| Journal of Food Bioactives, ISSN 2637-8752 print, 2637-8779 online |
| Journal website www.isnff-jfb.com |
Review
Volume 9, March 2020, pages 36-39
Brazil nut: nutritional benefits from a unique combination of antioxidants
Table
| Subject | Key findings | References |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrosoluble phenolic compounds | Predominately found in the brown skin that covers the kernel, detected so far are phenolic acids and flavonoid derivatives like gallic acid, gallocatechin, protocatechuic acid, catechin, vanillic acid, taxifolin, myricetin, ellagic acid, sinapic acid and quercetin | John and Shahidi (2010); Gomes and Torres (2016) |
| Relevant amounts of ellagic acid derivatives found in aqueous extracts of bark biomass residues of the Brazil nut tree | Silva et al. (2019) | |
| Tocopherols | Brazil nut has remarkable levels of delta-tocopherol, in comparison with other tree nuts | Miraliakbari and Shahidi (2008b) |
| Selenium | Selenium levels vary significantly depending on the nut origin. Therefore, recommendations of adding Se levels information based on the origin of the seeds in retail labelling should be made | Silva Jr. et al. (2017) |
| Effects of processing on nutrient levels | Selenium levels decreased up to 73% during water-extraction process | Sartori et al. (2020) |
| Alpha-tocopherol losses are higher than gamma-tocopherol losses in Brazil nut oil during storage | Sartori et al. (2018a) | |
| Health effects | No selenosis reported in health populations with diets rich in selenium from Brazil nuts | Martens et al. (2015); Lemire et al. (2012) |
| Consumption of Brazil nuts with high Se levels may have a pro-inflammatory effect in obese women | Duarte et al. (2019) | |
| Anti-cancer and antioxidant effects related to a regular Brazil nut consumption was reported | Cardoso et al. (2017) |