Caption- L to R: Sumit Saran, In Country Marketing Representative of American Pistachio Growers (APG); Dr. V Mohan, Chairperson of Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre; Zachary Fraser, President & CEO of American Pistachio Growers (APG
Mumbai, India – A groundbreaking study conducted by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) has revealed that consuming a handful of roasted, unsalted pistachios (approximately 30g) before meals can significantly slow the progression to diabetes in individuals with prediabetes.
The study, titled “Effect of Premeal Pistachio Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Asian Indian Adults with Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” was recently published in The Journal of Nutrition. It was led by Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, in collaboration with renowned researchers, including Dr. Walter Willett, Dr. Frank Hu, and Dr. Shilpa N. Bhupathiraju from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the United States, as well as Dr. Jordi Salas-Salvadó from the Institut d’Investigació Sanitaria Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.
India is home to 136 million adults with prediabetes and more than 101 million with diabetes, underscoring the urgent need for effective dietary interventions.
Dr. V. Mohan, said, “The 12-week clinical trial involving 120 prediabetic individuals, showed significant improvements in glycemic control, evidenced by reduced glycosylated hemoglobin levels and lower post-meal blood glucose levels when participants consumed 30g pistachios before breakfast and dinner. Additionally, they observed reductions in weight, 10% reduction in triglycerides and waist circumference, potentially preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes.”
Dr. Shilpa N Bhupathiraju of Harvard T N Chan School of Public Health co-senior author of the study explained that incorporating pistachios as a premeal supplement reduces daily carbohydrate intake while increasing consumption of protein and healthy fats. Given that Indian diets often derive nearly half of the daily calories from refined grains like white rice, replacing a portion of these carbohydrates with nutrient-dense pistachios, rich in protein, healthy fats, and polyphenols, can improve overall dietary quality and lower disease risk.
Sumit Saran, In-Country Market Representative, American Pistachio Growers said, “India is a growth market for American pistachios. India has no commercial production of pistachios. American pistachios are now easily available across the country with dry fruit and retailers and on major e-commerce platforms. They are packed and sold by multiple Indian brands. Consumers just have to search for California pistachios and choose the brand of their choice”
The research is registered under the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2020/11/029340).
