Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
Nutrients. 2023 Apr 1;15(7):1733. doi: 10.3390/nu15071733.
Nuts are high nutrient-dense foods containing healthy lipids, dietary fiber, and bioactive phytochemicals, including vitamins and minerals. Although the beneficial effect of nut consumption on different chronic diseases has been well documented, especially in relation to their cardiometabolic benefits, less scientific evidence is available on their possible beneficial effects on gastrointestinal health. In this narrative review, we summarize the most important findings and new research perspectives in relation to the importance of nut consumption on gastrointestinal health. The integrity of the cell wall structure, cell size and particle size after mastication are known to play a crucial role in energy, nutrient and bioactive release from nuts during digestion, therefore affecting bioaccessibility. Other mechanisms, such as cell wall composition, thickness and porosity, as well as stability of the membranes surrounding the oil bodies within the cell, are also important for energy extraction. As the undigested nutrients and phytochemicals are delivered to the colon, effects on gut microbiota composition are predicted. Although the overall effect of nut consumption on microbial alpha- and beta-diversity has been inconsistent, some scientific evidence suggests an increase in fecal butyrate after almond consumption, and a beneficial role of walnuts on the prevention of ulcerative colitis and protection against the development of gastric mucosal lesions.
坚果是营养密集型食物，富含健康的脂类、膳食纤维和生物活性植物化学物质，包括维生素和矿物质。尽管坚果的消费对不同慢性疾病的有益影响已得到充分证实，尤其是在其对心脏代谢的益处方面，但关于其对胃肠道健康可能有益影响的科学证据较少。在这篇叙述性综述中，我们总结了与坚果消费对胃肠道健康的重要性相关的最重要的发现和新的研究视角。众所周知，细胞壁结构的完整性、咀嚼后细胞的大小和粒径在坚果消化过程中从坚果中释放能量、营养素和生物活性物质方面起着至关重要的作用，从而影响生物利用度。其他机制，如细胞壁组成、厚度和孔隙率，以及细胞内油体周围膜的稳定性，对于能量提取也很重要。由于未消化的营养物质和植物化学物质被输送到结肠，预计会对肠道微生物群落组成产生影响。尽管坚果消费对微生物 α 和 β 多样性的总体影响不一致，但一些科学证据表明杏仁消费后粪便丁酸增加，而核桃对溃疡性结肠炎的预防和胃黏膜损伤的保护具有有益作用。
