EFFECT OF BEDTIME PISTACHIO CONSUMPTION FOR 6 WEEKS ON BODY WEIGHT, GLYCEMIC AND LIPID PROFILE IN OBESE PERSONS

Overweight persons trend for dyslipidemia and diabetes risk, while mono- and polyunsaturated fats in pistachios (PI) may improve lipoprotein and glycemic status. This study determined if a small amount of PI consumed by obese persons at bedtime promotes beneficial changes in metabolic status. Obese subjects were randomized to 35.4 g PI self-administered at bedtime or control (CO; no PI) for 6 weeks. There was no difference in activity level,body weight, or BMI between PI and CO at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4 or 6. Plasma glucose at wk 0 and 6 in PI was 104.6 ± 13.1 and 99.6 ± 12.2 mg/dL, and CO was 102.0 ± 12.8 and 101.1 ± 12.2 mg/dL; from wk 0 to wk 6 PI had improved slightly (P= 0.09). In conclusion 35.4 grams pistachios/day for 6 wks is probably near the lower end of what is needed to promote beneficial metabolic changes. This study suggests that 35g of pistachios per day at bedtime may be the minimum daily amount to observe beneficial effects in an obese population. Future studies may wish to examine pistachio consumption in populations with specific metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes.