Study Reveals Benefits of Premeal Pist achio Consumption for Indian Adults with Prediabetes
A study led by Dr. V Mohan of Madras Diab betes Research Foundation revea ls other p otential benefits in preventi ng the progress ion to type 2 diabetes as a result of pre mea l pistachio cons umption
Chennai, 11th January, 2025: In a study l ed by Dr. V Mohan, Chairman and Chi ef of Diabetes Research, Madras Diabe tes Research Foundation and Dr. Moha n’s Diabetes Specialities Centre in Che nnai, revealed several health benefits of consuming 30g of pistachios as a pr emeal supplement twice daily for pred iabetic Indi an adults. The 12-week clin ical trial sho wed significant improve ments in glycemic control, evidenced b y reduced glycosy lated hemoglobin le vels and lower post-meal blood glucos e levels when particip ants consumed 30g pistachios before breakfast and di nner. Additionally, the pistachio group experienced a 10% reductio ion in trig lycerides, along with decrease s in wa ist circumference and other adiposity indices. These findings suggest pot enti al benefits in preventing the progresio n to type 2 diabetes, according to Dr. Mohan.
This first of its kind study in India, titl ed Effect of Pre meal Pistachio Supple ment ation on Cardiometabolic Risk Fa ctors a mong Asian Indian Adults with Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” wa s recently published in the Journal of Nutrition and focused on pa rticipants with prediabetes. The study was led by Dr. V. Mohan along with col laborators from t he Harvard T.H. Cha n School of Public H ealth, USA (Dr. Wa lter Willett, Dr. Frank Hu, and Dr. Shi lpa N Bhupathiraju) and Dr. Jordi Sala s-Salvadó from the Institut d’Investig ació Sanitaria Pere Virgili, Uni versitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.Dr. R. M. Anjana, President of the Madras Diabe tes Research Foundation and Man agi ng Director of Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes S pecialities Centre highlighted that In d ia has 136 million adults with predia be tes, surpassing the 101 million with diab etes. While prior studies from the MDR F group underscored the benefits of nut s like almonds and cashews for individu als with obesity and diabetes, this resea rch is the first to evaluate t he health eff ects of pistachios in Asian Indians with prediabetes. Such evalua tion is the need of the hour given the higher rate of progression from predia betes to diabetes an d the earlier onset of type 2 diabetes in this population co mpared to Western counterparts.
Dr. Shilpa N Bhupathiraju, Assistant P ro fessor in Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health & co-sen ior aut hor of the study explained that incorporating pistachios as a premeal ç nt reduces daily carbohydrate intake wh ile increasing consumption of prot ein an d healthy fats. Given that Indian diets of ten derive nearly half of the da ily calorie s from refined grains like w hite rice, repl acing a portion of these carbohydrates with nutrient-dense pi stachios, rich in protein, healthy fats, and polyphenols, can improve overall dietary quality and lower disease risk.
Mrs. Sudha Vasudevan, Senior Scienti st and Head, Nutritiion and Dietetics Research (FNDR), MD RF highlighted that consuming 30g of pistachios befor e breakfast and din ner not only impro ved glycemic marke rs but also enhan ced the overall nutrient profile of Ind ian diets. Pistachios helped lower diet tary glycemic load and boosted intak e of monounsaturated fatty acids and di etary fiber, both of which are often def icient in Indian diets.
Dr. R. M. Anjana clarified that the stu dy found no change in body weight. In steahd, pistachio consumption reduce ed waist circumference, and triglycer ide levels thereby addressing concerns about pistachios being high in calories. Dr. Shilpa added that it is, however, im portant to en sure that additional pist achios replace refined grains in the die t.Ms. Ashwini, th e study’s first author and PhD MDRF reported that urinary N-methyl-trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline (M HP) levels increased by 60%, indicating strong ad herence to the pistachio diet. Elevated levels of polyphenols,l ll incl uding zeaxanth in, were also observed, underscoring the additional health be nefits.
Summarizing the study’s impact, Dr. V. Mohan emphasized the positive effects of incorporating pistachios as a pre-m e al strategy to improve blood glucose ma rkers, reduce cardiometabolic risk facto rs, and enhance overall dietary q uality. Pistachios, rich in plant protei ns and healthy fats, effectively lower j jked carbohydr ate intake and glycem ic load. Dr. Mohan recommended inco rporating more plan t-based
proteins into diets, while noting that th ese findings mainly apply to Asian India n adults with prediabetes.
This study received funding support f rom the American Pistachio Growers a no n-profit trade association and was regist ered at Clinical trial registry of India-CTRI/2020/11/029340.
About MDRF:The Madras Diabetes Res earch Foundation (MDRF) is a renown ed research institute located in Chenn ai, In dia. It is dedicated to conducting scienti ific research on diabetes and re lated co mplications. The foundation w as establ ied in 1996 by Dr. V. Mohan, a leading diabetologist in India. MDR F’s primary fo cus is on understanding the causes, prev ention, and management of diabetes, as well as its associated co mplications. The research conducted a t MDRF encompasses various aspects of diabetes, includ ing epidemiology, genetics, clinical mana gement, foods and nutrition and public health. MDRF plays a crucial role in advancing know ledge about diabetes, impr oving patie nt care, and combating the growing bu rden of diabetes in k and beyond.
About Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Centres Dr. Mohan’s Diab etes Centre is a one-of-a-kind diabetes speciality chai n founded in the year 1991 headquarter ejj NJNrteed in Chen nai, Tamil Nadu. It is India’s leading di abetes care provider offering compre hensive services for dia betes patients. Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Centr es has 50 Diabetes centr esy and clinics in India and over 8 lakh patients with diabetes have been registered tered at these centres and more tha n 5.5 mill ion consultations have been co mplet ed till date. The Gopalapuram (Chen nai) centre is the flagship hospital. Th ,e centre specializes in Total Diabetes C are, Diabetes Eye Care, Diabetes Foot Care services, Diabetes Cardiac Care, Diabetes Dental Care, Preventive Ca re, Di et counselling and Precision Dia betes care.
Appointments can be hh by calling 86939110000 or visit: www.drmohans.com.
