In the latest finding sure to please walnut lovers (not to mention growers), Yale researchers report that a daily dose of walnuts improved the blood-vessel health of type-2 diabetics. David L. Katz, MD, MPH, and colleagues recruited 24 diabetes patients, average age 58, and tested their endothelial function (a measure of the health of blood-vessel linings) before and after eight weeks on a diet containing about two ounces of walnuts daily. Those results were compared to eight weeks on patients usual diet.Endothelial function improved significantly on the walnut diet. While on the walnut diet, patients also saw increased fasting serum glucose, lowered total cholesterol and reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol compared to the start of the trial, although these changes werent significant when compared to their standard diet. There was no weight gain during the trial. The findings are in line with another recent study (see the July 2009 Healthletter) that showed walnuts were associated with reduced cholesterol levels; other research has reported heart-health benefits for other nuts including pistachios and macadamias.In 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed walnut packagers to add a qualified health claim to their labels: Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 ounces of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet, and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. (Keep in mind as you munch that 1.5 ounces of walnuts-about 20 halves-contain 278 calories.)Dr. Katz and colleagues are now launching a study of adults at risk for diabetes, to see if these same benefits extend to that much larger population.TO LEARN MORE: Diabetes Care, online before print; abstract at dx.doi.org/10.2337/dc09-1156
