Archive

Research Nut: Pistachios

Nut consumption and sperm quality in healthy men: results from the Led-Fertyl Study.

Dávila-Córdova, E., N. Babio, C. Valle-Hita, M. Fernández la Puente, A. Beltran-Arasa, M. Cebrián-Puig, V. Fambuena-Perez, I. García-Serrano, M.M. Murphy, J. Salas-Salvadó, A. Salas-Huetos, 2026. Nut consumption and sperm quality in healthy men: results from the Led-Fertyl Study. Andrology. e70204. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70204

Background: Nuts are rich in antioxidants and other bioactive compounds, and recent evidence suggests that their regular consumption may be associated with sperm quality. However, the current scientific evidence remains limited and inconsistent. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the association between nut consumption and sperm quality parameters in healthy men of reproductive age. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the data from 222 young men enrolled in the Led-Fertyl study. Nut consumption was categorized as < 3, ≥ 3 to < 7, and ≥ 7 servings/week (1 serving = 30 g). The main outcomes were sperm quality parameters (sperm count, concentration, vitality, motility, and normal morphology). Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were fitted to analyze associations. Results: Total sperm count (β = 3.38; 95%CI: 1.59, 5.16) and concentration (β = 1.17; 95%CI: 0.15, 2.19) were higher among participants in the highest category of nut consumption (≥7 servings/week) compared to those in the lowest (< 3 servings/week). A similar association was observed when modeling nut consumption as continuous; each additional serving per day was associated with higher total sperm count and concentration (β = 2.38; 95%CI: 1.03, 3.72 and β = 0.83; 95%CI: 0.06, 1.59, respectively). A theoretical substitution of 1 serving/day of nuts with 1 serving/day of potato chips or pastries was associated with lower total sperm count and concentration. Furthermore, compared to participants in the lowest category of nut consumption, those in the highest were 75% less likely to have abnormal sperm motility (OR: 0.25; 95%CI: 0.07, 0.95) and 69% less likely to have seminogram abnormalities (OR: 0.31; 95%CI: 0.14, 0.68). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that regular nut consumption is associated with higher total sperm count and concentration in young, healthy men of reproductive age.

Consuming tree nuts daily as between-meal snacks reduces food cravings and improves diet quality in American young adults at high metabolic syndrome risk.

Lillegard, K., A. Widmer, J.R. Koethe, H.J. Silver, 2025. Consuming tree nuts daily as between-meal snacks reduces food cravings and improves diet quality in American young adults at high metabolic syndrome risk. Nutrients. 17, 3778. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233778.

Background: Daily energy intake from snacking behaviors has increased over the past few decades, during which the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome has risen to epidemic proportions. There remains considerable room for improvement in the overall quality of dietary intakes of the U.S. population when compared to national recommendations. Food cravings may contribute to the types of snacks chosen for consumption, and thus, the frequency of foods and food groups consumed, and the overall nutritional quality of the diet. Methods: Eighty-four young (28.5 ± 4.3 years) adults with at least one metabolic syndrome risk factor participated in a parallel-arm single-blind randomized trial designed to compare effects of consuming a mix of tree nuts versus typical high-carbohydrate food items as between-meal snacks for 16 weeks. Cravings for 28 common foods via the Food Craving Inventory, short-term dietary intakes via 24 h multi-pass methodology, food group frequency via the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants, usual hunger and fullness via visual analog scales, appetite-regulating hormones, and diet quality via the Healthy Eating Index-2015 were measured at baseline and end of study. Results: Participants in the TNsnack group had significant decreases in cravings for high sweet items and fast-food items, which were associated with decreased frequency of desserts and salty foods along with increased intake of higher protein items. In contrast, no significant reductions in food cravings or preference for sweets were observed in the CHOsnack group. Decreased cravings for sweets by TNsnack participants were associated with increased total GLP-1 levels: cake (r = −0.35, p = 0.03), brownies (r = −0.44, p = 0.02), candy (r = −0.36, p = 0.03) and ice cream (r = −0.33, p = 0.04). Overall, the total diet quality score improved by 19% among TNsnack participants. Conclusions: Replacing more typical between-meal snacks with tree nuts may reduce food cravings, particularly for sweeter food items that are likely to be nutrient poor and energy dense. By reducing cravings and frequency of intake, consuming tree nuts as snacks could facilitate having a higher quality, more nutrient-dense diet and mitigate potential negative effects of snacking on metabolic health in young adults.

Upcycling commercial nut byproducts for food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications: A comprehensive review.

Alasalvar, C., G. Huang, B.W. Bolling, P.A. Jantip, R.B. Pegg, X.K. Wong, S.K. Chang, E. Pelvan, A.C. de Camargo, G. Mandalari, A. Hossain, F. Shahidi, 2025. Upcycling commercial nut byproducts for food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications: A comprehensive review. Food Chem. 467:142222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142222

This article presents a comprehensive overview of upcycling commercial nut byproducts (such as almond, Brazil nut, cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, peanut (also known as a legume), pecan, pine nut, pistachio, and walnut) for food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications. Upcycling nut byproducts, namely husk/hull, hard shell, brown skin, defatted flour/meal/cake, pine cone, cashew nut shell liquid, cashew apple, walnut septum, and dreg/okara, has great potential, not only to reduce/minimise waste, but also to fit within the circular economy concept. Each byproduct has its own unique functional properties, which can bring significant value. These byproducts can be used as value-added ingredients to promote better health and well-being, due to their rich sources of diverse bioactive components/phytochemicals, polysaccharides, fibre, lignin, prebiotics, oils, proteins, bioactive peptides, minerals, and vitamins, among other components. This comprehensive review provides a basis for future research and development of product applications for nut byproducts. More studies are needed on novel product development to valorise nut byproducts.

Effect of premeal pistachio supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors among Asian Indian adults with prediabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

Ashwini, K., K. Abirami, R. Gayathri, S. Sasikala, V. Sudha, S. Shobana, R.G. Jeevan, K. Krishnaswamy, V. Deepika, M. Rajalakshmi, R.M.R. Bai, K. Parkavi, S. Padmavathi, R.M. Anjana, R. Unnikrishnan, F.B. Hu, W.C. Willett, J. Salas-Salvadó, S.N. Bhupathiraju, V. Mohan, 2025. Effect of premeal pistachio supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors among Asian Indian adults with prediabetes: A randomized controlled trial. J Nutr. 155(3):899-909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.12.005

Background: Asian Indians are susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes at a lower age and often consume diets that are high in glycemic load and low in healthy fats. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 30g prebreakfast and 30g predinner supplementation of pistachios for 12 wk on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), other glycemic markers, anthropometry, and lipid profile of Asian Indians with prediabetes. Methods: In a 12-wk parallel arm, randomized controlled trial, we recruited 120 participants with prediabetes based on American Diabetes Association criteria. The intervention group (n = 60) consumed 60g pistachios (30g prebreakfast and predinner) whereas the control group (n = 60) followed a routine diet that excluded nuts. At baseline and 12 wk, we collected blood samples for biochemical analysis, anthropometrics, and 24-h recalls. Participants wore a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor during the trial’s first and last 2 wk. Urinary N-methyl-trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline (MHP) was measured as a marker of pistachio consumption. Results: A total of 109 participants completed the study (follow-up rate = 90.8%). Compared with participants in the control group, those in the intervention group had significant reductions in HbA1c (mean between-group difference: −0.2; 95% confidence interval: −0.3, −0.1; P < 0.001] with no significant changes in fasting or 2-h post glucose load plasma glucose. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had significant reductions in serum triglyceride, waist circumference, lipid accumulation product, visceral adiposity index, and atherogenic index. Urinary MHP (mg/g creatinine) showed a 62% increase in the intervention compared with the control group (P < 0.05). CGM data revealed significant decreases in the incremental area under the curve, 2-h after breakfast (28%, p=0.01) and after dinner (17%, P = 0.002) in the intervention group compared to the control group. Conclusions: A 12-wk, premeal load of 60g pistachios lowers HbA1c and improves cardiometabolic profile among Asian Indians with prediabetes. This is among the first studies to investigate these effects in this ethnic group.