Hazelnut: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Hazelnut is the nut from the hazel tree (Corylus avellana). It is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and is commonly eaten as food.

Hazelnut contains oil, protein, fiber, and antioxidants. The antioxidants in hazelnut might have heart health benefits.

People use hazelnut for obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, dementia, and other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Hazelnut is a tree nut. It is considered a major food allergen.

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Ineffective for

Obesity. Eating hazelnuts or taking hazelnut oil by mouth doesn't seem to decrease body weight in people who are obese or overweight.

There is interest in using hazelnut for a number of other purposes, but there isn’t enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Hazelnut is commonly consumed in foods. It’s usually well-tolerated, but some people are allergic to hazelnuts. Serious allergic reactions are possible.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Hazelnut is commonly consumed in foods. It’s usually well-tolerated, but some people are allergic to hazelnuts. Serious allergic reactions are possible.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Hazelnut is commonly consumed in foods. There isn’t enough reliable information to know if hazelnut is safe to use as medicine while pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Allergies: People who are allergic to peanuts, cashews, walnuts, mugwort pollen, Brazil nut, birch pollen, or macadamia nut might also be allergic to hazelnut.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Hazelnut overview.

Dosing

Hazelnut is commonly consumed in moderate amounts as part of the diet.

As medicine, there isn’t enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of hazelnut might be. Speak with a healthcare provider before use.

View References

REFERENCES:

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Masthoff LJ, van Hoffen E, Mattsson L, et al. Peanut allergy is common among hazelnut-sensitized subjects but is not primarily the result of IgE cross-reactivity. Allergy 2015;70(3):265-74.

Masthoff LJ, van Hoffen E, de Reus A, et al. Hazelnut allergy differs between children and adults in frequency of severity, aetiology and relevance of diagnostic parameters. Clin Exp Allergy 2014;44(12):1539-45.

Peroni DG, Dall'Agnola A, Piacentini GL, Boner AL. Worsening of atopic dermatitis by hazelnut essence contained in hydroxyzine syrup. Acta Paediatr 2007;96(11):1710.

Valcour A, Lidholm J, Borres MP, Hamilton RG. Sensitization profiles to hazelnut allergens across the United States. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2019;122(1):111-6.e1.

Lima RPA, do Nascimento RAF, Luna RCP, et al. Effect of a diet containing folate and hazelnut oil capsule on the methylation level of the ADRB3 gene, lipid profile and oxidative stress in overweight or obese women. Clin Epigenetics 2017;9:110.

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FDA. Qualified Health Claims: Letter of Enforcement Discretion - Nuts and Coronary Heart Disease (Docket No 02P-0505). July 2003. Available at: https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20171114183724/https://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/LabelingNutrition/ucm072926.htm. Accessed on March 6, 2020.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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