Pistachios increase serum antioxidants and lower serum oxidized-LDL in hypercholesterolemic adults.
Kay CD, Gebauer SK, West SG, Kris-Etherton PM.
J Nutr. 2010;Jun;140(6):1093-8.
The goal of the study was to measure the effect of pistachios on oxidative status.
Ten men and 18 women between the ages of 35 and 61 years with high cholesterol levels ate either a low-fat diet with no pistachios or 10% or 20% of their calories per day from pistachios for 4 weeks. This ranged from 32 to 63 grams (about 1 to 2 ounces) per day or 63 to 126 grams (about 2 to 4.5 ounces) per day.
Those eating pistachios had lower LDL ('bad') cholesterol levels and higher blood levels of antioxidants.