Brazil nut ingestion increased plasma selenium but had minimal effects on lipids, apolipoproteins, and high-density lipoprotein function in human subjects

• Published in: Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 151 - 155
• Main Authors: Strunz, Célia C., Oliveira, Tatiane V., Vinagre, Juliana C.M., Lima, Adriana, Cozzolino, Silvia, Maranhão, Raul C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.2008; Tarrytown, N.Y.: Elsevier Science Inc; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Apo A-I; Apo B; apolipoprotein A-I; apolipoprotein B; apolipoproteins; Apolipoproteins - blood; Apolipoproteins - physiology; Bertholletia; Bertholletia excelsa; biochemical pathways; Biological and medical sciences; blood; Brazil nuts; cardioprotective effect; cholesteremic effect; Cholesterol; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins - metabolism; Cholesterol Esters; Cholesterol Esters - metabolism; cholesterol metabolism; cholesteryl esters; Dietary selenium; Emulsions; enzyme activity; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; HDL; high density lipoprotein; Humans; LDL; lipid content; Lipids; Lipids - blood; Lipids - physiology; lipolysis; Lipoproteins; Lipoproteins, HDL; Lipoproteins, HDL - blood; Lipoproteins, HDL - physiology; Lipoproteins, LDL; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; low density lipoprotein; Male; metabolism; monounsaturated fatty acids; MUFA; Nanoparticles; nanotechnology; nutrient content; paraoxon; paraoxonase; paraoxonase 1; Particle Size; physiology; polyunsaturated fatty acids; PON1; PUFA; saturated fatty acids; selenium; Selenium - blood; SFA; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Young Adult; South America; Brazil; America; Apo A-I; Emulsions; PUFA; Humans; MUFA; PON1; Apo B; Cholesterol; SFA; Nanoparticles; HDL; Lipoproteins; LDL; Dietary selenium; paraoxonase 1; high-density lipoprotein; polyunsaturated fatty acids; apolipoprotein A-I; monounsaturated fatty acids; low-density lipoprotein; saturated fatty acids; apolipoprotein B; Human; Nuts; Lipids; Apolipoprotein; Ingestion; Blood plasma; Vertebrata; Emulsion; Mammalia; Selenium; Lipoprotein HDL
• ISSN: 0271-5317; 1879-0739; 1879-0739
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2008.01.004

The Brazil nut ( Bertholletia excelsa) of the Amazon region is consumed worldwide. It is rich in both monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids and is known for its high selenium content. This study tested the hypothesis whether the consumption of this nut could affect the plasma lipids and apolipoproteins and some functional properties of the antiatherogenic high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Fifteen normolipidemic subjects aged 27.3 ± 3.9 years and with body mass index of 23.8 ± 2.8 kg/m 2 consumed 45 g of Brazil nuts per day during a 15-day period. On days 0 and 15, blood was collected for biochemical analysis, determination of HDL particle size, paraoxonase 1 activity, and lipid transfer from a lipoprotein-like nanoparticle to the HDL fraction. Brazil nut ingestion did not alter HDL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerols, apolipoprotein A-I, or apolipoprotein B concentrations. HDL particle diameter and the activity of antioxidative paraoxonase 1, mostly found in the HDL fraction, were also unaffected. Supplementation increased the reception of cholesteryl esters ( P < .05) by the HDL yet did not alter the reception of phospholipids, free cholesterol, or triacylglycerols. As expected, plasma selenium was significantly increased. However, the consumption of Brazil nuts for short duration by normolipidemic subjects in comparable amounts to those tested for other nuts did not alter serum lipid profile. The only alteration in HDL function was the increase in cholesteryl ester transfer. This latter finding may be beneficial because it would improve the nonatherogenic reverse cholesterol transport pathway.