Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa, H.B.K.) Improves Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Biomarkers in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Cumulative evidence indicates that oxidative stress and inflammation frequently occurs in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and as a result of overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decrease of antioxidant defenses such as selenium (Se). Previous studies in our laboratory showed that the supplementation of 1 unit of Brazil nut (the richest known food source of Se) a day during 3 months is effective to improve Se status and increase glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in HD patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Brazil nut supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammation markers in HD patients. Forty HD patients from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were studied. All patients received one nut per day for 3 months. The Se plasma levels and GPx, 8-isoprostane, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) levels and lipid profile were determined before and after 3 months of supplementation. The plasma Se and GPx activity increased, while cytokines, 8-OHdG, and 8-isoprostane plasma levels decreased significantly after 3 months supplementation. HDL-c levels increased and LDL-c levels decreased significantly. These data suggest that the consumption of only one Brazil nut per day during 3 months was effective to reduce the inflammation, oxidative stress markers, and the atherogenic risk, thereby increasing the antioxidant defenses in HD patients. Our results indicate that Brazil nut as Se source plays an important role as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent in HD patients.

Brazil nut consumption modulates Nrf2 expression in hemodialysis patients: A pilot study

“…According the chemical composition, on average one Brazil nut ( Bertholletia excelsa , H.B.K.) (≈ 5 g) used for the study contains 0.75 g of protein, 0.45 g of carbohydrates, and 3.53 g of lipids, for a total of 36.7 kcal, 290.5 μg of Se (analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with hydride generation‐ HITACHI ® , Z‐500) and 1377,8 mg/g of squalene content in the Brazil nut oil . Patients from the treatment group received one Brazil nut daily (donated by the Agriculture Arauanã S/A) for 3 months.…”

“…Previous studies showed that Brazil nut supplementation, the richest known food source of selenium, is effective to reduce the inflammation, oxidative stress markers, and increase the antioxidant defenses in hemodialysis (HD) patients .…”

Selenium status in preschool children receiving a Brazil nut–enriched diet

“…While Brazil nuts are often used as a strategy to improve Se status in Se-deficient populations [18][19][20], the effects of supplementation with this nut in populations less vulnerable to Se deficiency is not clear. Moreover, assessing Se nutritional status in children is of particular interest, as both excess and deficiency are associated with adverse health effects that may persist throughout life.…”

Nutritional strategies to reduce inflammation in chronic kidney disease patients

“…A number of therapeutic strategies may be effective in reducing the cardiovascular risk in these patients, such as use of bioactive foods that have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory protective effects (2).…”

“…For example, there is convincing evidence of a beneficial effect of controlled wine polyphenols consumption in CKD patients (4) or Brazil nut supplementation to reduce inflammation in hemodialysis patients (2). However, controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm that these bioactive compounds have an important antiinflammatory effect.…”