Walnuts Improve Blood Markers of Diabetes

In that previous studies have shown heart benefits of nut consumption, David Katz, from Yale University School of Medicine (Connecticut, USA), and colleagues studied 14 women and 10 men, median age 58 years, with type 2 diabetes, assigning some of them to consume 56 grams of walnuts daily, for 8 weeks. At the conclusion of the study period, the researchers found significant improvements in the function of the blood vessel lining (endothelium), with blood flow improved by 2.2% in the group that consumed walnuts (as compared to 1.2% in the non- supplemented group).  The walnut-enriched diet also increased lowered serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein.  The team concludes that: "“A walnut-enriched … diet improves endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in type 2 diabetics, suggesting a potential reduction in overall cardiac risk.”