Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of long term walnut consumption on plasma levels of tocopherols and the inflammatory mediators interleukin-1β (IL-1β ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and Creactive protein (CRP) in healthy participants. Ninety participants were recruited into a 12-month randomized crossover intervention study, which consisted of two phases, the walnut supplemented diet and the habitual diet. Participants were randomly assigned to either of these two phases for six months and then switched to the other phase for the second six months. During the walnut supplemented diet phase, participants incorporated walnuts (28-56 g/d) equal to 12% of their daily energy intake into their habitual diet. Plasma concentrations of a-tocopherols were significantly decreased but y-tocopherol level was insignificantly increased during walnut supplemented diet. However, the ratio of y-tocopherol to cholesterol was significantly higher on the walnut supplemented diet. In addition, data from preliminary analysis on correlation of gender, age and BMI on CRP showed linear effect of BMI to log (CRP) (β = 0.088 ± 0.029, p = 0.002), however, no effect of gender and age on CRP levels were found. CRP levels were almost 50% lower in the group of NSAIDs and vitamin E supplement users. Moreover, the walnuts supplemented diet together with vitamin E supplement elevated CRP level by 22.72%. After excluding usage of fish oil, vitamin E supplement and NSAIDs, thirty participants were qualified for the inflammatory mediator analysis. There was no significant change in any of the plasma e-selectin and TNF-a level. However, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly decreased during the walnuts supplemented diet (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of walnuts for 12% of daily energy intake into the diet did not increase plasma y-tocopherol, but decreased a-tocopherol level significantly. Moreover, IL-11β and IL-6 were decreased significantly with this amount of walnuts intake.

Department

Nutrition

School

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Ella H. Haddad

Second Advisor

Sujatha Rajaram

Third Advisor

Edward Fujimoto

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2005

Date (Title Page)

6-2005

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Nuts; Juglans; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Dietary Fats; Linolenic Acids; Coronary Arteriosclerosis -- diet therapy; Cholesterol, Dietary.

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xii; 120

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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