The heart health benefits of eating walnuts may be due to changes in the mix of microbes living in our gut – known as the microbiome.
This was shown by a study conducted by scientists from Texas Tech University, EurekAlert reports.
This is because the change in the microbiome leads to an increase in the body’s production of the amino acid L-homoarginine, the scientists say – a deficiency in homoarginine is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Earlier studies have shown that walnuts may have heart health benefits such as lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, the researchers note. “This prompted us to look at how walnuts affect the gut microbiome and whether these effects lead to potential beneficial effects.
As part of the study, researchers looked at 35 high-risk participants who followed a standard Western diet for two weeks and then randomly switched to one of three study diets, one of which included walnuts.
Analysis of the results of the study revealed:
- higher levels of Gordonibacter bacteria were found in the guts of participants on the nut diet. This bacterium converts the plant polyphenols elagitannin and ellagic acid into metabolites, allowing them to be absorbed by the body;
- participants who ate the nut diet also showed higher levels of expression of several genes involved in important metabolic and biosynthetic pathways, including those that increase the body’s production of the amino acid L-homoarginine.
Since many people are allergic to nuts, these results also suggest that other supplements that increase endogenous homoarginine production may also be beneficial, the researchers conclude.
Source: EurekAlert
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I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.