title: Nuts and legume seeds for cardiovascular risk reduction: scientific evidence and mechanisms of action.
abstract: Consumption of tree nuts and legume seeds is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular risk. The reduction in blood lipids and in inflammatory and oxidative processes exhibited by bioactive compounds such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, fibers, phenolic compounds, tocopherols, phospholipids, carotenoids, some minerals, and arginine, has stimulated research on the mechanisms of action of these substances through distinct experimental approaches. It is, therefore, important to know the metabolic effect of each nut and legume seed or the mixture of them to choose the most suitable nutritional interventions in clinical practice. The aim of this narrative bibliographic review was to investigate the effects of tree nuts and legume seeds on biomarkers of cardiovascular risk, as well as their mechanisms of action with regard to lipid profiles, insulin resistance, arterial pressure, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The findings indicate that a mixture of nuts and legume seeds optimizes the protective effect against cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: RGM Souza, AC Gomes, MMV Naves, and JF Mota are with the Laboratório de Investigação em Nutrição Clínica e Esportiva (Labince), Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rávila G M
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: RGM Souza, AC Gomes, MMV Naves, and JF Mota are with the Laboratório de Investigação em Nutrição Clínica e Esportiva (Labince), Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: RGM Souza, AC Gomes, MMV Naves, and JF Mota are with the Laboratório de Investigação em Nutrição Clínica e Esportiva (Labince), Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria M V
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Naves
authors.affiliation: RGM Souza, AC Gomes, MMV Naves, and JF Mota are with the Laboratório de Investigação em Nutrição Clínica e Esportiva (Labince), Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil. jfemota@gmail.com.
authors.forename: João F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mota
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: cardiovascular risk; insulin resistance; legume seeds; lipids; nuts