Walnut

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Executive Summary

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Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Research into Chinese medicine treatment for Walnut" summarising the research below and using language that can be easily understood by patients and avoiding medical jargon using a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Researched Chinese medicine treatments for Walnut" summarising the research below in an objective and easy to understand way, and using language that can be easily understood by patients. Group the article into Chinese medicine treatments first, followed by nutrition and other treatments. Avoid using medical jargon and use a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write me a concise but easy to understand executive summary on the topic of "Chinese medicine treatments for Walnut" based on the following research that I will give you. Your summary should be 2 paragraphs long in Australian English spelling and include references to the studies.

A Cohort Study published in 2023 in the journal The Journal of Nutrition found that Regular nut consumption, particularly peanuts and walnuts, is associated with a lower incidence of frailty in aging female populations. The methodology of the study includes a population-based observational study of nonfrail women aged 60 and above from 11 states across the US, from the Nurses' Health Study. The outcome focused on incidence of frailty, defined through the FRAIL components such as fatigue, lower strength, reduced aerobic capacity, multiple chronic conditions, and significant weight loss. These were assessed every four years from 1992 to 2016. Food Frequency Questionnaires were used to examine the intake of peanuts, peanut butter, walnuts, and other nuts every four years from 1990 to 2014. Total nut consumption was calculated and categorized into varying serving sizes, and the relation of intake of each type of nut with frailty was examined separately using Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for various factors such as age, smoking, BMI, diet quality, and medication use. In discussing the results, out of 71,704 participants, 14,195 frailty cases arose over a million person-years. Notably, regular consumption of nuts, particularly peanuts and walnuts, showed a significant inverse relation with frailty. That is, a higher intake of these types of nuts were associated with lower cases of frailty. However, the same didn't apply to peanut butter. This affirms the potential benefits of regular nut consumption in aging female population's health and well-being.

A Animal Study published in 2022 in the journal Cytokine found that Walnut seed skin extract demonstrates potential hepato-renal protective effects, inhibiting inflammatory responses, oxidative stress and apoptosis, in kidney-damaged Sprague-Dawley rats. In the methodology, Sprague-Dawley rats in acute kidney injury state were divided into three groups: a healthy control, a group induced with renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR), and another group induced with renal IR and treated with walnut seed skin (WSS) extract. Blood, liver and kidney tissues were collected for serum evaluations of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, urea, and creatinine. Histopathological studies were performed on liver and kidney tissues, and gene markers related to anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and apoptotic effects were measured. The results showed an improvement in deteriorated serum parameters in rats with renal ischemia pre-treated with WSS extract. Histopathological analysis revealed a protective effect of WSS on kidney and liver tissues. Though gene expression studies yielded diverse results for liver and kidney tissues, the consensus was that WSS had a pronounced protective impact on the liver. It was inferred that WSS's healing potential in renal and hepatic tissues seems to work via inhibiting inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

A Experimental Study published in 2021 in the journal Nutrients found that Tiger nut and walnut supplementation in diets can improve testosterone levels and help control vasoconstriction, potentially benefiting hypertensive individuals. Rats were used in the experiment, placed into seven distinct groups with various diet and medicinal intake combinations including basal diet controls, supplemented processed and raw tiger nut (TN) and walnut (WN) diets, and more. Before hypertension was induced with L-NAME, the rats were given their regular diet for two weeks. After this period, they began receiving L-NAME for ten subsequent days. The scientists then measured the impacts on the rats' platelet androgen levels, ectonucleotidases, and adenosine deaminase (ADA). The L-NAME treatment resulted in a considerable decline in testosterone levels in the rats. However, the groups that were fed diets supplemented with TN and WN exhibited improved testosterone levels compared to the control group, yet their luteinizing hormone levels remained unchanged. The L-NAME-treated group also saw an increase in ATP hydrolysis and ADA activity, alongside a reduction in ADP and AMP hydrolysis. These effects were substantially reversed in the groups that were fed supplemented TN and WN diets. This suggests that TN and WN could enhance testosterone levels and modulate the purinergic system in platelets, which might be a potential mechanism through which they contribute to the control of vasoconstriction.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases found that Consumption of certain foods like rapeseed/canola oil, avocados, and turmeric can lead to moderate to large reductions in LDL cholesterol levels. The research was carried out by conducting a systematic evaluation of existing guidelines, systematic reviews, and Randomised Control Trials (RCTs); we have only referred to the latter for studies on coffee intake. This was done on databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, alongside a search on the Trip database for guidelines. The time frame for the study was from its inception up until June 2019 and October 2019 respectively. Studies were included if they were at least 13 days in duration and were in English. Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method, 37 guidelines, 108 systematic reviews, and 20 RCTs were evaluated to analyze the strength of evidence in the context of food impacts on LDL cholesterol levels. The results of the research reveal that foods high in unsaturated and low in saturated and trans fatty acids such as rapeseed or canola oil, those with added plant sterols/stanols, and those high in soluble fibre like oats, barley and psyllium cause moderate reductions in LDL cholesterol. A moderate to a large increase was observed with unfiltered coffee though. Soy protein, tomatoes, flaxseeds, and almonds cause small reductions. Meanwhile, foods like avocados and turmeric cause moderate to large reductions with a moderate level of evidence supporting this observation. Other foods like pulses, hazelnuts, walnuts, high-fiber/wholegrain foods, green tea result in small to moderate reductions, and sugar causes a small increase. Several foods identified were either neutral or had low or very low evidence regarding their effects on LDL cholesterol levels.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal Annals of Medicine found that The existing evidence, although with low level of confidence, suggests that walnut intake may have a beneficial effect on cognition-related outcomes, including cognitive function, mood, and stroke. The existing evidence, although with low level of confidence, suggests that walnut intake may have a beneficial effect on cognition-related outcomes, including cognitive function, mood, and stroke. Limitations in study design and comparability render the available evidence insufficient to draw a firm conclusion regarding the effects of walnut on cognition in adults. High quality studies and standardized interventions and measurement tools are necessary to determine the role of walnut intake in cognitive health.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2021 in the journal Biology of Sport found that Walnut consumption coupled with concurrent training improves lipid profile, steroid hormone levels, and systematic inflammation in elderly men. The study created two matched groups of fit elderly men and placed one on a diet inclusive of walnuts (15g/day for six weeks) alongside their concurrent (resistance and endurance) training. The other group did the concurrent training without the walnut-supplemented diet. The study then took fasting blood samples from the participants 48 hours before and after the intervention for biochemical assessments. The group consuming walnuts saw a significant improvement in their lipid profiles with increased high-density lipoprotein levels and decreased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels. The walnut-eating participants also saw an increase in testosterone levels after the training, which was significantly higher than the group not consuming walnuts. Additionally, the walnut-consuming group experienced lowered cortisol levels and decreased C-reactive protein compared to the group not consuming walnuts. It is plausible the results could be attributed to the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in walnuts.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Advances in Nutrition found that Regular walnut consumption is consistently linked to improved cognitive performance in adults, particularly those at higher risk of cognitive decline. The methodology of this review involved a systematic search of four different databases - Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL Plus, and Embase, from their inception through to April 2020. The search aimed to identify both interventional and observational studies that investigated the effect of nut intake on cognitive outcomes in adults aged 18 and above. The specific nuts studied included almonds, hazelnuts, macadamias, pistachios, walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, and peanuts. The review then selected the most relevant studies for further analysis; out of 2,374 identified articles, 22 met the criteria, with a combined participant count of 43,793. The resulting discussion of this review's findings highlighted that, despite inconsistencies due to varying study designs and types of nuts studied, regular mixed nut intake could potentially protect cognitive function in different age groups. However, more notable was the recurrent evidence found in studies focusing on groups at a higher risk of cognitive impairment, which repeatedly reported improved outcomes. Particularly, studies specifically targeting walnut consumption consistently found it positively associated with enhanced cognitive performance. The review found homogeneous results within these walnut-centred studies, with only one out of six, including two randomized controlled trials, not reporting a positive association.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal British Journal of Nutrition found that Consuming walnuts does not significantly alter blood glucose levels, indicating cardiovascular protective effects of walnuts are not due to improved glycaemic control. The study involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of previous randomized trials that investigated the effects of walnut consumption on glycaemic control markers such as fasting blood glucose, insulin, and glycated Hb. Studies were found through a comprehensive search of databases including Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane up to March 2nd, 2019. The included studies' risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. In light of the results, although 16 studies were included in the review, it was found that walnut consumption did not significantly impact fasting blood glucose levels or other markers for glycaemic control. Recognizing that the studies included in the analysis were either deemed to have 'some concerns' or 'high risk' of bias, these results suggest that the beneficial effects of walnuts on cardiovascular health aren't caused by improvements in glycaemic control.

A Review Article published in 2020 in the journal Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience found that Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation during the prenatal and perinatal period could have a protective effect on neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD, ASD, and MDD in youth. The research implemented supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids also known as Omega-3 PUFAs, in different quantities and durations to youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This was carried out based on suggested dosage and duration from various randomized controlled trials and systemic literature reviews. It was observed that omega-3 PUFAs were essential nutrients not just for physical health but also for mental health, more so during the prenatal and perinatal stages of development. The results demonstrated that clinical symptoms improved in youth with ADHD, MDD and ASD after they were supplemented with Omega-3 PUFAs, especially in cases where there was high inflammation or low baseline Omega-3 index present. The research showed very promising evidence that Omega-3 PUFAs had positive effects on lethargy and hyperactivity symptoms in ASD. There was also an inclination that Omega-3 PUFAs levels and inflammation could be potential markers for treatment response in ADHD and MDD.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2020 in the journal Andrology found that Incorporating tree nuts into a Western-style diet subtly modifies specific DNA methylation regions within sperm, thereby showing parts of the sperm epigenome can respond to dietary changes. The study methodology involved a post hoc analysis with a subset of the participants (healthy, non-smoking, and young) from the FERTINUTS 14-week randomized-controlled, parallel trial. The selected participants were from the pool of individuals who completed the entire dietary intervention trial. These individuals were split into two groups: the nut group, which consumed 60 grams per day of mixed nuts for 14 weeks, and the control group, who maintained their regular Western-style diet devoid of nuts. Investigation of the trial's results revealed no significant changes in overall methylation between the two groups. However, for the nut group, there were 36 genomic regions distinctly showing differential methylation between the beginning and end of the trial with a marked increase in methylation. No such changes were identified in the control group. Analysis also involved examining if nut consumption led to changes in the epigenetic age of cells, but no significant differences were discovered.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2020 in the journal Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that Incorporating daily doses of walnuts into the diet of elderly individuals significantly reduces the concentrations of several inflammatory biomarkers. This study followed the WALHA study protocol and involved 708 elderly participants from two centers, one in Barcelona, Spain, and another in Loma Linda, California. They were randomly assigned into two groups: one group incorporated walnuts, at least 15% of energy (30 to 60g per day), into their diets, while the other group abstained from walnuts. The participants visited dietitians every two months for advice to maintain their allocated diets and physical activity level. The walnut group received 8-week allotments of raw-piece walnuts in sachets for daily consumption. The researchers conducted assessments of inflammatory biomarkers at the start and end of this 2-year study. Differences in the changes of inflammatory markers between diets were analyzed using multivariate-adjusted analysis of covariance. Of the 634 participants who completed the study, 66% were women and 32% were on statins. The average age was 69 years. There were no changes in body weight throughout the trial. Incorporation of walnuts into the diet resulted in significantly reduced concentrations of six out of ten examined biomarkers. Changes in inflammatory molecules were not related to changes in the main food groups.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Nutrients found that These reports suggest the benefits of a walnut-enriched diet in brain disorders and in other chronic diseases, due to the additive or synergistic effects of walnut components for protection against oxidative stress and inflammation in these diseases. Walnuts contain several components that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Animal and human studies from our and other groups suggest that supplementation with walnuts in the diet may improve cognition and reduce the risk and/or progression of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, several animal and human studies have suggested that walnuts may also decrease the risk or progression of other brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and depression, as well as of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Together, these reports suggest the benefits of a walnut-enriched diet in brain disorders and in other chronic diseases, due to the additive or synergistic effects of walnut components for protection against oxidative stress and inflammation in these diseases.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2019 in the journal Nutrients found that Consuming walnuts daily can reduce cardiovascular risk factors in chronic kidney disease patients without altering significant physiological levels. In this prospective, randomized, crossover, pilot clinical trial, 13 patients suffering from chronic kidney disease were selected as subjects. They were randomly divided into two groups, one of which was assigned a diet including 30 grams of walnuts each day while the other followed a control diet. After a duration of 30 days, a washout period of an additional 30 days was allowed, following which the groups were switched to the alternate diet. Key markers such as urinary and serum levels of phosphorous and potassium, multiple vascular risk factors, and urinary inositol phosphates were measured before initiating the trial and post the intervention period. The study indicated that a dietary supplement of walnuts resulted in reduced blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, and decreased albumin excretion. Interestingly, despite these changes, it had no impact on the physiological levels of phosphorous, potassium, parathyroid hormone, and fibroblast growth factor 23. This indicates that daily consumption of walnuts, when incorporated in a sodium, protein, phosphate, and potassium controlled diet, has the potential to be an effective strategy in reducing cardiovascular risk among chronic kidney disease patients without perturbing key physiological levels.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2019 in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition found that Consuming walnuts can enhance sperm motility and morphology, potentially improving fertility in males with infertility issues. This study was a randomized clinical trial split into two comparison groups, all of which received typical care for male infertility. Besides the usual care, one group added 42 gm/d walnuts to their diet, while the other group included a daily nutritional supplement recommended for male reproductive health. The participants, a total of 75 in number and with varied demographic profiles, were enrolled at an infertility clinic located in a large metropolitan medical center. The study ran for 3 months, with research measures including semen analysis and blood samples at baseline and after 3 months, while dietary recall and fertility reports were obtained at various stages. In terms of results, the group consuming walnuts showed a marked increase in sperm motility and concentration after 3 months. Simultaneously, both groups—those consuming walnuts and the group consuming the nutritional supplement—demonstrated an improvement in sperm morphology. Further, preliminary data observed over one year suggested a higher frequency of pregnancy in the group consuming walnuts, although it was not statistically significant.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care found that Most bioactive walnut micronutrients synergize to affect multiple metabolic pathways leading to protection from chronic noncommunicable diseases. Nuts in general and walnuts in particular are in the limelight for the association of their consumption with improved health outcomes. Walnuts have an optimal composition in bioactive nutrients and recent clinical and experimental studies have uncovered a number of beneficial effects of walnut micronutrients, working in isolation or in concert, on metabolic pathways and clinical outcomes that make this review timely and relevant. Alpha-linolenic acid, a critical walnut component, is metabolized into bioactive oxylipins, has been shown to protect microglial cells from inflammation, and is associated with lower fatal myocardial infarction rates through a putative antiarrhythmic effect. Phytosterols relate to the cholesterol-lowering effect of nut consumption. Nonsodium minerals are associated with better cardiometabolic health. Walnut phytomelatonin has anticancer effects that are shared by the main walnut polyphenols and their metabolites, ellagitannins and urolithins, respectively. This review highlights new evidence on the health-promoting properties of walnuts and their main micronutrient components. The conclusion is that walnuts are optimal healthful foods.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that Incorporating walnuts into the diet improved blood lipid profile without adversely affecting body weight or blood pressure. The present meta-analysis of controlled trials provides robust evidence for the benefits of walnut consumption on blood lipids without adversely affecting body weight or blood pressure and supports the results of epidemiologic studies showing inverse associations between walnut consumption and CVD risk. Despite walnuts being energy-dense, the consumption of walnuts does not promote weight gain and thus they can be incorporated into an overall healthy dietary pattern to enhance health benefits.

A Systematic Review published in 2014 in the journal The Journal of Nutrition found that Polyphenolic compounds found in walnuts not only reduce the oxidant and inflammatory load on brain cells but also improve interneuronal signaling, increase neurogenesis, and enhance sequestration of insoluble toxic protein aggregates. In conclusion, age-related increases in oxidative stress and inflammation, especially when coupled with metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction, lead to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. This process of brain aging occurs even in the absence of specific neurodegenerative diseases. Although most chronic neurodegenerative diseases cannot currently be cured, preventive measures earlier in life can protect cognitive function in old age and may prevent or delay the onset of debilitating neurodegenerative diseases. Dietary interventions provide a safe and palatable means of modifying the body's internal environment and, importantly, the neuronal environment within the brain. Walnut polyphenols and tocopherols can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation; furthermore, PUFAs help maintain neuronal membrane integrity and attenuate protein aggregation involved in AD. In rodent studies, the addition of dietary walnuts, equivalent to a single serving of walnuts for humans, was sufficient to improve both motor and cognitive behavior in aged animals. In humans, the inclusion of walnuts in the diet improved cardiovascular health, which is itself a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases and age-related cognitive decline. Taken together, this evidence suggests that the integration of walnuts into a healthy diet could be an effective means of prolonging health spans, slowing the processes of brain aging, and reducing the risk of chronic neurodegenerative disease.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2012 in the journal Biology of Reproduction found that Consuming 75g of whole-shelled walnuts daily improves sperm vitality, motility, and morphology in young men adhering to a Western-style diet. A random-led, two-group dietary intervention trial with single-blind outcome assessment was administered to 117 healthy men ranging from 21 to 35 years, all eating a Western-style diet. The main aim was to examine any changes in conventional semen parameters and sperm aneuploidy after 12 weeks, with changes in blood serum and sperm fatty acid profiles, sex hormones, and serum folate as secondary endpoints. The half of participants tasked with eating walnuts displayed improvements in sperm vitality, motility, and morphology, while no changes were seen in the control group that continued their normal diet and avoided tree nuts. The outcomes displayed that the group which had taken walnuts showed improvement in terms of their sperm vitality, motility, and morphology. There were also enhancements in serum fatty acid profiles, including increase in omega-6, and omega-3 amongst the walnut consuming group. No such improvements were observed in the control group. Furthermore, sperm aneuploidy was shown to have a reverse correlation with sperm alpha-linolenic acid, particularly in sex chromosome nullisomy.

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