30 October 2024
New research published in the Journal of Nutrition has examined the effect of regular pistachio consumption on macular pigment optical density (MPOD).
A group of 36 study participants were recruited to the study through social media. The group were randomised to either eat a daily portion of 57 grammes of shelled pistachios or continue with their normal diet.
The study group comprised healthy adults with a habitually low intake of lutein and zeaxanthin, and a low MPOD at baseline.
The MPOD of participants was measured at the beginning of the study, after six weeks and at the conclusion of the trial after 12 weeks.
The researchers found that the MPOD in the intervention group that received pistachios significantly increased over the 12-week study period.
In comparison, the MPOD in the group that continued their normal diet did not change over the course of the study.
The scientists noted that future research would explore whether the results in this study population of healthy adults with low baseline MPOD could be generalisable to other populations.
“Pistachio consumption could be an effective dietary strategy for preserving eye health,” the authors shared.
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