Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Brazil Nuts on Microvascular Endothelial Function in Hypertensive and Dyslipidemic Patients: A Randomized Crossover Placebo-Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with GBNs on microvascular endothelial function in hypertensive and dyslipidemic patients.

METHODS

Ninety-one patients of both sexes aged 62.1 ± 9.3 years received 13 g/day of GBNs or a placebo for three months with a washout period of one month between treatments. Microvascular endothelial function was assessed using LSCI coupled with iontophoresis of ACh and PORH. We also used skin video capillaroscopy to measure capillary density and recruitment at rest and during PORH. Plasma concentrations of NOx were also measured as a marker of nitric oxide bioavailability.

RESULTS

Supplementation with GBNs significantly increased the plasma levels of Se (p < 0.05) and NOx (p < 0.05). However, we did not observe any effects of GBN consumption on microvascular vasodilator responses to ACh or PORH (p > 0.05), and GBNs did not improve capillary density at baseline or recruitment during PORH (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Supplementation with GBNs induced significant increases in the plasma Se concentration and systemic bioavailability of nitric oxide. Nevertheless, GBN supplementation did not lead to any improvement in systemic microvascular reactivity or density in patients with arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia who were undergoing multiple drug therapies.

© 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.