Pilot study to assess the effect of Brazil nuts on plasma selenium levels in healthy male volunteers aged 65 years and over

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The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of Brazil nuts in increasing selenium status in healthy males aged 65 years and older, as this is the average age of prostate cancer diagnosis in Australia. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are a healthy, non-smoking male aged 65 years or older, who does not have any nut allergies, and does not regularly use a selenium supplement. Study design: Participants in this study will be assigned to 1 of 3 groups and asked to consume 2, 5, or 10 Brazil nuts daily for 30 days. At baseline volunteers will complete a questionnaire on dietary habits, supplement use, and demographic details. Height and weight will also be measured. Volunteers will be asked to avoid selenium enriched foods (e.g. fish, liver, kidney, and additional Brazil nuts) during the study period, but otherwise they will be asked to continue eating as normal. A 24-hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire will be used to verify the types of foods consumed at baseline and endpoint of the study period. Participants will also be required to give blood samples at the end of the 30 day study period in order to evaluate blood levels of selenium and other nutritional markers. The Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) is the best source of selenium, a trace element and mineral that is nutritionally essential for human health. This antioxidant is the focus of significant recent research in prostate cancer, as it is proposed that selenium may reduce tumour growth and cancer progression. The data from this study will be explored to inform future nutrition intervention studies in men with advanced prostate cancer.

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