Figure 2.

Schematic representation of the effects of nuts on risk of cardiometabolic diseases mediated by their main bioactive nutrients and phytochemicals (yellow boxes), which synergize to positively influence metabolic and vascular physiology pathways (thin arrows and orange boxes). The net effects on intermediate markers of CV risk are lowering of blood cholesterol, improved glycemic control, decreased blood pressure, improved vascular reactivity, and anti-inflammatory actions. Crucially, clinical trials of nuts have demonstrated all such effects. The overall result is reduced cardiometabolic risk (thick arrow connections), as observed in many prospective cohort studies and proven in the PREDIMED trial. Abbreviations: Ca, calcium; K, potassium; LDL-C, LDL-cholesterol; Mg, magnesium; NO, nitric oxide; TG, triglycerides. ↑: increase, ↓: decrease.