Effect of pistachio diet on lipit parameters,endothelial function and oxidative status in healthy young males

Although there is evidence about beneficial effect of pistachio on lipid profile, studiessuggest that nuts have favorable effects beyond lipid lowering. In this study we thereforeaimed to investigate the effect of Antep pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) on blood glucose, lipidparameters, endothelial function, and oxidation in healthy young males living in controlledenvironment. A mediterranean diet was administered to normolipidemic 32 healthy youngmales for 8 weeks. After 4 weeks, the participants continued to receive mediterranean diet butpistcahio was replaced with monounsaturated fat content constituting ?20% of daily caloricintake. Blood samples and brachial endothelial function measurements after each diet.Compared with Mediterranean diet, pistachio diet decreased glucose (p<0.001,-8.8±8.5%),Low Density Lipoprotein (p<0.001,-23.2±11.9%), Total Cholesterol (p<0.001, -21.2±9.9%)and Trigliserid (p=0.008,- 13.8±33.8%) significantly and HDL (p=0.069, -3.1±11.7%) nonsignificantly.Total Cholesterol /High Density Lipoprotein and Low Density Lipoprotein /High Density Lipoprotein ratios decreased significantly (p<0.001 for both). Pistachio dietsignificantly improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation (p=0.002, 30% relative increase).Pistachio diet significantly decreased serum interleukin-6, total oxidant status, lipidhydroperoxide, and malondialdehyde and increased süperoxide dismutase (p<0.001 for all)whereas there were no significant change in C-reactive protein and TNF-? levels. In thisdietary intervention trial, we not only confirmed previous findings about beneficial effects ofpistachio diet on lipid parameters, but also demonstrated that it caused improvements in bloodglucose level, endothelial function and oxidative status in healthy young males.Key Words: Diet, Pistachio, Endothelium, Lipid, Oxidation