The journal Foods has published a study that analyzed the effects of regular Brazil nut consumption through a systematical review of clinical trials.
The databases, PubMed, Embase®, and Scielo were searched and in total, the researchers found 24 clinical trials, of which 15 were non-randomized. In the studies analyzed, Brazil nuts were consumed in a free-living diet. The results showed that there was an improved antioxidant status through higher levels of selenium in all studies that looked at antioxidant status regardless of the health state of the participants. Moreover, healthy individuals saw improved lipid markers and fasting glucose. Those individuals who were obese saw improvement in markers of lipid metabolism. Participants with type 2 diabetes also experienced improved oxidative stress. The study also found that older adults with mild cognitive impairment improved verbal fluency.
As a result, the research showed that the benefits of Brazil nut consumption existed in different pathways of action and within different health states among the participants.
da Silva, A., Silveira, B. K. S., de Freitas, B. V. M., Hermsdorff, H. H. M., & Bressan, J. (2022). Effects of Regular Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa HBK) Consumption on Health: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials. Foods, 11(18), 2925.