human
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Almonds , together with other nuts , reduce serum cholesterol levels and may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease . There is much current interest in the relation of coronary heart disease to postpr and ial events . We have therefore assessed the effects of varying amounts of almonds on the postpr and ial blood glucose response to a carbohydrate meal . Our aim was to assess the effect of adding almonds to a bread meal .  Nine healthy volunteers ( 2 women , 7 men ; mean age , 27.8 years ; mean body mass index , 22.9 kg/m2 ) were r and omly fed with 3 test meals and 2 white bread control meals on separate days . Subjects were fed the meals after a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast . Each meal contained 50 g of available carbohydrate from white bread eaten alone or with 30 , 60 , or 90 g ( approximately 1 , 2 , or 3 oz ) of almonds .  Capillary finger-prick blood sample s for glucose analysis were obtained at 0 , 15 , 30 , 45 , 60 , 90 , and 120 minutes . Glycemic responses were assessed by calculating the incremental area under the 2-hour blood glucose curve . The addition of almonds to white bread result ed in a progressive reduction in the glycemic index of the composite meal in a dose-dependent manner for the 30-g ( 105.8 + /- 23.3 ) , 60-g ( 63.0 + /- 9.0 ) , and 90-g ( 45.2 + /- 5.8 ) doses of almonds ( r = -0.524 , n = 36 , P = .001 ) . We conclude that , in addition to lowering serum cholesterol levels , almonds may also reduce the glycemic impact of carbohydrate foods with which they are eaten Nut consumption reduces cardiovascular risk , and reductions in blood pressure and peripheral vascular resistance may be important mediators of this relationship . We evaluated effects of pistachios on flow-mediated dilation and blood pressure response to acute stress . Twenty-eight adults with dyslipidemia completed a r and omized , crossover , controlled-feeding study . All of the meals were provided and calories were controlled . After 2 weeks on a typical Western diet ( 35 % total fat and 11 % saturated fat ) , test diets were presented in counterbalanced order for 4 weeks each , a low-fat control diet ( 25 % total fat and 8 % saturated fat ) , a diet containing 10 % of energy from pistachios ( on average , 1 serving per day ; 30 % total fat and 8 % saturated fat ) , and a diet containing 20 % of energy from pistachios ( on average , 2 servings per day , 34 % total fat and 8 % saturated fat ) . None of the resting hemodynamic measures significantly differed from pretreatment values . When resting and stress levels were included in the repeated- measures analysis , average reductions in systolic blood pressure were greater after the diet containing 1 serving per day versus 2 servings per day of pistachios ( mean change in systolic blood pressure , −4.8 vs −2.4 mm Hg , respectively ; P<0.05 ) . After the higher dose , there were significant reductions in peripheral resistance ( −62.1 dyne·s × cm−5 ) and heart rate ( −3 bpm ) versus the control diet ( P<0.0001 ) . These changes were partially offset by increases in cardiac output . There was no effect of diet on fasting flow-mediated dilation . Reductions in peripheral vascular constriction and the result ing decrease in hemodynamic load may be important contributors to lower risk in nut consumers BACKGROUND Walnut consumption is associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease ( CHD ) . OBJECTIVE We assessed the effect of walnuts on lipid and glucose metabolism , adipokines , inflammation and endothelial function in healthy Caucasian men and postmenopausal women ≥50years old . DESIGN Forty subjects ( mean±SEM : age 60±1years , BMI 24.9±0.6kg/m(2 ) ; 30 females ) were included in a controlled , cross-over study and r and omized to receive first a walnut-enriched ( 43g/d ) and then a Western-type ( control ) diet or vice-versa , with each lasting 8weeks and separated by a 2-week wash-out . At the beginning and end of each diet phase , measurements of fasting values  , a  mixed meal test  and an assessment of postpr and ial endothelial function ( determination of microcirculation by peripheral artery tonometry ) were conducted . Area under the curve ( AUC ) , incremental AUC ( iAUC ) and treatment × time interaction ( shape of the curve ) were evaluated for postpr and ial triglycerides , VLDL-triglycerides , chylomicron-triglycerides , glucose and insulin . RESULTS Compared with the control diet , the walnut diet significantly reduced non-HDL-cholesterol ( walnut vs. control : -10±3 vs. -3±2mg/dL ; p=0.025 ) and apolipoprotein-B ( -5.0±1.3 vs. -0.2±1.1mg/dL ; p=0.009 ) after adjusting for age , gender , BMI and diet sequence . Total cholesterol showed a trend toward reduction ( p=0.073 ) . Fasting VLDL-cholesterol , LDL-cholesterol , HDL-cholesterol , triglycerides and glucose , insulin , HOMA-IR , and HbA1c did not change significantly . Similarly , fasting adipokines , C-reactive protein , biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction , postpr and ial lipid and glucose metabolism and endothelial function were unaffected . CONCLUSION Daily consumption of 43 g of walnuts for 8weeks significantly reduced non-HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein-B , which may explain in part the epidemiological observation that regular walnut consumption decreases CHD risk Frequent consumption of nuts is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease . We investigated the effect of pecans rich in monounsaturated fat as an alternative to the Step 1 diet in modifying serum lipids and lipoproteins in men and women with normal to moderately high serum cholesterol . In a single-blind , r and omized , controlled , crossover feeding study , we assigned 23 subjects ( mean age : 38 y ; 9 women , 14 men ) to follow two diets , each for 4 wk : a Step I diet and a pecan-enriched diet ( accomplished by proportionately reducing all food items in a Step I diet by one fifth for a 20 % isoenergetic replacement with pecans ) . The percentage of energy from fat in the two diets was 28.3 and 39.6 % , respectively . Both diets improved the lipid profile ; however , the pecan-enriched diet decreased both serum total and LDL cholesterol by 0.32 mmol/L ( 6.7 and 10.4 % , respectively ) and triglyceride by 0.14 mmol/L ( 11.1 % ) beyond the Step I diet , while increasing HDL cholesterol by 0.06 mmol/L ( 2.5 mg/dL ) . Serum apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a ) decreased by 11.6 and 11.1 % , respectively , and apolipoprotein A1 increased by 2.2 % when subjects consumed the pecan compared with the Step I diet . These differences were all significant ( P < 0.05 ) . A 20 % isoenergetic replacement of a Step I diet with pecans favorably altered the serum lipid profile beyond the Step I diet , without increasing body weight .  Nuts such as pecans that are rich in monounsaturated fat may therefore be recommended as part of prescribed cholesterol-lowering diet of patients or habitual diet of healthy individuals BACKGROUND Frequent consumption of nuts may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by favorably altering serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations . OBJECTIVE We compared the effects of 2 amounts of almond intake with those of a National Cholesterol Education Program Step I diet on serum lipids , lipoproteins , apolipoproteins , and glucose in healthy and mildly hypercholesterolemic adults . DESIGN In a r and omized crossover design , 25 healthy subjects ( 14 men , 11 women ) with a mean ( + /- SD ) age of 41 + /- 13 y were fed 3 isoenergetic diets for 4 wk each after being fed a 2-wk run-in diet ( containing 34 % of energy from fat ) . The experimental diets included a Step I diet , a low-almond diet , and a high-almond diet , in which almonds contributed 0 % , 10 % , and 20 % of total energy , respectively . RESULTS Inverse relations were observed between the percentage of energy in the diet from almonds and the subject 's total cholesterol ( P value for trend < 0.001 ) , LDL-cholesterol ( P < 0.001 ) , and apolipoprotein B ( P < 0.001 ) concentrations and the ratios of LDL to HDL cholesterol ( P < 0.001 ) and of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A ( P < 0.001 ) . Compared with the Step I diet , the high-almond diet reduced total cholesterol ( 0.24 mmol/L or 4.4 % ; P = 0.001 ) , LDL cholesterol ( 0.26 mmol/L or 7.0 % ; P < 0.001 ) , and apolipoprotein B ( 6.6 mg/dL or 6.6 % ; P < 0.001 ) ; increased HDL cholesterol ( 0.02 mmol/L or 1.7 % ; P = 0.08 ) ; and decreased the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol ( 8.8 % ; P < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS Isoenergetic incorporation of approximately 68 g of almonds ( 20 % of energy ) into an 8368-kJ ( 2000-kcal ) Step I diet markedly improved the serum lipid profile  of healthy and mildly hypercholesterolemic adults .  Total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations declined with progressively higher intakes of almonds , which suggests a dose-response relation Nut consumption has been associated with reduced coronary heart disease ( CHD ) risk . In addition to cholesterol-lowering properties , almonds have been shown to lower oxidized LDL concentrations . However , little is known regarding their effects on other markers of oxidative stress . The dose-response effects of whole almonds , taken as snacks , were compared with low-saturated fat ( < 5 % energy ) whole-wheat muffins ( control ) in the therapeutic diets of hyperlipidemic subjects . In a r and omized crossover study , 27 hyperlipidemic men and women consumed 3 isoenergetic ( mean 423 kcal/d or 1770 kJ/d ) supplements each for 1 mo . Supplements consisted of full-dose almonds ( 73 + /- 3 g/d ) , half-dose almonds plus half-dose muffins ( half-dose almonds ) , and full-dose muffins ( control ) . Subjects were assessed at wk 0 , 2 and 4 . Mean body weights differed < or = 300 g between treatments , although the weight loss on the half-dose almond treatment was greater than on the control ( P < 0.01 ) . At 4 wk , the full-dose almonds reduced serum concentrations of malondialdehyde ( MDA ) ( P = 0.040 ) and creatinine-adjusted urinary isoprostane output ( P = 0.026 ) compared with the control . Serum concentrations of alpha- or gamma-tocopherol , adjusted or unadjusted for total cholesterol , were not affected by the treatments . Almond antioxidant activity was demonstrated by their effect on 2 biomarkers of lipid peroxidation , serum MDA and urinary isoprostanes , and supports the previous finding that almonds reduced oxidation of LDL-C. Antioxidant activity provides an additional possible mechanism , in addition to lowering cholesterol , that may account for the reduction in CHD risk with nut consumption BACKGROUND 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A ( HMG-CoA ) reductase inhibitors reduce serum cholesterol and are increasingly advocated in primary prevention to achieve reductions in LDL cholesterol . Newer dietary approaches combining cholesterol-lowering foods may offer another option , but these approaches have not been compared directly with statins in the same persons . OBJECTIVE The objective was to compare , in the same subjects , the cholesterol-lowering potential of a dietary portfolio with that of a statin . DESIGN Thirty-four hyperlipidemic participants underwent all three 1-mo treatments in r and om order as out patients : a very-low-saturated-fat di 
    Output:
    
agent
There was no effect on waist circumference , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or blood pressure with the direction of effect favouring tree nuts for waist circumference .
Pooled analyses show a MetS benefit of tree nuts through modest decreases in triglycerides and fasting blood glucose with no adverse effects on other criteria across nut types .
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Almonds , together with other nuts , reduce serum cholesterol levels and may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease . There is much current interest in the relation of coronary heart disease to postpr and ial events . We have therefore assessed the effects of varying amounts of almonds on the postpr and ial blood glucose response to a carbohydrate meal . Our aim was to assess the effect of adding almonds to a bread meal .  Nine healthy volunteers ( 2 women , 7 men ; mean age , 27.8 years ; mean body mass index , 22.9 kg/m2 ) were r and omly fed with 3 test meals and 2 white bread control meals on separate days . Subjects were fed the meals after a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast . Each meal contained 50 g of available carbohydrate from white bread eaten alone or with 30 , 60 , or 90 g ( approximately 1 , 2 , or 3 oz ) of almonds .  Capillary finger-prick blood sample s for glucose analysis were obtained at 0 , 15 , 30 , 45 , 60 , 90 , and 120 minutes . Glycemic responses were assessed by calculating the incremental area under the 2-hour blood glucose curve . The addition of almonds to white bread result ed in a progressive reduction in the glycemic index of the composite meal in a dose-dependent manner for the 30-g ( 105.8 + /- 23.3 ) , 60-g ( 63.0 + /- 9.0 ) , and 90-g ( 45.2 + /- 5.8 ) doses of almonds ( r = -0.524 , n = 36 , P = .001 ) . We conclude that , in addition to lowering serum cholesterol levels , almonds may also reduce the glycemic impact of carbohydrate foods with which they are eaten Nut consumption reduces cardiovascular risk , and reductions in blood pressure and peripheral vascular resistance may be important mediators of this relationship . We evaluated effects of pistachios on flow-mediated dilation and blood pressure response to acute stress . Twenty-eight adults with dyslipidemia completed a r and omized , crossover , controlled-feeding study . All of the meals were provided and calories were controlled . After 2 weeks on a typical Western diet ( 35 % total fat and 11 % saturated fat ) , test diets were presented in counterbalanced order for 4 weeks each , a low-fat control diet ( 25 % total fat and 8 % saturated fat ) , a diet containing 10 % of energy from pistachios ( on average , 1 serving per day ; 30 % total fat and 8 % saturated fat ) , and a diet containing 20 % of energy from pistachios ( on average , 2 servings per day , 34 % total fat and 8 % saturated fat ) . None of the resting hemodynamic measures significantly differed from pretreatment values . When resting and stress levels were included in the repeated- measures analysis , average reductions in systolic blood pressure were greater after the diet containing 1 serving per day versus 2 servings per day of pistachios ( mean change in systolic blood pressure , −4.8 vs −2.4 mm Hg , respectively ; P<0.05 ) . After the higher dose , there were significant reductions in peripheral resistance ( −62.1 dyne·s × cm−5 ) and heart rate ( −3 bpm ) versus the control diet ( P<0.0001 ) . These changes were partially offset by increases in cardiac output . There was no effect of diet on fasting flow-mediated dilation . Reductions in peripheral vascular constriction and the result ing decrease in hemodynamic load may be important contributors to lower risk in nut consumers BACKGROUND Walnut consumption is associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease ( CHD ) . OBJECTIVE We assessed the effect of walnuts on lipid and glucose metabolism , adipokines , inflammation and endothelial function in healthy Caucasian men and postmenopausal women ≥50years old . DESIGN Forty subjects ( mean±SEM : age 60±1years , BMI 24.9±0.6kg/m(2 ) ; 30 females ) were included in a controlled , cross-over study and r and omized to receive first a walnut-enriched ( 43g/d ) and then a Western-type ( control ) diet or vice-versa , with each lasting 8weeks and separated by a 2-week wash-out . At the beginning and end of each diet phase , measurements of fasting values  , a  mixed meal test  and an assessment of postpr and ial endothelial function ( determination of microcirculation by peripheral artery tonometry ) were conducted . Area under the curve ( AUC ) , incremental AUC ( iAUC ) and treatment × time interaction ( shape of the curve ) were evaluated for postpr and ial triglycerides , VLDL-triglycerides , chylomicron-triglycerides , glucose and insulin . RESULTS Compared with the control diet , the walnut diet significantly reduced non-HDL-cholesterol ( walnut vs. control : -10±3 vs. -3±2mg/dL ; p=0.025 ) and apolipoprotein-B ( -5.0±1.3 vs. -0.2±1.1mg/dL ; p=0.009 ) after adjusting for age , gender , BMI and diet sequence . Total cholesterol showed a trend toward reduction ( p=0.073 ) . Fasting VLDL-cholesterol , LDL-cholesterol , HDL-cholesterol , triglycerides and glucose , insulin , HOMA-IR , and HbA1c did not change significantly . Similarly , fasting adipokines , C-reactive protein , biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction , postpr and ial lipid and glucose metabolism and endothelial function were unaffected . CONCLUSION Daily consumption of 43 g of walnuts for 8weeks significantly reduced non-HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein-B , which may explain in part the epidemiological observation that regular walnut consumption decreases CHD risk Frequent consumption of nuts is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease . We investigated the effect of pecans rich in monounsaturated fat as an alternative to the Step 1 diet in modifying serum lipids and lipoproteins in men and women with normal to moderately high serum cholesterol . In a single-blind , r and omized , controlled , crossover feeding study , we assigned 23 subjects ( mean age : 38 y ; 9 women , 14 men ) to follow two diets , each for 4 wk : a Step I diet and a pecan-enriched diet ( accomplished by proportionately reducing all food items in a Step I diet by one fifth for a 20 % isoenergetic replacement with pecans ) . The percentage of energy from fat in the two diets was 28.3 and 39.6 % , respectively . Both diets improved the lipid profile ; however , the pecan-enriched diet decreased both serum total and LDL cholesterol by 0.32 mmol/L ( 6.7 and 10.4 % , respectively ) and triglyceride by 0.14 mmol/L ( 11.1 % ) beyond the Step I diet , while increasing HDL cholesterol by 0.06 mmol/L ( 2.5 mg/dL ) . Serum apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a ) decreased by 11.6 and 11.1 % , respectively , and apolipoprotein A1 increased by 2.2 % when subjects consumed the pecan compared with the Step I diet . These differences were all significant ( P < 0.05 ) . A 20 % isoenergetic replacement of a Step I diet with pecans favorably altered the serum lipid profile beyond the Step I diet , without increasing body weight .  Nuts such as pecans that are rich in monounsaturated fat may therefore be recommended as part of prescribed cholesterol-lowering diet of patients or habitual diet of healthy individuals BACKGROUND Frequent consumption of nuts may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by favorably altering serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations . OBJECTIVE We compared the effects of 2 amounts of almond intake with those of a National Cholesterol Education Program Step I diet on serum lipids , lipoproteins , apolipoproteins , and glucose in healthy and mildly hypercholesterolemic adults . DESIGN In a r and omized crossover design , 25 healthy subjects ( 14 men , 11 women ) with a mean ( + /- SD ) age of 41 + /- 13 y were fed 3 isoenergetic diets for 4 wk each after being fed a 2-wk run-in diet ( containing 34 % of energy from fat ) . The experimental diets included a Step I diet , a low-almond diet , and a high-almond diet , in which almonds contributed 0 % , 10 % , and 20 % of total energy , respectively . RESULTS Inverse relations were observed between the percentage of energy in the diet from almonds and the subject 's total cholesterol ( P value for trend < 0.001 ) , LDL-cholesterol ( P < 0.001 ) , and apolipoprotein B ( P < 0.001 ) concentrations and the ratios of LDL to HDL cholesterol ( P < 0.001 ) and of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A ( P < 0.001 ) . Compared with the Step I diet , the high-almond diet reduced total cholesterol ( 0.24 mmol/L or 4.4 % ; P = 0.001 ) , LDL cholesterol ( 0.26 mmol/L or 7.0 % ; P < 0.001 ) , and apolipoprotein B ( 6.6 mg/dL or 6.6 % ; P < 0.001 ) ; increased HDL cholesterol ( 0.02 mmol/L or 1.7 % ; P = 0.08 ) ; and decreased the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol ( 8.8 % ; P < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS Isoenergetic incorporation of approximately 68 g of almonds ( 20 % of energy ) into an 8368-kJ ( 2000-kcal ) Step I diet markedly improved the serum lipid profile  of healthy and mildly hypercholesterolemic adults .  Total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations declined with progressively higher intakes of almonds , which suggests a dose-response relation Nut consumption has been associated with reduced coronary heart disease ( CHD ) risk . In addition to cholesterol-lowering properties , almonds have been shown to lower oxidized LDL concentrations . However , little is known regarding their effects on other markers of oxidative stress . The dose-response effects of whole almonds , taken as snacks , were compared with low-saturated fat ( < 5 % energy ) whole-wheat muffins ( control ) in the therapeutic diets of hyperlipidemic subjects . In a r and omized crossover study , 27 hyperlipidemic men and women consumed 3 isoenergetic ( mean 423 kcal/d or 1770 kJ/d ) supplements each for 1 mo . Supplements consisted of full-dose almonds ( 73 + /- 3 g/d ) , half-dose almonds plus half-dose muffins ( half-dose almonds ) , and full-dose muffins ( control ) . Subjects were assessed at wk 0 , 2 and 4 . Mean body weights differed < or = 300 g between treatments , although the weight loss on the half-dose almond treatment was greater than on the control ( P < 0.01 ) . At 4 wk , the full-dose almonds reduced serum concentrations of malondialdehyde ( MDA ) ( P = 0.040 ) and creatinine-adjusted urinary isoprostane output ( P = 0.026 ) compared with the control . Serum concentrations of alpha- or gamma-tocopherol , adjusted or unadjusted for total cholesterol , were not affected by the treatments . Almond antioxidant activity was demonstrated by their effect on 2 biomarkers of lipid peroxidation , serum MDA and urinary isoprostanes , and supports the previous finding that almonds reduced oxidation of LDL-C. Antioxidant activity provides an additional possible mechanism , in addition to lowering cholesterol , that may account for the reduction in CHD risk with nut consumption BACKGROUND 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A ( HMG-CoA ) reductase inhibitors reduce serum cholesterol and are increasingly advocated in primary prevention to achieve reductions in LDL cholesterol . Newer dietary approaches combining cholesterol-lowering foods may offer another option , but these approaches have not been compared directly with statins in the same persons . OBJECTIVE The objective was to compare , in the same subjects , the cholesterol-lowering potential of a dietary portfolio with that of a statin . DESIGN Thirty-four hyperlipidemic participants underwent all three 1-mo treatments in r and om order as out patients : a very-low-saturated-fat di 
    Output:
    