Daily consumption of pistachios over 12 weeks improves dietary profile without increasing body weight in healthy women: A randomized controlled intervention.

Fantino M, Bichard C, Mistretta F, Bellisle F.

Appetite. 2020;144:104483.

This 12 week intervention study investigated the effect of pistachio intake on satiety, food consumption behavior, anthropometry and body composition. Sixty healthy women, ages 18 – 50 who were not regular consumers of pistachios participated in the study.  Thirty women consumed 44 grams (250 calories) of American pistachios as a morning snack for 12 weeks (experimental group); 30 women maintained their current eating habits and avoided eating pistachios (control group).

Results showed regular consumption of 44 grams of pistachio snack for 12 weeks did not cause any increase in body weight or any changes in body composition as assessed by DEXA. There was a greater satiety and a feeling of fullness and a lower sensation of hunger for 2 hours after eating the pistachio snack. There was partial energy compensation at the subsequent meals mostly by a reduction of calories from total and simple carbohydrates and starch. Intake of macro- (mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid) and micronutrients of interest, (thiamin, pyridoxine, copper, manganese, zinc) were significantly higher when women consumed the pistachio snacks than when they did not consume the snacks.  There was no increase in the intake of saturated fatty acids or total sugars.