2. Academic Validation
  3. Influence of pistachios on performance and exercise-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, immune dysfunction, and metabolite shifts in cyclists: a randomized, crossover trial

Influence of pistachios on performance and exercise-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, immune dysfunction, and metabolite shifts in cyclists: a randomized, crossover trial

  • PLoS One. 2014 Nov 19;9(11):e113725. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113725.
David C Nieman 1,  Johannes Scherr 2,  Beibei Luo 3,  Mary Pat Meaney 1,  Didier Dréau 4,  Wei Sha 5,  Dustin A Dew 1,  Dru A Henson 6,  Kirk L Pappan 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Appalachian State University, Human Performance Lab, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America.
  • 2 Department of Prevention and Sports Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Munich, Germany.
  • 3 Department of Physiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
  • 4 Charlotte Research Institute & Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, United States of America.
  • 5 Bioinformatics Services Division, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America.
  • 6 Department of Biology, Immunology Laboratory, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, United States of America.
  • 7 Metabolon Inc., Durham, NC, United States of America.
PMID: 25409020 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113725
Abstract

Objectives: Pistachio nut ingestion (3 oz./d, two weeks) was tested for effects on exercise performance and 21-h post-exercise recovery from inflammation, oxidative stress, immune dysfunction, and metabolite shifts.

Methods: Using a randomized, crossover approach, cyclists (N = 19) engaged in two 75-km time trials after 2-weeks pistachio or no pistachio supplementation, with a 2-week washout period. Subjects came to the lab in an overnight fasted state, and ingested water only or 3 oz. pistachios with water before and during exercise. Blood samples were collected 45 min pre-exercise, and immediately post-, 1.5-h post-, and 21-h post-exercise, and analyzed for plasma cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoP), granulocyte phagocytosis (GPHAG) and oxidative burst activity (GOBA), and shifts in metabolites.

Results: Performance time for the 75-km time trial was 4.8% slower under pistachio conditions (2.84 ± 0.11 and 2.71 ± 0.07 h, respectively, P = 0.034). Significant time effects were shown for plasma cytokines, CRP, F2-IsoP, GPHAG, and GOBA, with few group differences. Metabolomics analysis revealed 423 detectable compounds of known identity, with significant interaction effects for 19 metabolites, especially raffinose, (12Z)-9,10-Dihydroxyoctadec-12-enoate (9,10-DiHOME), and sucrose. Dietary intake of raffinose was 2.19 ± 0.15 and 0.35 ± 0.08 mg/d during the pistachio and no pistachio periods, and metabolomics revealed that colon raffinose and sucrose translocated to the circulation during exercise due to increased gut permeability. The post-exercise increase in plasma raffinose correlated significantly with 9,10-DiHOME and other oxidative stress metabolites.

Conclusions: In summary, 2-weeks pistachio nut ingestion was associated with reduced 75-km cycling time trial performance and increased post-exercise plasma levels of raffinose, sucrose, and metabolites related to leukotoxic effects and oxidative stress.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01821820.

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