Efeitos metabólicos do consumo da castanha do Brasil (Bertholletia excelsa) em humanos saudáveis

Abstract

Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa, Lecythidaceae family) is the richest known food in selenium. Its consumption has demonstrated efficient in improving the lipid profile and the plasmatic selenium levels as well as to increase the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme in humans. Thus, this study aims at evaluating the metabolic effects of a single portion of Brazil nut intake in healthy humans. It is a cross-over randomized controlled clinical trial with professedly healthy adults. A group of 10 volunteers were part of the study; they were from both sexes, coming from Santa Maria/RS, region. The volunteers who accept to take part in the study have consumed portions with different Brazil nut concentration, they were divided into four groups: 0, 5, 20 or 50 g. Each group collected blood before the nuts consumption and also 1, 3, 6, 9, 24, 48 hours, 5 and 30 after the Brazil nuts consumption. We then evaluated the oxidative stress markers with activity of the GPx and δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase enzymes, the selenium plasmatic levels, inflammatory markers such as pro-inflammatory cytokines: the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interferon gamma (INF-γ) and interleukin (IL) 1,6 and 8; and the anti-inflammatory interleukin IL-10. Besides that, it was also evaluated the blood count and the hepatic and renal markers. In the Brazil nut we analyzed the selenium concentration, fatty acids and the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Volunteers biochemical parameters were normal. The results demonstrated that Brazil nut intake significantly increased selenium plasmatic levels for the volunteers who consumed 20 and 50 g of Brazil nuts in relation to basal levels with the higher peak occurring 6 hours after the Brazil nut consumption. However, the consumption of portions with different selenium concentrations for 30 days was not enough to increase the GPx erythrocyte levels activity. The higher plasmatic selenium peak was observed 6 hours after the nuts consumption. In the same way, it was observed that the volunteers who consumed a portion of 20 or 50g of Brazil nut presented improvement in the lipid profile with reduction of total cholesterol and LDL-c and, an increase of HDL-c also 6 hours after consuming the nuts until the 30th day. And furthermore, the groups that consumed a portion of 20 or 50g of Brazil nut had their serum concentration of IL-1, TNF-α, INF-γ decreased and the anti-inflammatory interleukin IL-10 increased, starting from 9 hours after consuming the nuts until the 30th day. It was possible to observe that the consumption of a 20 or 50g portion of Brazil nut in healthy humans during a 30 days period has improved the lipid profile and the inflammatory parameters for these volunteers. We can also point that the interaction of Brazil nut compounds may have contributed for the achieved results. Nevertheless, although this study demonstrated benefic effects for the consumption of a 20 or 50g of Brazil nut in a 30 days period, it is precipitated to change the recommendation of a daily 5g Brazil nut portion. Further studies are necessary to better clarify these effects.