Brazilian nut consumption by healthy volunteers improves inflammatory parameters.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a single dose of Brazil nuts on the inflammatory markers of healthy individuals. METHOD: A randomized crossover study was conducted with 10 healthy individuals (mean age 24.7 ± 3.4 y). Each individual was tested four times regarding intake of different portions of Brazil nuts: 0, 5, 20 and 50 g. At each testing period, peripheral blood was collected before and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 24, and 48 h after intake of nuts, as well as at 5 and 30 d after intake of various Brazil nut portions. Blood samples were tested for high-sensitivity to C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, albumin, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, urea, and creatinine. RESULTS: Consumption of nuts did not affect biochemical parameters for liver and kidney function, indicating absence of hepatic and renal toxicity. A single intake of Brazil nuts (20 or 50 g) caused a significant decrease in serum IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels (P < 0.05), whereas serum levels of IL-10 were significantly increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate a long-term decrease in inflammatory markers after a single intake of large portions of Brazil nuts in healthy volunteers. Therefore, the long-term effect of regular Brazil nut consumption on inflammatory markers should be better investigated.

Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in prostate cancer patients: relation to Gleason score, treatment and bone metastasis.

Over the last decade, epidemiological, experimental and clinical studies have implicated oxidative stress in the development and progression of prostate cancer. In the present study, we evaluated the oxidative status and antioxidant defense in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) taking into consideration: treatment, Gleason score and bone metastasis. For this, we measured concentrations of plasmatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), serum protein carbonylation, whole blood catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, as well as the plasma and erythrocyte thiol levels and serum vitamin C and E concentration. This study was performed on 55 patients with PCa and 55 healthy men. TBARS levels and serum protein carbonylation were higher in PCa patients than in controls and altered levels of antioxidants were found in these patients. CAT activity was decreased and SOD activity was higher in PCa patients when compared with controls. Non-protein thiol levels were increased, however, serum vitamin C and vitamin E content were reduced in PCa patients when compared with controls. In addition, different parameters analyzed in PCa patients based on metastasis, treatment and Gleason score showed changes in oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant defenses. These findings may indicate an imbalance in the oxidant/antioxidant status, supporting the idea that oxidative stress plays a role in PCa, moreover, the oxidative profile appear to be modified by bone metastasis, treatment and Gleason score.