Effects of a Single Dose of Brazil Nuts on Blood Lipids

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Several studies have shown that regular intake of nuts may improve blood lipids. However, few studies have investigated the effects on blood lipids after a single intake of nuts. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the acute effects of a single intake of Brazil nuts on blood lipids. The study was a non-blinded randomized controlled study with 52 participants, 26 participants in both the Brazil nut group and in the control group. Blood tests were taken at baseline and 3h, 6h, 24h, 7d and 14d after ingestion of either 50g Brazil nuts or an isocaloric amount of coconut flakes. We then conducted an unpaired t-test in order to compare changes in blood lipids between the two groups. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant

Official Title
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Effects of a Single Dose of Brazil Nuts on Blood Lipids. A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Conditions
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Cholesterol Level, High

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Brazil nut
* Other: Coconut


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients who participated in a rehabilitation program over three weeks at a rehabilitation center. Participants were at the rehabilitation center due to rheumatic diseases or chronic pain conditions / fibromyalgia. Exclusion Criteria: Food allergy, lactose intolerance, celiac disease, mild illness for the last 3 weeks (infections or inflammatory conditions), serious illness (eg. heart attack) or undergone surgery during the previous 3 months, intake of Brazil four weeks prior study enrollment, using cholesterol-lowering or blood-thinning drugs, planning to eat more than one meal in other places than the rehabilitation center during the study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: This study was a non-blinded randomized controlled trial, where participants were requited and enrolled to the study / intervention continuously over about two years. Half of the participants (26) in the experimental group and half of the participants in the control group
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Brazil nut<br>50g Brazil nuts | Other: Brazil nut<br>* Blood lipids are measured at baseline and 3h, 6h, 24h, 7d and 14d after ingestion of 50g Brazil nuts<br>|
| Other: Coconut<br>46g Coconut flakes | Other: Coconut<br>* Blood lipids are measured at baseline and 3h, 6h, 24h, 7d and 14d after ingestion of 46g coconut flakes<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol (mmol/l) | Changes in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol (mmol/l) between the experimental group and the control group at specific times after intervention | Blood tests are measured at baseline, 3 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 7 days and 14 days after intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Blood lipids, Brazil nut, coconut