Walnut polyphenols have been demonstrated to have antioxidant effects
in various in vitro and in vivo studies. Oral administration of walnut
polyphenols at 200 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks was found to cause a
significant decrease in the level of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosin in
a study of mice suffered from type 2 diabetes. 8-hydroxy-2'-
deoxyguanosin is an in vivo marker of oxidative stress. [3]
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
Walnut has been demonstrated as a part of heart-healthy diet; it has been
shown to lower the blood cholesterol levels in a few human trials [1]. In
some of these studies, a dose response-related inverse association of the
coronary heart disease risk and frequent daily consumption of small
walnut amounts was also observed. [1]
The cardioprotective effect of nut intake is beyond cholesterol lowering.
Substituting walnuts for monounsaturated fat in a Mediterranean diet also
improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic
subjects. [5]
In a pilot study, administration of 20 g/day of Persian walnut (Juglans regia
L.) for 8 weeks decreased plasma triglyceride concentration by 17%. In
another study of 60 hyperlipidemic subjects, subjects receiving walnut oil
(3 g/day, for 45 days) had plasma triglyceride levels decreased by 19-
33%. [6]
ALZHEIMERÂ’S DISEASE
Fibrillar amyloid beta-protein (ABETA) is the principal component of
amyloid plaques in the brains of patients suffered from Alzheimer's
disease. Researchers from New York found walnut extract was able to
inhibit ABETA fibril formation in a concentration/time dependent manner
and defibrillize Abeta preformed fibrils. Based on their study, walnut may
reduce the risk or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease by maintaining
ABETA in the soluble form. Its anti-amyloidogenic activities are probably
related to its polyphenolic compounds, such as the flavonoids. [2]
DIABETES
Walnuts were found to play a significant role in producing a more
favorable fatty acid intake in a low fat diet for the management of type 2
diabetes mellitus in a study using 38 adults (14 females, 24 males)
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the previous 2 years and not on
insulin therapy. [4]
HOME
ALL RIGHT RESERVED 2006 zhion.
REFERENCES [1] Feldman EB et al, The scientific evidence for a beneficial health
relationship between walnuts and coronary heart disease. J Nutr. 2002 May;132(5):
1062S-1101S [2] Chauhan N et al, Walnut extract inhibits the fibrillization of
amyloid beta-protein, and also defibrillizes its preformed fibrils. Curr Alzheimer
Res. 2004 Aug;1(3):183-8. 3. Fukuda T, Effect of the walnut polyphenol fraction
on oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mice. Biofactors. 2004;21(1-4):251-3. 4.
Tapsell A et al. Dietary advice inclusive of walnut supplementation assures
adequate intakes of n-3 polyunsaturated fats in the dietary management of type 2
diabetes mellitus. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(Suppl):S128. 5. Ros E et al, A
walnut diet improves endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic subjects: a
randomized crossover trial. Circulation. 2004 Apr 6;109(13):1609-14. Epub 2004
Mar 22. 6. Zibaeenezhad MJ et al, Antihypertriglyceridemic effect of walnut oil.
Angiology. 2003 Jul-Aug;54(4):411-4.
Walnut polyphenols have been demonstrated to have antioxidant effects
in various in vitro and in vivo studies. Oral administration of walnut
polyphenols at 200 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks was found to cause a
significant decrease in the level of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosin in
a study of mice suffered from type 2 diabetes. 8-hydroxy-2'-
deoxyguanosin is an in vivo marker of oxidative stress. [3]
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
Walnut has been demonstrated as a part of heart-healthy diet; it has been
shown to lower the blood cholesterol levels in a few human trials [1]. In
some of these studies, a dose response-related inverse association of the
coronary heart disease risk and frequent daily consumption of small
walnut amounts was also observed. [1]
The cardioprotective effect of nut intake is beyond cholesterol lowering.
Substituting walnuts for monounsaturated fat in a Mediterranean diet also
improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic
subjects. [5]
In a pilot study, administration of 20 g/day of Persian walnut (Juglans regia
L.) for 8 weeks decreased plasma triglyceride concentration by 17%. In
another study of 60 hyperlipidemic subjects, subjects receiving walnut oil
(3 g/day, for 45 days) had plasma triglyceride levels decreased by 19-
33%. [6]
ALZHEIMERÂ’S DISEASE
Fibrillar amyloid beta-protein (ABETA) is the principal component of
amyloid plaques in the brains of patients suffered from Alzheimer's
disease. Researchers from New York found walnut extract was able to
inhibit ABETA fibril formation in a concentration/time dependent manner
and defibrillize Abeta preformed fibrils. Based on their study, walnut may
reduce the risk or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease by maintaining
ABETA in the soluble form. Its anti-amyloidogenic activities are probably
related to its polyphenolic compounds, such as the flavonoids. [2]
DIABETES
Walnuts were found to play a significant role in producing a more
favorable fatty acid intake in a low fat diet for the management of type 2
diabetes mellitus in a study using 38 adults (14 females, 24 males)
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the previous 2 years and not on
insulin therapy. [4]
HOME
ALL RIGHT RESERVED 2006 zhion.
REFERENCES [1] Feldman EB et al, The scientific evidence for a beneficial health
relationship between walnuts and coronary heart disease. J Nutr. 2002 May;132(5):
1062S-1101S [2] Chauhan N et al, Walnut extract inhibits the fibrillization of
amyloid beta-protein, and also defibrillizes its preformed fibrils. Curr Alzheimer
Res. 2004 Aug;1(3):183-8. 3. Fukuda T, Effect of the walnut polyphenol fraction
on oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mice. Biofactors. 2004;21(1-4):251-3. 4.
Tapsell A et al. Dietary advice inclusive of walnut supplementation assures
adequate intakes of n-3 polyunsaturated fats in the dietary management of type 2
diabetes mellitus. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(Suppl):S128. 5. Ros E et al, A
walnut diet improves endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic subjects: a
randomized crossover trial. Circulation. 2004 Apr 6;109(13):1609-14. Epub 2004
Mar 22. 6. Zibaeenezhad MJ et al, Antihypertriglyceridemic effect of walnut oil.
Angiology. 2003 Jul-Aug;54(4):411-4.
