The Effects of Pistachio (Pistacia Vera L.) on Metabolic Syndrome Components: A Comprehensive Review

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a nutrient-dense nut with a healthy nutritional profile and a long history of consumption in the Mediterranean diet and traditional medicine of different countries. Besides drug treatments, dietary modification is also an important and modifiable factor that can affect the prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome. This item may benefit metabolic syndrome management when considered in diet planning. This paper aimed to discuss the role of the pistachio in the management of metabolic syndrome.  PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched for data collection using related keywords.  A total of 113 articles were included in this review from 220 found documents. The most recent data published were investigated regarding the beneficial effects of pistachios on metabolic syndrome components, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. The profile of nutrients and most important phytochemicals of pistachio were presented. The main mechanisms of action of pistachio in metabolic syndrome are also discussed and summarized in some figures.  Based on the results, although pistachio has been less investigated than other nuts, considerable studies provide evidence of its beneficial effects on different components of metabolic syndrome.