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Effects of Pistachios on Postprandial Metabolic Responses in Adults With Overweight or Obesity

Acute Effects of Pistachio Consumption on Postprandial Metabolic Responses in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Procedures mentioned: Blood draws

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "Serial blood samples will be collected during the postprandial period to assess insulin and glucose responses."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests how eating 30 grams of pistachios with a meal affects blood sugar and insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar, over about 3 hours. Each person will also try a meal with a refined-carbohydrate food that has the same calories, in a randomly chosen order. The study is for adults ages 18–35 with overweight or obesity.

This randomized controlled crossover study will examine the acute effects of pistachio consumption on postprandial metabolic responses in adults with overweight or obesity. Participants will complete two experimental conditions in randomized order. In one condition, participants will consume 30 g of pistachios with a standardized meal, and in the other condition they will receive an isocaloric refined-carbohydrate control condition with the standardized meal. The study will evaluate postprandial insulin and glucose responses over approximately 3 hours after meal consumption. Additional outcomes will include continuous glucose monitoring measures, blood lipid responses, appetite and satiety ratings, and exploratory measures related to insulin sensitivity and gastrointestinal hormone responses. The study is designed to determine whether pistachio consumption alters acute metabolic responses compared with an isocaloric refined-carbohydrate control in adults with overweight or obesity.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Age 18–35 and able to understand and agree to join the study.
  • BMI of 25 or higher. BMI compares weight with height; waist and body fat checks will help confirm extra weight is from fat, not mainly muscle.
  • No planned weight loss or weight change of more than 3 kilograms in the past 3 months.
  • Generally healthy and not taking medicines that strongly affect blood sugar, insulin, hunger, or weight. Stable thyroid treatment may be allowed.
  • Able to go without food for 10–12 hours overnight and avoid hard exercise and alcohol for 24 hours before each meal visit.
  • Willing and able to eat pistachios, the comparison food, and the study breakfast.

Who can't join

  • Type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes alone does not rule you out.
  • Serious heart or blood vessel disease, such as a past heart attack or stroke, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or a serious uneven heartbeat; long-term kidney disease; or another condition or medicine that could make the study unsafe or affect results.
  • Currently in a weight-loss program, using weight-loss medicine, or had weight-loss surgery within the past year.
  • Allergy or intolerance to pistachios, tree nuts, peanuts or peanut butter, wheat or gluten, orange juice or citrus, or any study-meal ingredient.
  • Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or another serious gut condition affecting digestion or how the body takes in nutrients.
  • A keto, very-low-carbohydrate, or prescribed diet that could affect the study; or a current or past serious eating disorder that could make the study unsafe or prevent following the meal plan.
  • Another research trial in the past 3 months, or a major illness, infection, or surgery in the past 4 weeks, that could affect safety or results.
  • Current smoking, frequent nicotine use, excessive alcohol use, pregnancy, plans to become pregnant during the study, or breastfeeding.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-35 years, male or female, and able to provide informed consent. * BMI ≥25.0 kg/m². Waist circumference and BIA-derived body composition will also be assessed during screening and considered with BMI to help confirm that elevated BMI reflects excess adiposity rather than primarily high muscularity. * Weight stable, defined as no intentional weight loss or body weight change \>3 kg during the previous 3 months. * Generally healthy and not currently taking medications known to substantially affect glucose metabolism, insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, appetite, or body weight. Stable thyroid hormone replacement for a well-controlled thyroid condition is not automatically exclusionary. * Able to complete a 10-12-hour overnight fast and refrain from vigorous exercise and alcohol for 24 hours before each test meal visit. * Able and willing to consume pistachios, the refined-carbohydrate control food, and the standardized breakfast meal. Exclusion Criteria: * Known diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Individuals with known prediabetes will not be excluded. * Clinically significant cardiovascular disease, including prior myocardial infarction or stroke, uncontrolled hypertension, clinically significant arrhythmia, or another cardiovascular condition that could make participation unsafe or meaningfully affect study outcomes. * Chronic kidney disease or another major medical condition that could make participation unsafe or meaningfully affect metabolic outcomes. * Current participation in a weight-loss program, use of weight-loss medications, or history of bariatric surgery within the past year. * Known allergy or intolerance to pistachios, tree nuts, peanuts/peanut butter, wheat/gluten, orange juice/citrus, or any other study-meal ingredient. * Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or another clinically significant gastrointestinal or malabsorption condition that could affect digestion, nutrient absorption, or metabolic responses. * Current ketogenic, very-low-carbohydrate, or medically prescribed diet that could meaningfully interfere with the standardized feeding protocol or metabolic outcomes. * Participation in another clinical research trial within the past 3 months that could affect participant safety or study outcomes. * Recent significant illness, infection, or surgery within the past 4 weeks that could affect participant safety or study outcomes. * Current or prior clinically significant eating disorder that, in the investigator's judgment, could make participation unsafe or interfere with the feeding protocol. * Current smoking, frequent nicotine use, or excessive alcohol use. * Pregnancy, planned pregnancy during the study period, or lactation. * Any condition or medication that, in the investigator's judgment, would make participation unsafe or interfere with outcome measures.

Study sites (1)

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