Scott Tammy M, Ogunbodede Olaniyi, McKay Diane L, Johnson Elizabeth J
The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States.
Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
J Nutr. 2025 Jan;155(1):168-174. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.10.022. Epub 2024 Oct 18.
Pistachios are a bioavailable source of the xanthophyll lutein. Along with zeaxanthin, these plant pigments are major components of macular pigment (MP) in the human retina. MP can be non-invasively measured and is referred to as MP optical density (MPOD). MPOD is modifiable with dietary interventions that include lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z). Higher MPOD protects the eye from light damage and is positively associated with eye health.
This dietary intervention study aimed to evaluate the effect of pistachio consumption on MPOD.
This single-blinded, randomized controlled trial compared a 12-week pistachio intervention (2 oz/d) with usual diet (UD) on MPOD and serum L/Z in middle-aged to older healthy adults (n = 36) in a 1:1 randomization scheme. Participants were selected for habitually low L/Z intake and low baseline MPOD. MPOD was measured using heterochromatic flicker photometry at 4 retinal eccentricities during baseline, week 6, and week 12 study visits. Serum L/Z was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Primary statistical analysis was conducted on an intent-to-treat basis using repeated-measure analysis of variance.
Compared with UD, MPOD of the participants in the pistachio intervention group (PIS) had significantly increased (P < 0.001) at all eccentricities over the initial 6-wk period. This increase was maintained at week 12. MPOD in the UD participants did not change during the 12-week period. Serum lutein concentration followed a similar pattern to MPOD; serum cis-lutein and zeaxanthin did not change in either group over the 12-wk intervention.
The results of our study demonstrate that a dietary intervention with pistachios is efficacious in increasing MPOD in healthy adults selected for habitually low intake of L/Z and low baseline MPOD. This suggests that pistachio consumption could be an effective dietary strategy for preserving eye health. Future studies need to evaluate the generalizability of our findings to other populations. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05283941.
开心果是叶黄素这种类胡萝卜素的生物可利用来源。与玉米黄质一起，这些植物色素是人类视网膜黄斑色素（MP）的主要成分。MP可以通过非侵入性测量，被称为MP光密度（MPOD）。MPOD可通过包括叶黄素和玉米黄质（L/Z）的饮食干预进行调节。较高的MPOD可保护眼睛免受光损伤，并与眼睛健康呈正相关。
这项饮食干预研究旨在评估食用开心果对MPOD的影响。
这项单盲随机对照试验采用1:1随机分组方案，比较了为期12周的开心果干预（2盎司/天）与正常饮食（UD）对中年至老年健康成年人（n = 36）的MPOD和血清L/Z的影响。参与者被选为习惯性低L/Z摄入量和低基线MPOD者。在基线、第6周和第12周的研究访视期间，使用异色闪烁光度法在4个视网膜偏心度下测量MPOD。使用高效液相色谱法分析血清L/Z。主要统计分析采用意向性分析，使用重复测量方差分析。
与UD相比，开心果干预组（PIS）参与者的MPOD在最初6周内所有偏心度下均显著增加（P < 0.001）。这种增加在第12周时得以维持。UD参与者的MPOD在12周期间没有变化。血清叶黄素浓度与MPOD的变化模式相似；在12周的干预期间，两组的血清顺式叶黄素和玉米黄质均未发生变化。
我们的研究结果表明，对于习惯性低L/Z摄入量和低基线MPOD的健康成年人，开心果饮食干预可有效增加MPOD。这表明食用开心果可能是一种保护眼睛健康的有效饮食策略。未来的研究需要评估我们的研究结果对其他人群的普遍性。该试验已在clinicaltrials.gov上注册，注册号为NCT05283941。
