Baer DJ, et al. - In this randomized crossover trial with two treatment phases, researchers performed a highly controlled intervention to assess how risk factors for cardiovascular disease are influenced by cashews eaten at the amount specified in the health claim (approved by the US Food and Drug Administration). This study included 42 adult volunteers. Both treatment phases involved the intake of the same base diet, with no additions during the control phase and with the addition of 1.5 servings (42 g) of cashews per day for the cashew nut phase. To achieve isocaloric overall diets in the two phases, a proportional reduction in the amount of all foods was implemented during the cashew nut phase. They assessed blood lipids, blood pressure, central (aortic) pressure, augmentation index, blood glucose, endothelin, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, adhesion molecules, and clotting and inflammatory factors after 4 weeks of intervention. They found that any of the primary risk factors for cardiovascular disease was neither positively nor adversely influenced by consumption of 1.5 servings of cashew nuts per day, the amount associated with the FDA qualified health claim for tree nuts and cardiovascular disease.