Postprandial Effects of Walnut Components Versus Whole Walnuts on Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Reduction

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. A baseline (0 min) fasting blood sample was collected. Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. Blood samples (∼30 mL) were subsequently taken at 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min following the meal and FRAP was measured at 0, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min. The FRAP assay was used to determine the reducing ability of plasma in a redox-linked colorimetric reaction. Plasma was incubated with the FRAP reagent at room temperature for 1 h and the absorbance at 593 nm was then recorded. Trolox was used as a reference to construct a standard curve to calculate the FRAP value of the samples. The FRAP assay measures lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidants (total antioxidant capacity), both of which are present in walnuts.

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. A baseline (0 min) blood sample was collected. Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of 4 walnut test meals. Blood samples (∼30 mL) were subsequently taken at 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min following the meal and FRAP was measured at 0, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min. The FRAP assay was used to determine the reducing ability of plasma in a redox-linked colorimetric reaction. Plasma was incubated with the FRAP reagent at room temperature for 1 h and the absorbance at 593 nm was then recorded. Trolox was used as a reference to construct a standard curve to calculate the FRAP value of the samples. The FRAP assay measures lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidants (total antioxidant capacity), both of which are present in walnuts. Several blood samples (n=3) could not be obtained/measured (walnut skin group at 360 min, walnut oil group at 120 min, whole walnut group at 240 min).

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. A baseline (0 min) fasting blood sample was collected. Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. Blood samples (∼30 mL) were subsequently taken at 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min following the meal and total thiols measured at 0, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min. Total thiols in plasma were determined by the following methods: an aliquot of EDTA plasma was mixed with Tris-EDTA buffer, followed by addition of 10 mmol/L 2,2-dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid and methanol. After incubation at room temperature for 15 min and centrifugation, the absorbance of the supernatant was measured at 412 nm.

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. A baseline (0 min) fasting blood sample was collected. Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. Blood samples (∼30 mL) were subsequently taken at 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min following the meal and total thiols measured at 0, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min. Total thiols in plasma were determined by the following methods: an aliquot of EDTA plasma was mixed with Tris-EDTA buffer, followed by addition of 10 mmol/L 2,2-dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid and methanol. After incubation at room temperature for 15 min and centrifugation, the absorbance of the supernatant was measured at 412 nm. Several blood samples (n=3) could not be obtained/measured (walnut skin group at 360 min, walnut oil group at 120 min, whole walnut group at 240 min).

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. A baseline (0 min) fasting blood sample was collected. Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. Blood samples (∼30 mL) were subsequently taken at 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min following the meal and MDA measured at 0, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min. Plasma MDA was measured by an Agilent 1100 HPLC system with fluorometric detection.

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the clinic after a 12-h overnight fast. A baseline (0 min) blood sample was collected. Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. Blood samples (∼30 mL) were subsequently taken at 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min following the meal and MDA measured at 0, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min. Plasma MDA was measured by an Agilent 1100 HPLC system with fluorometric detection. Several blood samples (n=2) could not be obtained (walnut oil group at 120 min and whole walnut group at 240 min).

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. A baseline (0 min) fasting blood sample was collected. Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. Blood samples (∼30 mL) were subsequently taken at 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min following the meal and CRP measured at 0, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min. Serum CRP was measured by latex-enhanced immunonephelometry.

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. A baseline (0 min) fasting blood sample was collected. Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. Blood samples (∼30 mL) were subsequently taken at 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min following the meal and CRP measured at 0, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min. Serum CRP was measured by latex-enhanced immunonephelometry. Several blood samples (n=3) could not be obtained/measured (walnut oil/120 min, whole walnut/240 min, and walnut skin/360 min).

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. At baseline the endothelial function test was performed using pulse amplitude tonometry (PAT) (Itamar Medical). Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. The endothelial function test was performed again at 240 min postmeal. RHI was calculated as the ratio of the average pulse wave amplitude during hyperemia (60 to 120 s of the post occlusion period) to the average pulse wave amplitude during baseline in the occluded hand divided by the same values in the control hand and then multiplied by a baseline correction factor. No endothelial function test data available for one participant within the walnut oil group and one within the defatted walnut nutmeat group.

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. At baseline the endothelial function test was performed using pulse amplitude tonometry (PAT) (Itamar Medical). Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. The endothelial function test was performed again at 240 min postmeal. fRHI is an alternative calculation derived from the same raw data (as RHI) and differs in that it uses the period from 90 to 120 s of postocclusion hyperemia, does not incorporate a baseline correction factor, and has a natural log transformation applied to the resulting ratio. No endothelial function test data available for one participant within the walnut oil group and one within the defatted walnut nutmeat group.

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. At baseline the endothelial function test was performed using pulse amplitude tonometry (PAT) (Itamar Medical). Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. The endothelial function test was performed again at 240 min postmeal. No endothelial function test data available for one participant within the walnut oil group and one within the defatted walnut nutmeat group.

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. At baseline the endothelial function test was performed using pulse amplitude tonometry (PAT) (Itamar Medical). Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. The endothelial function test was performed again at 240 min postmeal. AI is a measure of vascular stiffness (pulse wave reflection) that is calculated from the shape of the pulse wave recorded during baseline. No endothelial function test data was available for one participant within the walnut oil group and one within the defatted walnut nutmeat group.

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. At baseline the endothelial function test was performed using pulse amplitude tonometry (PAT) (Itamar Medical). Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. The endothelial function test was performed again at 240 min postmeal. AI is a measure of vascular stiffness (pulse wave reflection) that is calculated from the shape of the pulse wave recorded during baseline. AI can be adjusted to a heart rate of 75 beats/min (AI_75) to correct for the independent effect of heart rate on this measure.No endothelial function test data was available for one participant within the walnut oil group and one within the defatted walnut nutmeat group.

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. A baseline (0 min) fasting blood sample was collected. Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. Blood samples (∼30 mL) were subsequently taken at 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min following the meal and TG was measured at 0, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min. TG were determined by standard colorimetric and enzymatic procedures with commercially available kits (Alfa Wassermann).

On the day of each test, participants arrived at the General Clinical Research Center after a 12-h overnight fast. A baseline (0 min) fasting blood sample was collected. Participants then had 15 min to consume 1 of the 4 walnut test meals. Blood samples (∼30 mL) were subsequently taken at 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min following the meal and TG was measured at 0, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min. TG were determined by standard colorimetric and enzymatic procedures with commercially available kits (Alfa Wassermann). Several blood samples (n=4) could not be obtained/measured [walnut skin group at 360 min (n=1), walnut oil group at 120 min (n=2), whole walnut group at 240 min(n=1)].