Researchers have found that eating a handful of nuts a day is associated with improvements in blood cholesterol levels.

The pooled analysis of data from 25 trials has been reported in the May 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

The authors write as background information in the article "Dietary interventions to lower blood cholesterol concentrations and to modify blood lipoprotein levels are the cornerstone of prevention and treatment plans for coronary heart disease. Recently, consumption of nuts has been the focus of intense research because of their potential to reduce coronary heart disease risk and to lower blood lipid [fat and cholesterol] levels based on their unique nutritional attributes."

It was also noted by the report that nuts are rich in plant proteins, fats (especially unsaturated fatty acids), dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins and other compounds, such as antioxidants and phytoesterols.

It was further reported that Joan Sabaté, M. D., Dr. P. H., of Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif., and colleagues pooled primary data from 25 nut consumption trials conducted in seven countries and involving 583 women and men with high cholesterol or normal cholesterol levels. All the studies compared a control group to a group assigned to consume nuts; participants were not taking lipid-lowering medications.

Participants in the trials consumed an average of 67 grams (about 2.4 ounces) of nuts per day. This was associated with an average 5.1 percent reduction in total cholesterol concentration, a 7.4 percent reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) and an 8.3 percent change in ratio of LDL cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good" cholesterol).

In addition, triglyceride levels declined by 10.2 percent among individuals with high triglyceride levels, although not among those with lower levels. (With Inputs from Agencies)