Pistachios Blood Sugar Control, Heart and Gut Health

August 15, 2023 updated by: Penn State University

The Effect of Pistachios on Risk Factors for Cardiometabolic Disease in Individuals With Pre-diabetes: a Randomized, Cross-over Study

A two-period randomized crossover study will be conducted to evaluate the effect of nighttime pistachio consumption (i.e., after dinner and before sleep) on fasting blood sugar levels, longer-term blood sugar control, and risk factors for heart disease. This study will also investigate how pistachios affects gut health.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

A two-period randomized crossover trial will be conducted. Participants will be randomized to receive each treatment for 12 weeks followed by a minimum 4-week wash-out period. During the pistachio treatment, participants will consume two ounces per day (57 g) of pistachios as an evening snack. During the control phase subjects will be given advice to consume 1-2 exchanges of carbohydrate as an evening snack, which is consistent with usual care. Markers of glycemic control, cardiovascular risk factors and gut health will be assessed at the beginning and the end of each treatment period.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
66

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Penny M Kris-Etherton, PhD
  • Phone Number: 8145714779
  • Email: pmk3@psu.edu

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Julie Arnold
  • Phone Number: 814-863-8305
  • Email: jqr9@psu.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • University Park, Pennsylvania, United States, 16802
        • Pennsylvania State University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

30 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • BMI ≥25 and ≤45 kg/m2
  • Fasting plasma glucose 100 - 125 mg/dL
  • non-Smoking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed diabetes or fasting glucose >126 mg/dl
  • Systolic blood pressure >160mmHg or diastolic blood pressure >100mmHg)
  • Prescribed anti-hypertensive, lipid lowering or glucose lowering drugs
  • Established cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, liver, kidney or autoimmune disease or inflammatory conditions
  • Use of supplements (psyllium, fish oil, soy lecithin, phytoestrogens) and botanicals and not willing to cease for the duration of the study
  • Women who are pregnant, lactating, planning to become pregnant or have given birth in the past year
  • Weight loss of >=10% of body weight within the 6 months prior to enrolling in the study
  • Smoking or use of any tobacco products
  • Allergy/intolerance/sensitive to pistachios
  • Consumption of >14 alcoholic drinks/week
  • Shift-workers and those who cannot consume a snack in the evening

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Evening Pistachio Consumption
Participants will consume two ounces per day (57 g) of pistachios as an evening snack (i.e., after dinner and before sleep).
Drug: Pistachio
Unsalted pistachios
Active Comparator: Usual care
Advice to consume a snack that contains 1-2 exchanges (15-30 g of carbohydrate) as an evening snack - this is consistent with the current standard of care for people with impaired fasting glucose.
Other: Usual care
Advice and resources will be provided

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fasting plasma glucose concentration
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)
12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
HbA1c
Time Frame: 12 weeks
HbA1c (%) will be assessed at the beginning and end of each treatment period
12 weeks
Serum insulin concentration (mIU/L)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
fasting serum insulin levels assessed by blood draw
12 weeks
Peripheral systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Blood pressure measured assessed using a SphymoCor Xcel (Atcor Medical).
12 weeks
Central systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Blood pressure measured assessed using a SphymoCor Xcel (Atcor Medical).
12 weeks
Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (m/s)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
A measure of arterial stiffness assessed using a SphymoCor Xcel (Atcor Medical). A higher percentage value is indicative of greater arterial stiffness.
12 weeks
Augmentation Index (%)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
A measure of arterial stiffness assessed using a SphymoCor Xcel (Atcor Medical). A higher percentage value is indicative of greater arterial stiffness.
12 weeks
LDL cholesterol concentration (mg/dL)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Assessed using fasting blood draw
12 weeks
HDL cholesterol concentration
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Assessed using fasting blood draw
12 weeks
Total cholesterol concentration
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Assessed using fasting blood draw
12 weeks
Triglyceride concentration
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Assessed using fasting blood draw
12 weeks
HOMA-IR
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Assessed using fasting blood draw and standardized HOMA-IR calculation. Fasting plasma glucose multiplied by fasting plasma insulin divided by 405.
12 weeks
waist circumference (cm)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measured 10 cm above the navel
12 weeks
body weight (lbs)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Assessed using calibrated scale in Clinical Research Center
12 weeks
Diet quality: Healthy Eating Index 2015
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Assessed using the Healthy Eating Index 2015
12 weeks
Change in the composition of the gut microbiome
Time Frame: 12 weeks
microbiome composition assessed using fecal collection kit
12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Penn State University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 9, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 17, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 17, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 12, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 13, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 14, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 18, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 15, 2023

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • PKE Pistachio

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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