Brazil nuts: an effective way to improve selenium status.
Am J Clin Nutr
; 87(2): 379-84, 2008 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18258628
BACKGROUND: Brazil nuts provide a rich natural source of selenium, yet no studies have investigated the bioavailability of selenium in humans. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy of Brazil nuts in increasing selenium status in comparison with selenomethionine. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 59 New Zealand adults. Participants consumed 2 Brazil nuts thought to provide approximately 100 mug Se, 100 mug Se as selenomethionine, or placebo daily for 12 wk. Actual intake from nuts averaged 53 mug Se/d (possible range: 20-84 mug Se). Plasma selenium and plasma and whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were measured at baseline and at 2, 4, 8, and 12 wk, and effects of treatments were compared. RESULTS: Plasma selenium increased by 64.2%, 61.0%, and 7.6%; plasma GPx by 8.3%, 3.4%, and -1.2%; and whole blood GPx by 13.2%, 5.3%, and 1.9% in the Brazil nut, selenomethionine, and placebo groups, respectively. Change over time at 12 wk in plasma selenium (P < 0.0001 for both groups) and plasma GPx activity in the Brazil nut (P < 0.001) and selenomethionine (P = 0.014) groups differed significantly from the placebo group but not from each other. The change in whole blood GPx activity was greater in the Brazil nut group than in the placebo (P = 0.002) and selenomethionine (P = 0.032) groups. CONCLUSION: Consumption of 2 Brazil nuts daily is as effective for increasing selenium status and enhancing GPx activity as 100 mug Se as selenomethionine. Inclusion of this high-selenium food in the diet could avoid the need for fortification or supplements to improve the selenium status of New Zealanders.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Selênio
/
Selenometionina
/
Bertholletia
/
Comportamento Alimentar
/
Glutationa Peroxidase
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
America do sul
/
Brasil
/
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Clin Nutr
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Nova Zelândia
País de publicação:
Estados Unidos