Brazil Nut Consumption Significantly Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Markers in Adult Women

by | Jan 2, 2025 | 2024, Nuts and Seeds, Obesity, Recent Articles, Women's Health

Written by Chrystal Moulton, Science Writer. Individuals in the Brazil nut group had significant reduction in IL-8 (P = 0.04), IL-1 beta (P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (P = 0.013), and tumor necrosis factor (P= 0.047).

Brazil nutIndividuals with obesity experience inflammation without clinical signs, which contribute to the onset of diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension1-3. Additional studies have shown that obesity is linked to increased intestinal permeability4,5.  Increased intestinal permeability allows for antigens to reach the lamina propria, which in turn triggers an immune response and thus more inflammation4,6.  Introducing antioxidant foods into the diet could significantly improve outcomes for patients with obesity. Brazil nut contains high amounts of selenium, which can reduce oxidative stress7,8. In a current trial, researchers investigated the effect of Brazil nut consumption on markers of inflammation and intestinal permeability in overweight and obese women9.

This trial was designed as a controlled parallel study. Adult females between the ages of 20 and 55 years old who were overweight (30 kg/m2 > BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2), had a waist circumference of ≥ 80cm, and > 32% body fat were included in this study. Participants also needed to have one or more cardiometabolic risk factors including:

  • 100 mg/dL ≤fasting blood glucose ≤ 130 mg/dL
  • Blood pressure > 130/ 90 mmHg
  • Triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL

Women who met initial eligibility criteria were followed up for an in-person interview to verify eligibility. All participants were required to follow a restricted energy diet. Participants were given 5 distinct meals including breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner with the intention of reducing body weight by more than 4kg at the end of the trial. Participants were assigned either to the Brazil nut group or the control group. Participants in the Brazil nut group consumed 8g of Brazil nut as part of their morning snack every day for eight weeks. Individuals in the control group were given a diet without nuts of any type. To balance lipid and energy intake as well as total fat and fatty acid profile between both groups, researchers provided salad dressings and sauces specific to each group. At baseline and at the end of the trial researchers measured food intake, anthropometric measurements, intestinal permeability, and collected blood samples to assess inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor [TNF], IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. The primary outcome for this study was change in anthropometric measurements with secondary outcomes being changes in inflammatory biomarkers and in intestinal permeability. Each participant met with a nutritionist on a biweekly basis from monitoring adherence to the prescribed meal plan and nutritional counseling.

Forty-nine women completed the trial and data from 46 women was used for the analysis. Researchers observed no significant differences between the groups at baseline in both biochemical markers and anthropometric measurements. At baseline, the control group had higher intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to the Brazil nut group. However, the only significant difference between the groups during the eight-week intervention was selenium intake. Researchers used serum selenium concentration to measure compliance in the Brazil nut group. After eight weeks, no significant difference was observed in weight loss and waist circumference reduction. However, individuals in the Brazil nut group had significant reduction in IL-8 (P = 0.04), IL-1 beta (P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (P = 0.013), and tumor necrosis factor (P= 0.047). No statistical significance was observed for intestinal permeability between both groups. Linear regression analysis showed that changes in IL-8 were predictive of changes in the lactulose/ mannitol ratio (a marker of intestinal permeability) [Beta = 0.006, P = 0.024]. Researchers also observed that variations in serum selenium concentration was predictive of changes in IL- 8 concentrations (beta = -0.054, P = 0.025).

Results from this study showed that consumption of 8 grams of Brazil nut every day for eight weeks can significantly decrease pro-inflammatory markers. Additional studies will be needed to verify these results.

Source: Silveira, Brenda Kelly Souza, Alessandra da Silva, Daniela Mayumi Usuda Prado Rocha, Karina Waskow, Hércia Stampini Duarte Martino, Josefina Bressan, and Helen Hermana Miranda Hermsdorff. “Brazil Nut (Bertholletia Excelsa HBK) Consumption in Energy-Restricted Intervention Decreases Proinflammatory Markers and Intestinal Permeability of Women with Overweight/Obesity: A Controlled Trial (Brazilian Nuts Study).” The Journal of Nutrition 154, no. 9 (2024): 2670-2679.

© 2024 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Society for Nutrition

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Posted January 2, 2025.

Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.

References:

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  7. Bonifácio DB, Caldas APS, Costa MAC, Rocha D, Hermsdorff HHM, Bressan J. Acute effect of a beverage containing Brazil and cashew nuts on oxidative stress, lipemia, and blood pressure of women with cardiometabolic risk (Brazilian Nuts Study): a randomized clinical trial. Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme. Oct 1 2023;48(10):789-798. doi:10.1139/apnm-2023-0049
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