Pistachio Nut Consumption Cuts Insulin Resistance

Lisa Franchi June 05, 2014

Good news for those with diabetes or having issues keeping their blood sugar levels in check. New research presented at the annual European Congress on Obesity found that regular consumption of pistachio nuts is associated with decreased insulin resistance in individuals with prediabetes.

49 individuals with prediabetes participated in a four-month, randomised, crossover clinical trial carried out by a research team from Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Reus. The study was designed to examine the blood sugar levels of participants in the control diet or an isocaloric pistachio diet (57 g daily), with a two-week washout period.

Researchers found that there were no significant difference between-group changes in body mass index. After the pistachio diet, there were significant decreases in fasting glucose, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance compared with the control diet. Participants in the pistachio diet also showed a non-significant decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin, and a higher non-significant reduction in serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, compared with participants in the control diet. Compared with the control diet, after the pistachio diet there were significant decreases in other metabolic risk markers such as fibrinogen, glucagon-like peptide-1, oxidized LDL, and platelet factor-4 (P < 0.05).

Due the positive impact of pistachio consumption on insulin resistance, the researchers, headed by Pablo Hernández-Alonso, concluded that this powerful nut may have a powerful role in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

In previous studies, just a handful of pistachio nuts daily was found to significantly lower the risk of heart disease, particularly bad cholesterol and high blood pressure.

What’s in your pistachio?

Apart from its really delicious flavour, these nuts are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals that play a key role in promoting good health. Its nutrient profile includes antioxidants, unsaturated fats – such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

What’s more, pistachios are naturally free from trans-fat, which is found mainly in foods cooked with partially-hydrogenated oils such as baked goods including pastries, fried foods, and processed goods.

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Pistachio Nut Consumption Cuts Insulin Resistance