2014-08-06 12:06:41
Nut consumption has previously been associated with reduced heart disease risk. There is some mixed evidence about the effects of nuts on blood pressure and the underlying effects on how it impacts blood circulating in the body. A new study examined the effect of pistachio consumption on blood pressure, other cardiovascular factors, and heart rate variability in adults who had controlled type 2 diabetes (1). The researchers enrolled 30 adults (aged 40 to 74 years). After a 2-week run-in period, participants consumed a low-fat control diet (27% fat) containing low-fat/high-carbohydrate snacks and a moderate-fat diet (33% fat) containing pistachios (20% of total energy) for 4 weeks each, separated by a 2-week washout. After each diet period, the researchers measured blood pressure, heart rate variability at rest and during mental stress, and other cardiovascular factors. They found that the pistachio diet significantly improved a number of different cardiovascular factors (one called peripheral resistance, another called cardiac output), as well as improving measures of heart rate variability. The researchers conclude that a moderate-fat diet containing pistachios modestly improves some cardiovascular risk factors in adults with well-controlled type 2 diabetes.
References
(1) Saunder KA, McCrea CE, Ulbrecht JS, Kris-Etherton PM, West SG. Pistachio nut consumption modifies systemic hemodynamics, increases heart rate variability, and reduces ambulatory blood pressure in well-controlled type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial. J Am Heart Assoc. 2014;3(4).