Abstract:

Objective: The positive effects of nuts and grape products on lipid profiles have been proved by epidemiological and clinical studies. However, studies investigating the effect of raisins on lipid profiles are limited. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of consuming a cardioprotective control diet, and the cardioprotective diet containing either raisins, hazelnuts, or a combination of raisins and hazelnuts in hyperlipidemic obese women in terms of lipid profiles and anthropometric measurements. Methods: Thirty-seven hyperlipidemic obese women were involved in a parallel controlled randomized clinical trial. Participants were randomly divided into four groups. The control group consumed a cardioprotective diet for six weeks while the other participants consumed 50 g/day hazelnut, 50 g/day raisins or 50 g/day hazelnut +50 g/day raisins in a cardioprotective diet. Blood lipids, blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements were measured at the beginning and at the end of the study. Results: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of lipid profiles, blood glucose, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements (all p>0.05). Compared with initial measurements, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and body mass index levels decreased statistically significantly (all p<0.05) in all groups at the end of the study. Conclusion: Because of the improvement on lipid profile and anthropometric measurements in four groups at the end of the study, it was concluded that consumption of hazelnut, raisins or combination of hazelnut andraisins can be recommended to hyperlipidemic individuals in addition to an appropriate diet program.