Abstract
HOW PISTACHIOS MAY FAVORABLY INFLUENCE AN INDIVIDUAL’S METABOLIC PROFILE AND RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATION In the United States there is an increasing trend in chronic health conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Hypertension (HTN) and Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD). One way of determining an individual’s risk for developing these diseases is by evaluating their metabolic profile. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a term used to describe an unhealthy metabolic profile such as, elevated waist circumference, elevated triglycerides, high blood pressure and glucose intolerance. Studies have shown that nuts, such as pistachios, walnuts and almonds, can help reduce the risk of developing CVD and HTN due to their favorable fatty acid profile and nutrient dense composition. This parallel, controlled, randomized study evaluated the effects of daily consumption of 3 oz of pistachios over an 8-week period on 12 subjects with MetS. No significant changes were detected in the variables assessed, Fasting Plasma Glucose, Total Cholesterol, Very Low Density Lipoprotein, Low Density Lipoprotein, Blood pressure, hs-CRP and High Density Lipoprotein. It is important to note that no negative changes were observed. This study supports previous research on pistachios and the claim that: although they are energy dense pistachios can be incorporated into the diet of a high risk subject such as an individual with MetS, without any harmful side effects such as elevated TC and LDL. Mary Perez August 2010 HOW PISTACHIOS MAY FAVORABLY INFLUENCE AN INDIVIDUAL’S METABOLIC PROFILE AND RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATION
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