Effect of pistachios on resting energy expenditure and weight in subjects with metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of disorders including altered blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol, blood sugars, and waist circumference. Obesity is one of the common factors in these diseases and is directly related to metabolic syndrome. A healthy diet is one of the main treatment and prevention options for metabolic syndrome. The most effective healthy diet consists of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, lean protein, and healthy fats. Healthy fats include poly and monounsaturated fatty acids, which are found in high levels in nuts. Nuts have been researched heavily with regards to health and weight, where pistachios have not. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pistachios on weight and resting energy expenditure on people with metabolic syndrome. Two groups of participants with metabolic syndrome were included in this study. One group consumed 3 oz of pistachios daily for 8 weeks, while the other served as the control. Both groups maintained calorie intake. Prior to starting the study and after completion, participants were weighed and resting energy expenditure was performed with an indirect calorimeter. No significant difference was detected between the groups with regards to weight and resting energy expenditure. Reasoning could be related to length of study or small participant groups. This study did not show weight gain, which could merit further pistachio research.