Hazelnuts with a fast food meal and oxidative stress
What it found
In 22 healthy people, eating 40 g of raw hazelnuts with a McDonald's meal lowered oxidised LDL and changed the activity of genes linked to inflammation and oxidative stress.
The authors say longer studies in more people are needed.
What they found
Studies in people
Oxidised LDL
Oxidised LDL rose after the McDonald's meal alone compared with no dietary treatment, and fell when 40 g of hazelnuts were eaten with the meal.
Gene expression
The percentage of significant genes expressed was 3.88% for inflammasome pathways and 17.48% for oxidative stress pathways when comparing no treatment with the McDonald's meal.
Gene expression with hazelnuts
When the McDonald's meal was eaten with hazelnuts, 17.48% of inflammasome genes and 23.30% of oxidative stress genes were significantly expressed compared with no treatment.
Hazelnuts vs meal alone
Comparing the McDonald's meal with and without hazelnuts, 17.48% of inflammasome genes and 33.98% of oxidative stress genes were significantly expressed.
What the authors conclude
“Hazelnut consumption reduced post prandial risk factors of atherosclerosis, such as ox-LDL, and the expression of inflammation and oxidative stress related genes.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say hazelnut consumption reduced post prandial risk factors of atherosclerosis, such as ox-LDL, and the expression of inflammation and oxidative stress related genes.
- They state that chronic studies on larger population are necessary before definitive conclusions.
How it was done
A meal high in fat or carbohydrates can raise oxidative stress, meaning the body is more open to oxidative damage. Micronutrients may protect against this by lowering oxidised LDL and turning on antioxidant enzymes.
22 healthy volunteers took part in a randomised cross-over trial. They were tested at fasting and after a McDonald's meal, with and without 40 g of raw Tonda Gentile delle Langhe hazelnuts. The researchers measured oxidised LDL and the expression of 103 genes related to oxidative stress and inflammation.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The study only looked at a single meal, so it cannot show what happens with long-term hazelnut eating.
- It was in 22 healthy people, so the results may not apply to other groups or to people with existing health conditions.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy
The paper
- Title
- Post-prandial effects of hazelnut-enriched high fat meal on LDL oxidative status, oxidative and inflammatory gene expression of healthy subjects: a randomized trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Di Renzo L, Merra G, Botta R, et al (2017). Post-prandial effects of hazelnut-enriched high fat meal on LDL oxidative status, oxidative and inflammatory gene expression of healthy subjects: a randomized trial. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences.PubMed 28429343
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error