I'm still thinking about this one. Very interesting. Anyone seen defatted Brazil nut flour for sale? (I guess I should look on Amazon… I'll get my coat. )
Nutr J. 2015 Jun 16;14(1):59. [Epub ahead of print]
Intake of partially defatted Brazil nut flour reduces serum cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients- a randomized controlled trial.
Carvalho RF1, Huguenin GV2, Luiz RR3, Moreira AS4, Oliveira GM5, Rosa G6,7.
Author information
• 1Post GraduateProgram, Federal Universityof Rio de Janeiro, Professor Rodolpho Paulo Rocco St, 225, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. beta_franca_carvalho@yahoo.com.br.
• 2Post GraduateProgram, Federal Universityof Rio de Janeiro, Professor Rodolpho Paulo Rocco St, 225, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. grazielle.huguenin@gmail.com.
• 3InstituteofPublic Health Studies, Federal Universityof Rio de Janeiro, Jorge Machado Moreira Square, 100, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ronir@iesc.ufrj.br.
• 4ClinicofAtherosclerosisand Cardiovascular DiseasePrevention, NationalCardiologyInstitute, Laranjeiras St, 374, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. anniebello@gmail.com.
• 5Post GraduateProgram, Federal Universityof Rio de Janeiro, Professor Rodolpho Paulo Rocco St, 225, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. glauciamoraesoliveira@gmail.com.
• 6Post GraduateProgram, Federal Universityof Rio de Janeiro, Professor Rodolpho Paulo Rocco St, 225, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. glorimar@nutricao.ufrj.br.
• 7NutritionandDieteticDepartment, Josué de Castro InstituteofNutrition, Federal Universityof Rio de Janeiro, 373, 2nd floor, block J, Carlos Chagas FilhoAv, Ilha do Governador, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. glorimar@nutricao.ufrj.br.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Thyroid hormones can lower levels of atherogenic lipoproteins, and selenium is important in thyroid hormone homeostasis. We aimed to investigate the effects of a healthy diet associated with the Brazil nut (Bertholletiaexcelsa) in dyslipidemic and hypertensive patients.
METHODS:
This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. Seventy-seven dyslipidemic and hypertensive patients already receiving lipid-lowering drugs received either a dietary treatment associated with partially defatted Brazil nut flour (13 g/day providing 227,5 μg of selenium/day),or with dyed cassava flour as a placebo. All patients received a personalized dietary guideline with nutritional recommendations for dyslipidemia and hypertension and were followed for 90 days.
RESULTS:
The Brazil nut group showed reductions in total cholesterol (-20.5 ± 61.2 mg/dL, P = 0.02), non HDL-cholesterol (-19.5 ± 61.2 mg/dL, P = 0.02) and Apo A-1 (-10.2 ± 26.7 mg/dL, P = 0.03) without significant alterations in the Apo B/Apo A-1 ratio. The placebo group showed a reduction in FT3 levels (-0.1 ± 0.4, P = 0.03) and increased Lp(a) levels (5.9 ± 18.0 mg/dL, P = 0.02). There were no statistical differences inblood pressure and serum lipids between Brazil nut and placebo group.
CONCLUSIONS:
Despite the reduction in energy intake, the consumption of Brazil nut did not affect FT3 levels, yet contributed to a reduction in serum cholesterol in euthyroid, hypercholesterolemic patients during the intervention period.
TRIAL REGISTRATION:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01990391.
PMID: 26077768 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]