title: Acute effects of pistachio consumption on glucose and insulin, satiety hormones and endothelial function in the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nut consumption has been found to decrease risk of coronary heart disease and diabetes and to promote healthy body weights possibly related to their favorable macronutrient profile. We therefore assessed the effect of pistachios on postprandial glucose and insulin levels, gut hormones related to satiety and endothelial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized crossover study, 20 subjects with metabolic syndrome consumed five study meals over 5-10 weeks. The meals differed in fat type and quantity, but were matched according to available carbohydrates (CHOs). Three meals had 50 g available CHO: white bread (WB50g), white bread, butter and cheese (WB+B+Ch) and white bread and pistachios (WB+P). Two meals had 12 g available CHO: white bread (WB12g) and pistachios (P).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within each group of available CHO meals, postprandial glucose levels were the highest following the white bread-only meals, and glucose response was significantly attenuated when butter and cheese or pistachios were consumed (P<0.05). Postprandial insulin levels were highest after the WB+B+Ch meal (P<0.05), but did not differ between the white bread-only and pistachio meals. Both endothelial function (reactive hyperemia index) and arterial stiffness (augmentation index) significantly increased after the white bread-only meals compared with the WB+B+Ch meal (all P<0.05). Insulin secretagogue levels were higher when butter and cheese or pistachios were consumed than when white bread only was consumed (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with white bread, pistachio consumption reduced postprandial glycemia, increased glucagon-like-peptide levels and may have insulin-sparing properties. These effects could be beneficial for individuals with diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: 1] Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada [2] Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada [3] College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: C W C
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.affiliation: 1] Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA [2] Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: 1] Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada [2] Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esfahani
authors.affiliation: 1] Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada [2] Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vidgen
authors.affiliation: 1] Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada [2] Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bashyam
authors.affiliation: Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sauder
authors.affiliation: Glycemic Index Laboratories, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: 1] Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada [2] Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiavaroli
authors.affiliation: 1] Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada [2] Glycemic Index Laboratories, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: 1] Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada [2] Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada [3] Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001939:Bread / Q000032:analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry; D027927:Pistacia / Q000737:chemistry*; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology; D012527:Satiation / Q000502:physiology; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin