Peanuts, that nutritious snack that is not a nut but a legume, could be beneficial for the vascular health of healthy young people. This is the conclusion of a new study published in the Antioxidants magazine, in which 68 people between the ages of 18 and 33 have participated for six months, and which have been promoted by the University of Barcelona and the CIBER on Obesity and Nutrition. The advantages of this vegetable product, say the authors of the work, are observed both when eaten whole and in cream format, more popular in countries like the United States.
To obtain these results, the researchers ensured that the study participants added a daily serving of peanut products to their diet. "We observed a significant increase in urinary levels of phenolic metabolites in young people who consumed peanuts and peanut butter daily compared to the control group, which took a cream without fiber or polyphenols," explains Rosa M. Lamuela, head of the study. and professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences of the UB, in a statement from the center.
The subjects who consumed this legume, says the expert, also showed an improvement in prostacyclin I2 levels and in the thromboxane A2 - prostacyclin I2 ratio. All of them are molecules of a lipid nature that are considered markers of vascular health. This finding is of great interest, because in young people it is more difficult to observe a beneficial effect if an eating pattern is altered than in people with a high risk of suffering diseases and/or in advanced ages.
"It is interesting to note that some phenolic metabolites that significantly increased after the consumption of peanut products, especially hydroxycinnamic acids, also correlated with the improvement in both markers", says Isabella Parilli Moser, from INSA-UB- CIBEROBN, first author of the article.
This study is the first nutritional intervention to support an improvement in vascular markers related to antithrombotic and vasodilatory effects in healthy young people after consumption of peanuts, say its promoters, and reinforces the hypothesis that polyphenols, the main antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds from the diet, may play a protective effect in cardiovascular pathologies in adults.
The researchers, however, insist that more studies will be needed to fully understand the mechanisms that explain the positive effects of peanut intake on vascular health. Although it is true that the existing evidence on this food confirms that it has several health benefits.
Peanuts are one of the most consumed legumes in the world and stand out for their fiber, protein, fatty acid and polyphenol content. Its consumption has been linked to a lower risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, thanks to the protective effect of its antioxidants.
Another organ that could benefit from its intake is the brain. A study published in 2021 in the journal Clinical Nutrition involving 63 people between the ages of 19 and 33 concluded that peanuts could have positive effects on cognitive function and the stress response in young, healthy people.
