Almonds Boost Vitamin E Levels

LOMA LINDA, Calif.--Adding almonds to the diet--contributing up to 20 percent of total energy--can increase plasma and red blood cell concentrations of alpha-tocopherol, according to researchers from Loma Linda University. In their study, published in the March Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 16 healthy adults followed one of three diets for four weeks--control, a low-almond diet (almonds contributing 10 percent of total energy) and a high-almond diet (almonds contributing 20 percent of total energy). Incorporating almonds into the diet helped participants meet the recommended dietary allowance of 15 mg/d of alpha-tocopherol and increased lipid-adjusted plasma and red blood cell concentrations of alpha-tocopherol. A significant dose-response relationship was observed between percent energy from almonds and plasma ratio of alpha-tocopherol to total cholesterol.