Walnut Effects
The effect of walnuts compared to fish on lipids and fatty acids in blood
Regular consumption of fish and of plant foods have been shown to produce significant benefits to heart health because each has a high degree of n-3 fatty acids. However, each derives the fatty acid from different sources. Fish are rich in EPA/DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexanoic acid) while plant food is rich in ALA (alpha linolenic acid).
This study is a carefully controlled feeding study over the course of 14 weeks. All participants will consume a typical US diet that will include chicken and beef for one week. This will be followed by assignment to one of three groups, each of which will have a four-week diet on a control diet, a walnut-rich diet, and a fish diet. The walnut-rich diet includes 1.5 ounces of walnuts each day. The fish diet includes fish meals two times each week.
Blood and urine samples are collected from each participant at the end of each four-week diet period and following a 12-hour fast. Following the diet phase of the study, analysis will be performed on the biological samples to determine the effect of each diet on selected coronary risk factors.
This research is sponsored by the California Walnut Commission.
