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Other relevant components of nuts: phytosterols, folate and minerals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2007

Ramon Segura ,
Casimiro Javierre ,
M Antonia Lizarraga  and
Emilio Ros
Ramon Segura*
Affiliation:
Department of Physiological Sciences II, Faculty of Medicine, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Casimiro Javierre
Affiliation:
Department of Physiological Sciences II, Faculty of Medicine, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
M Antonia Lizarraga
Affiliation:
Department of Physiological Sciences II, Faculty of Medicine, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Emilio Ros
Affiliation:
Lipid Clinic, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
*
*Corresponding author: R. Segura, fax + 34 93 402 4268, email rasegura@ub.edu
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Abstract

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Nuts contain significant amounts of essential micronutrients that are associated with an improved health status when consumed at doses beyond those necessary to prevent deficiency states. Nuts do not contain cholesterol, but they are rich in chemically related phytosterols, a class of compounds that interfere with intestinal cholesterol absorption and thus help lower blood cholesterol. Nuts also contain folate, a B-vitamin necessary for normal cellular function that plays an important role in detoxifying homocysteine, a sulphur-containing amino acid with atherothrombotic properties that accumulates in plasma when folate status is subnormal. Compared to other common foodstuffs, nuts have an optimal nutritional density with respect to healthy minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. Like that of most vegetables, the sodium content of nuts is very low. A high intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium, together with a low sodium intake, is associated with protection against bone demineralisation, arterial hypertension, insulin resistance, and overall cardiovascular risk. Phytosterols might justify part of the cholesterol-lowering effect of nut intake beyond that attributable to fatty acid exchange, while the mineral richness of nuts probably contributes to the prevention of diabetes and coronary heart disease observed in epidemiological studies in association with frequent nut consumption.

Keywords

NutsPhytosterolsFolateCalciumMagnesiumPotassiumSodium
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 96 , Supplement S2 , November 2006 , pp. S36 - S44
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2006

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