Pistachio nuts reduce triglycerides and body weight by comparison to refined carbohydrate snack in obese subjects on a 12-week weight loss program.

Li Z, Song R, Nguyen C, et al. 

J Am Coll Nutr. 2010; 29(3):198-203.

This study is designed to study the effects of pistachio snack consumption on body weight and lipid levels in obese participants under real-world conditions. 

Participants were randomly assigned to consume 1 of 2 isocaloric weight reduction diets for 12 weeks, with each providing 500 cal per day less than resting metabolic rate. Each diet included an afternoon snack of either 53 g (240 cal) of salted pistachios (n = 31) or 56 g of salted pretzels (220 cal; n = 28).

Both groups lost weight during the 12-week study, but there were significant differences in the changes in body mass index between the pretzel and pistachio groups. At 6 and 12 weeks, triglycerides were significantly lower in the pistachio group compared with the pretzel group. 

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