Pistachio nut consumption and serum lipid levels.

Sheridan MJ, Cooper JN, Erario M, Cheifetz CE.

Am Coll Nutr. 2007; 26(2):141-8.

Researchers studied the effects of eating 15% of the daily caloric intake in the form of pistachio nuts on the lipid profiles of free-living human subjects with primary, moderate hypercholesterolemia (serum cholesterol greater than 210 mg/dL).

15 overweight men and women, average age 60 years, with moderately high blood cholesterol levels ate about 15% of their daily calories from pistachio nuts (about 2-3 ounces) for 4 weeks.

The pistachio diet resulted in improvements in several measures of blood cholesterol levels, including an increase in HDL ('good') cholesterol. There were no differences seen for total cholesterol or triglycerides, and no changes in BMI or blood pressure.

The authors suggest that including 2-3 ounces of pistachios within calorie requirements over 4 weeks may support heart health in people with moderately high blood cholesterol levels.