Effects of walnut consumption for 2 years on older adults' bone health in the Walnuts and Healthy Aging (WAHA) trial.

Background: Nutritional strategies to maintain bone health in aging individuals are of great interest. Given the beneficial nutrient composition of walnuts, rich in alpha-linolenic (the vegetable n-3 fatty acid) and polyphenols, their regular consumption might be a dietary option to reduce age-related bone loss. We determined whether daily walnut consumption improves bone mineral density (BMD) and circulating biomarkers of bone turnover.

Interplay of Walnut Consumption, Changes in Circulating miRNAs and Reduction in LDL-Cholesterol in Elders.

The mechanisms underlying the lipid-lowering effect of nuts remain elusive. This study explores whether one-year supplementation with walnuts decreases LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) by affecting the expression of circulating microRNAs (c-miRNA). In this sub-study of the Walnuts and Healthy Aging (WAHA) trial, we obtained fasting serum at baseline and at 1 year from 330 free-living participants (63-79 year, 68% women), allocated into a control group (CG, abstinence from walnuts, = 164) and a walnut group (WG, 15% of daily energy as walnuts, ~30-60 g/d, = 166).

Effects of Supplementing the Usual Diet with a Daily Dose of Walnuts for Two Years on Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in an Elderly Cohort.

Accumulating evidence links nut consumption with an improved risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, long-term trials are lacking. We examined the effects of a daily dose of walnuts for two years on MetS in a large elderly cohort. A total of 698 healthy elderly participants were randomly assigned to either a walnut supplemented or a control diet.

Effect of a 2-year diet intervention with walnuts on cognitive decline. The Walnuts And Healthy Aging (WAHA) study: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Walnut consumption counteracts oxidative stress and inflammation, 2 drivers of cognitive decline. Clinical data concerning effects on cognition are lacking.

Objectives: The Walnuts And Healthy Aging study is a 2-center (Barcelona, Spain; Loma Linda, CA) randomized controlled trial examining the cognitive effects of a 2-y walnut intervention in cognitively healthy elders.

Consumption of Aged White Wine under a Veil of Flor Reduces Blood Pressure-Increasing Plasma Nitric Oxide in Men at High Cardiovascular Risk.

Background: Hypertension remains the largest attributable risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and a reduction of cardiovascular events is linked to diminished elevated blood pressure (BP) values. High alcohol intake is a common cause of hypertension, but some studies have suggested that moderate wine consumption may reduce BP and increase plasma nitric oxide (NO) due to its polyphenol content.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of Andalusian aged white wine (AWW) under a veil of flor, an alcoholic beverage with a moderate polyphenol content, with those of gin, an alcoholic beverage without polyphenols, on BP and plasma NO in men at high cardiovascular risk.

Effect of a Walnut Diet on Office and 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Elderly Individuals.

Nut consumption lowers blood cholesterol and is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease, but effects on blood pressure (BP) are inconsistent. We assessed the 2-year effects of a walnut diet versus a control diet on office BP and 24-hours ambulatory BP in free-living elders participating in the Walnuts and Healthy Aging study, a randomized trial testing the effects of walnuts at ≈15% energy on age-related disorders. In a prespecified analysis, we enrolled 305 participants, of whom 236 (75%) completed the study (65% women; age, 69 years; 60% with mild hypertension).

Walnut Consumption for Two Years and Leukocyte Telomere Attrition in Mediterranean Elders: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Randomized controlled trials on diet and shortening of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) mostly focus on marine-derived -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Walnuts are a sustainable source of -3 PUFA. We investigated whether inclusion of walnuts (15% of energy) in the diet for 2 years would maintain LTL in cognitively healthy elders (63⁻79 years old) compared to a control group (habitual diet, abstaining from walnuts).

Acute consumption of Andalusian aged wine and gin decreases the expression of genes related to atherosclerosis in men with high cardiovascular risk: Randomized intervention trial.

Background: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. Previous studies have suggested the beneficial effects of moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages on reducing cardiovascular risk (CVR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acute consumption of Andalusian aged wine (AAW) and gin by analyzing the expression of genes related to the appearance and progression of atherosclerosis in men with high CVR.

Consumption of aged white wine modulates cardiovascular risk factors via circulating endothelial progenitor cells and inflammatory biomarkers.

Background & Aims: There is compelling evidence showing that moderate alcohol consumption reduces cardiovascular risk factors related to atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aged white wine (AWW) and gin on circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and the expression of cell adhesion molecules, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines related to atherosclerosis in high cardiovascular risk subjects.

Methods: This was an open, randomized, controlled, crossover study in 38 high-risk male volunteers between 55 and 80 years of age randomized to receive 30 g of ethanol/day as AWW or gin during 3 weeks.

The red blood cell proportion of arachidonic acid relates to shorter leukocyte telomeres in Mediterranean elders: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Shortening of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a biomarker of aging. Epidemiologic studies of LTL in relation to dietary fatty acids have reported conflicting results. The red blood cell (RBC) fatty acid status is a valid objective biomarker of long-term dietary intake of C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3 and long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (C20:5n-3 and C22:6n-3).

Favourable nutrient intake and displacement with long-term walnut supplementation among elderly: results of a randomised trial.

Older adults tend to require fewer energy content and higher levels of nutrients to promote and maintain optimal health. Regrettably, dietary variety and quality are known to decline with advancing age. We conducted a 2-year prospective, randomised, dietary intervention trial where we asked free-living elderly subjects (63-79 years) on self-selected habitual diets to incorporate walnuts daily into their diet (15 % energy).

The Walnuts and Healthy Aging Study (WAHA): Protocol for a Nutritional Intervention Trial with Walnuts on Brain Aging.

An unwanted consequence of population aging is the growing number of elderly at risk of neurodegenerative disorders, including dementia and macular degeneration. As nutritional and behavioral changes can delay disease progression, we designed the Walnuts and Healthy Aging (WAHA) study, a two-center, randomized, 2-year clinical trial conducted in free-living, cognitively healthy elderly men and women. Our interest in exploring the role of walnuts in maintaining cognitive and retinal health is based on extensive evidence supporting their cardio-protective and vascular health effects, which are linked to bioactive components, such as n-3 fatty acids and polyphenols.

The non-alcoholic fraction of beer increases stromal cell derived factor 1 and the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in high cardiovascular risk subjects: a randomized clinical trial.

Rationale: Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a decrease in cardiovascular risk, but fermented beverages seem to confer greater cardiovascular protection due to their polyphenolic content. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are bone-marrow-derived stem cells with the ability to repair and maintain endothelial integrity and function and are considered as a surrogate marker of vascular function and cumulative cardiovascular risk. Nevertheless, no study has been carried out on the effects of moderate beer consumption on the number of circulating EPC in high cardiovascular risk patients.