Effects of Cashew Nuts (<i>Anacardium occidentale</i> L.) and Cashew Nut Oil on Intestinal Permeability and Inflammatory Markers during an Energy-Restricted 8-Week Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Brazilian Nuts Study)
Talitha Silva Meneguelli,
Aline Lage Wendling,
Ana Claudia Pelissari Kravchychyn,
Daniela Mayumi Usuda Prado Rocha,
Ana Paula Dionísio,
Josefina Bressan,
Hércia Stampini Duarte Martino,
Elad Tako,
Helen Hermana Miranda Hermsdorff
Affiliations
Talitha Silva Meneguelli
Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Genomics (LACEG), Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-200, MG, Brazil
Aline Lage Wendling
Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Genomics (LACEG), Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-200, MG, Brazil
Ana Claudia Pelissari Kravchychyn
Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Genomics (LACEG), Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-200, MG, Brazil
Daniela Mayumi Usuda Prado Rocha
Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Genomics (LACEG), Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-200, MG, Brazil
Ana Paula Dionísio
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) Agroindústria Tropical—CNPAT, Fortaleza 60511-110, CE, Brazil
Josefina Bressan
Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Genomics (LACEG), Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-200, MG, Brazil
Hércia Stampini Duarte Martino
Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition, Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-200, MG, Brazil
Elad Tako
Trace Minerals and Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
Helen Hermana Miranda Hermsdorff
Laboratory of Clinical Analysis and Genomics (LACEG), Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-200, MG, Brazil
Cashew nuts can contribute to improving intestinal permeability and inflammation as they contain essential nutrients and bioactive compounds, but no clinical trials have evaluated these potential effects. This randomized trial aimed to assess the effects of cashew nuts and their oil on intestinal permeability and inflammatory markers. Sixty-four adults with overweight or obesity were allocated into three groups receiving energy restriction (−500 kcal/day): control (CT, free nuts), cashew nuts (CN, 30 g/day), or cashew nut oil (OL, 30 mL/day). Urine lactulose and mannitol, plasma zonulin and the lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), plasma interleukins (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-12p70), and C-reactive proteins were analyzed. Energy restriction reduced body fat and other indicators of adiposity without differences between the groups. Only the control group increased LBPs after an 8-week intervention. There were no statistically significant differences found between the groups in terms of intestinal permeability and inflammatory markers. In conclusion, incorporating cashew nuts or cashew nut oil into an energy-restricted 8-week dietary intervention did not change intestinal permeability and inflammatory markers. As studies evaluating cashew nuts on these markers remain scarce, further research is needed, perhaps with a longer study period and a higher concentration of cashew nuts and oil.
