Pecans may help lower cholesterol, new study suggests

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * 30 to 75-year-old men and women at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease will be defined by either elevated cholesterol profiles or overweight/obesity. * Elevated cholesterol profiles will be defined as: "Borderline High" and/or "at risk" in two or more of the following variables (total cholesterol: 180-239 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol 110- 159 mg/dL, triglycerides 130-199 mg/dL) --or---"High" in total cholesterol (240 mg/dL and higher), LDL (160 mg/dL or higher), or triglycerides (between 200-350 mg/dl). * Overweight/obesity will be defined by body mass index (overweight \> 28 kg/m2 or obesity 30 kg/m2 or greater). Exclusion Criteria: * Probable familial hypercholesterolemia, defined by: total cholesterol greater than 290 mg/dL or LDL levels greater than 190 mg/dL plus a family history of myocardial infarction (MI) before 50 years of age in a 2nd-degree relative or below age 60 in a 1st-degree relative * Alcohol intake \>3 drinks/d for males or \>2 drinks/d for females * Individuals with food allergies/sensitivities to foods provided in the study, including tree nuts, gluten, and or lactose/dairy * Individuals who regularly consume nuts and/or nut butter (defined as consumption of \>2 servings (\~56g) of tree nuts, nuts, or nut butter (e.g., peanut butter, almond butter) per week * Individuals adhering to special diets, including, but not limited to, the ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, vegetarian diet, or carbohydrate-restricted diets * Plans to begin a weight loss/exercise regime during the trial * Weight gain or loss of more than 5% of their body weight in the past 3 months * History of previous or current renal or bowel disease * Females who are currently pregnant or lactating * Individuals participating in \>3 hours/week of exercise * Women on hormone replacement therapy for \<2 years * Fasting glucose \>126 mg/dL * Blood pressure \>180/120 mmHg * History of medical or surgical events that could affect digestion or swallowing * Gastrointestinal surgery, atherosclerosis, or bleeding disorders * Tobacco or nicotine use * Previous heart attack (MI) or stroke, previous or current diagnosis of cancer * Chronic or metabolic diseases * Medication use affecting digestion and absorption, medications affecting metabolism (e.g., thyroid meds), lipid-lowering medications, medications for diabetes, blood thinning medications * Steroid/hormone therapies or current antibiotic cycles