Effects of pistachio nuts consumption on plasma lipid profile and oxidative status in healthy volunteers.
Kocyigit A, Koylu AA, Keles H.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2006; 16:202-9.
Effects of pistachio nuts consumption on plasma lipid profile and oxidative status were investigated in healthy volunteers with normal lipid levels.
Twenty healthy women and 24 healthy men (average age 33 years) ate either a regular diet with no pistachios or a diet that substituted pistachios for 20% of their daily calorie intake for 3 weeks.
Those on the pistachio diet had a significant decrease in total cholesterol levels, an increase in HDL ('good') cholesterol and an increase in blood antioxidants. Blood triglyceride and LDL ('bad') cholesterol levels decreased. The authors conclude that including pistachios as part of a calorie appropriate diet can improve blood lipid levels.