Treenuts (walnuts, pistachios, almonds, Brazil nuts,pine nuts, cashews, macadamias, pecans, macadamias) contain nutrients includingvitamin E, minerals, MUFA and PUFA (specifically alpha-linoleic acid ALA).  We measured free and total polyphenols by asingle step Folin assay.  Walnuts rankedfirst among nuts in phenolic antioxidant content.  Walnuts were highest in PUFA and phytosterols.  We also measured the quality of theantioxidants based on our 'heart disease in a test tube' model.  Nuts were 4-15 times better than vitaminE.    Considering both quantity and quality of phenolicantioxidants, walnuts were superior to other nuts.  In human supplementation studies walnuts improvedendothelial function, lipid profiles, blood pressure, blood pressure understress, and antioxidant capacity without weight gain.  Consumption of treenuts is associated with ahigh quality diet with respect to health. Nuts are under-consumed but furnish 8% of the polyphenols in the averageUS diet with walnut #1 among the tree nuts.

Walnuts
combine superior phenolic antioxidant content and proven health benefits

241st National Meeting (2011)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Walnuts combine superior phenolic antioxidant content and proven health benefits