title: Brazil nuts intake improves lipid profile, oxidative stress and microvascular function in obese adolescents: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a chronic disease associated to an inflammatory process resulting in oxidative stress that leads to morpho-functional microvascular damage that could be improved by some dietary interventions. In this study, the intake of Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa), composed of bioactive substances like selenium, α- e γ- tocopherol, folate and polyunsaturated fatty acids, have been investigated on antioxidant capacity, lipid and metabolic profiles and nutritive skin microcirculation in obese adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Obese female adolescents (n = 17), 15.4 ± 2.0 years and BMI of 35.6 ± 3.3 kg/m2, were randomized 1:1 in two groups with the diet supplemented either with Brazil nuts [BNG, n = 08, 15-25 g/day (equivalent to 3 to 5 units/day)] or placebo [PG (lactose), n = 09, one capsule/day] and followed for 16 weeks. Anthropometry, metabolic-lipid profiles, oxidative stress and morphological (capillary diameters) and functional [functional capillary density, red blood cell velocity (RBCV) at baseline and peak (RBCVmax) and time (TRBCVmax) to reach it during post-occlusive reactive hyperemia, after 1 min arterial occlusion] microvascular variables were assessed by nailfold videocapillaroscopy at baseline (T0) and after intervention (T1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  T0 characteristics were similar between groups. At T1, BNG (intra-group variation) had increased selenium levels (p = 0.02), RBCV (p = 0.03) and RBCVmax (p = 0.03) and reduced total (TC) (p = 0.02) and LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.02). Compared to PG, Brazil nuts intake reduced TC (p = 0.003), triglycerides (p = 0.05) and LDL-ox (p = 0.02) and increased RBCV (p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brazil nuts intake improved the lipid profile and microvascular function in obese adolescents, possibly due to its high level of unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive substances.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical Trials.gov NCT00937599.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine; Clinical and Experimental Research Laboratory in Vascular Biology - BioVasc; Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Rio de Janeiro, CEP:20550-013 - Brazil. gkraemer@ig.com.br.
authors.forename: Priscila A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Maranhão
authors.forename: Luiz G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Kraemer-Aguiar
authors.forename: Cecilia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Maria Cc
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kuschnir
authors.forename: Yasmine R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Maria Gc
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Josely C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Koury
authors.forename: Eliete
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouskela