Nut consumption for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease
Martin N, Germanò R, Hartley L, Adler AJ, Rees K
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 16 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Meta-analysis (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
- Intake measured by
- Food provided by researchers
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- Government
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
- Grants
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (WMCLAHRC-2014-1); National Institute for Health and Care Research (10/4001/13)
Based on 2 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2015-09-28 · Cochrane Database Syst Rev · vol. 2015 · issue 9 · p. CD011583
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Cited
- 24 citations · more than 82% of similar papers · 1.6× the field average
- References
- 160 works
- Access
- Open access (repository copy)
- Research areas
- Nuts composition and effects · Peanut Plant Research Studies · Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Keywords
- Medicine, CINAHL, Clinical trial, MEDLINE, Randomized controlled trial, Meta-analysis, Disease, Relative risk, Data extraction, Family medicine, Environmental health, Psychological intervention, Internal medicine, Confidence interval, Psychiatry
- MeSH
- humans, nuts, cardiovascular diseases, lipids, primary prevention, blood pressure, randomized controlled trials as topic
5 authors
From GB, IT
- Nicole MartinFarr Institute; University College London
- Roberta GermanòUniversity of Naples Federico II
- Louise HartleyUniversity of Warwick
- Alma J AdlerLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Karen ReesUniversity of Warwick
Abstract
Background
Nuts contain a number of nutritional attributes which may be cardioprotective. A number of epidemiological studies have shown that nut consumption may have a beneficial effect on people who have cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. However, results from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are less consistent.
Objectives
To determine the effectiveness of nut consumption for the primary prevention of CVD.
Search methods
We searched the following electronic databases: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), Health Technology Assessment Database (HTA) and Health Economics Evaluations Database (HEED) up to 30 July 2015. We searched trial registers and reference lists of reviews for further studies. We did not apply any language restrictions.
Selection criteria
We included RCTs of dietary advice to increase nut consumption or provision of nuts to increase consumption lasting at least three months and including healthy adults or adults at moderate and high risk of CVD. The comparison group was no intervention or minimal intervention. The outcomes of interest were CVD clinical events and CVD risk factors.
Data collection and analysis
Two review authors independently selected trials for inclusion, abstracted the data and assessed the risk of bias in included trials.
Main results
We included five trials (435 participants randomised) and one ongoing trial. One study is awaiting classification. All trials examined the provision of nuts to increase consumption rather than dietary advice. None of the included trials reported on the primary outcomes, CVD clinical events, but trials were small and short term. All five trials reported on CVD risk factors. Four of these trials provided data in a useable format for meta-analyses, but heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis for most of the analyses. Overall trials were judged to be at unclear risk of bias.There were variable and inconsistent effects of nut consumption on CVD risk factors (lipid levels and blood pressure). Three trials monitored adverse events. One trial reported an allergic reaction to nuts and three trials reported no significant weight gain with increased nut consumption. None of the included trials reported on other secondary outcomes, occurrence of type 2 diabetes as a major risk factor for CVD, health-related quality of life and costs.
Authors' conclusions
Currently there is a lack of evidence for the effects of nut consumption on CVD clinical events in primary prevention and very limited evidence for the effects on CVD risk factors. No conclusions can be drawn and further high quality longer term and adequately powered trials are needed to answer the review question.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
Community trust
Loading…
How much do you trust this study's findings?
Comments
Sign in to rate, comment on or flag this study.Sign inSomething wrong here?
Flag this study if its information, labels or funding look wrong. An editor reviews every flag.
Sign in to rate, comment on or flag this study.Sign inEducational information about published research. Not medical advice, and not a recommendation to start or stop anything.