A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition has found that a daily intake of pistachios can increase macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in healthy adults. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of a pistachio dietary intervention on MPOD, which is known to offer protection against vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and augment visual function. Lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z) are dietary xanthophylls that cross the blood-brain barrier and exclusively accumulate in the human retina’s macular region. Pistachios contain high amounts of either L or Z and provide a source of fat, mainly mono- and polyunsaturated fats, making them a highly bioavailable source of lutein.
The study conducted a single-blinded randomized-controlled trial among healthy adults to assess the effect of a daily intake of 2 oz of pistachios on MPOD. The intervention lasted 12 weeks, and the results were compared with those of a usual diet (UD) group. The sample size comprised 36 individuals with habitually low L/Z intake and low baseline MPOD. The study found that after 6 weeks, the pistachio intervention (PIS) group showed a notable increase in MPOD relative to baseline, which was sustained at the 12-week mark. However, no additional increase was observed between 6 and 12 weeks. The UD group showed no change in MPOD throughout the 12-week study.
Conclusion
The study’s generalizability may be limited, as participants began with low baseline MPOD and dietary lutein/zeaxanthin intake. It remains unclear if the effects of the pistachio intervention would be comparable in other populations. The study concludes that a dietary intervention with pistachios is effective in increasing MPOD, which is relevant given the consumption of tree nuts is low in the United States, relative to the FDA-qualified health claim. Future research should explore the dose-response as well as efficacy in other diverse populations.
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