New research from the University of Barcelona and the CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición suggests that the urinary phenolic metabolites — whose production increases after the consumption of peanut products — may contribute to the maintenance of vascular health.
In a randomized controlled trial, a significant increase in urinary phenolic metabolites was observed in healthy young adults who consumed skin roasted peanuts and peanut butter daily for 6 months compared to those who consumed a control butter (cream without fiber or polyphenols). Image credit: Petra Pezibear.
Peanuts are edible seeds classified as legumes, nevertheless, they are frequently include in the nuts group, since they share a similar nutritional composition, being nutrient-dense and rich in monounsaturated fatty acids.
They are the most consumed nuts worldwide, and are regarded as a convenient, tasty, and easy snack that contributes to a healthy lifestyle.
The wide range of nutrients and bioactive compounds found in peanuts include fiber, folate, and arginine, and also, they are a well-known source of antioxidants such as polyphenols, whose concentration have been reported to be highest in their skins.
Phenolic acids were the most abundant polyphenols found in skin roasted peanuts and peanut butter with skin added, representing more than 60-70% of the total polyphenols.
The regular consumption of nuts and peanuts has been associated with a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, with improvements in the lipid profile, inflammation markers, and preservation of endothelial function.
However, the results of studies evaluating the impact of nut consumption on inflammation are discrepant, as clinical trials have not been able to consistently verify the anti-inflammatory effects found in observational studies.
“Phenolic compounds in peanuts may moderate inflammation and endothelial function,” said senior author Professor Rosa Lamuela and colleagues.
“The aim of our study was to evaluate the association of urinary phenolic metabolites with vascular biomarkers after peanut product consumption.”
The study involved 63 healthy young people (18-33 years old) who included a daily portion of peanut products in their regular diet for a period of six months.
“In this study group, it is more difficult to see any effect of dietary changes on health,” Professor Lamuela said.
“The results reveal a significant increase in urinary levels of phenolic metabolites in those young people who had eaten a daily dose of peanuts and peanut butter compared to the control group, which had eaten a cream without fiber or polyphenols.”
“Similarly, participants who ate peanuts or peanut butter also showed improved levels of prostacyclin I2 and the ratio between thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin I2, lipid molecules (eicosanoids) which are considered markers of vascular health.”
“Interestingly, some phenolic metabolites that increased significantly after the consumption of peanut products — especially hydroxycinnamic acids — also correlated with the improvement in both markers,” said Dr. Isabella Parilli-Moser, first author of the study.
The findings appear in the journal Antioxidants.
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Isabella Parilli-Moser et al. 2023. Urinary Phenolic Metabolites Associated with Peanut Consumption May Have a Beneficial Impact on Vascular Health Biomarkers. Antioxidants 12 (3): 698; doi: 10.3390/antiox12030698
Source : Breaking Science News