Eating Brazil nuts may control inflammation by enhancing antioxidant defenses
A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition assessed the effect of daily Brazil nut intake on inflammation and intestinal permeability in overweight and obese women following an energy-restricted diet.
In this non-randomized controlled trial, 56 women with overweight or obesity were allocated into one of two groups. Both groups followed an energy-restricted diet (−500 kcal/d) for eight weeks. The control group consumed a nut-free diet, while the Brazil nut group consumed 8 grams of Brazil nuts per day. Inflammatory cytokines were analyzed in plasma and intestinal permeability was assessed using the lactulose/mannitol ratio.
Both groups achieved similar weight loss. The Brazil nut group showed lower values of C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1β, interleukin-8, percentage lactulose excretion, and lactulose/mannitol ratio than the control group.
The findings suggest that regular intake of Brazil nuts may be a promising complementary dietary strategy for controlling low-grade inflammation and improving intestinal permeability in overweight or obese women undergoing energy-restricted treatment.
Silveira, B. K. S., Silva, A. D., Rocha, D. M. U. P., Waskow, K., Martino, H. S. D., Bressan, J., & Hermsdorff, H. H. M. (2024). Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) 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(9), 2670–2679.