Effects of supplementing a healthy diet with pecan nuts or extra-virgin olive oil on inflammatory profile of patients with stable coronary artery disease: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Abstract The consumption of nuts and extra-virgin olive oil has been associated with suppression of inflammatory pathways that contribute to atherosclerosis, but its role on the modulation of the inflammatory profile in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding pecan nuts or extra-virgin olive oil to a healthy diet on inflammatory markers in patients with stable CAD. In this randomized clinical trial, 204 patients were enrolled to three study groups: 67 to control group (CG: healthy diet), 68 to pecan nuts group (PNG: 30g/day of pecans + healthy diet) and 69 to extra-virgin olive oil group (OOG: 30ml/day of extra-virgin olive oil + healthy diet). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, in mg/L), fibrinogen (mg/dL), interleukins (IL) 2, 4, 6, 10 (pg/mL) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ, in pg/mL), IL-6/IL-10, IL-2/IL-4 and INF-γ/IL-4 ratios were evaluated at baseline and after the follow-up (12 weeks). As main results, after adjustment for sex, statin used and relative body weight variation, there were no differences between groups regarding inflammatory markers at the end of the study. IL-6 levels (primary outcome) were reduced in 12 weeks when compared to baseline in all study groups [CG: difference: −0.593 (SE = 0.159) pg/dL; PNG: difference: −0.335 (SE = 0.143) pg/dL; OOG: IL-6 difference: −0.325 (SE = 0.143) pg/dL]. In conclusion, there was no significant effect of including pecan nuts or extra virgin olive oil to a healthy diet on inflammatory markers in individuals with CAD.