Adult Pistachio Eaters Report 48% Lower Risk of Minor Depression

A new study finds that enjoying a handful of pistachios may do more than satisfy snack cravings—it could also help support some markers of mental well-being.

FRESNO, Calif., June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers analyzing health data from more than 64,000 U.S. adults in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that eating pistachios was linked with lower anxiety frequency, fewer difficulties caused by depression or anxiety, and reduced risk of having minor depression* compared to those who did not eat pistachios.¹

The study, supported by the American Pistachio Growers, published this month in the Journal of Food Science and Nutrition Research, is one of the first to explore how pistachios might support emotional health.

"Pistachios are a rich source of bioactive nutrients, and our research suggests that modest consumption may play a meaningful role in supporting mental well-being," said Kristin Fulgoni, lead author and researcher at Nutrition Impact, LLC. "What we noticed is that even small amounts of pistachios—about an ounce a day—were linked to these benefits."

Key findings in context:

• Pistachio consumers aged 60+ years had a 16% lower frequency of anxiety than non-consumers.
• Younger adults (ages 20–59) who ate pistachios reported 60% fewer challenges caused by anxiety or depression in daily life.
• Adult pistachio consumers ages 19+ years had a 48% lower risk of minor depression* compared to non-consumers, even after controlling for various health, lifestyle, demographic, and dietary factors.

The exploratory study looked at self-reported typical eating habits over a 24 hour period, meaning these benefits were observed in people who simply chose to include pistachios in their diets.

"More research is needed to understand exactly how pistachios may support mental health," said Fulgoni.

Adding to the Evidence: New Clinical Trial Suggests Pistachios Provide Gut Health Benefits

This mental health study builds on a rapidly expanding scientific literature supporting pistachios' role in human health. A newly published clinical trial from researchers at Penn State University shows that eating pistachios before bed may help support a healthier gut.²

In that study:

• People who ate about 2 ounces of pistachios at night for 12 weeks had more of the "good" gut bacteria—including Roseburia and Lachnospiraceae, known for producing butyrate, a compound that early research suggests may possibly support gut and brain health.³
• Compared to non-eaters, pistachio eaters also had lower levels of other bacteria like Flavonifractor and Eubacterium, that have been tied to cognitive decline, poor mood state, or other brain health challenges in observational studies.^4,5

This study was funded by the American Pistachio Growers.

For more information about research on the health benefits of pistachios, visit https://americanpistachios.org/nutrition-and-health. 

About American Pistachio Growers
American Pistachio Growers is a non-profit trade association representing more than 830 members who are pistachio growers, processors and industry partners in California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. American-grown pistachios are sold under many quality brand names internationally, so look for country of origin on packaging. For more information, visit AmericanPistachios.org.

Contact
Amber Wilson, MS, RD
Senior Director, Global Nutrition & Marketing, North America
[email protected] 
(310) 384-4251

References

*Severity of depression was judged in the study using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health 4th (DSM-IV) edition defined cutoffs criteria. The DSM-IV defines minor depression as having 2-4 depressive symptoms for 2 weeks or longer, having either a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, the symptoms must cause significant distress or impairment, and no manic or hypomanic behavior is present.

1. Fulgoni K, Fulgoni III V.L. Pistachio consumption is associated with some neurocognitive markers in adults - A cross-sectional study. Journal of Food Science and Nutrition Research. 2025;8(2):48-55.
2. Riley TM, et al. Nighttime pistachio consumption alters stool microbiota diversity and taxa abundance compared to education to consume 1-2 carbohydrate exchanges (15-30 g) over 12 weeks in adults with prediabetes: A secondary analysis from a randomized crossover trial. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2025;107481.
3. Xiong RG, et al. The role of gut microbiota in anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders as well as the protective effects of dietary components. Nutrients. 2023;15(14):3258.
4. Pei Y, Lu Y, Li H, Jiang C, Wang L. Gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function in subjects with cognitive impairments: a cross-sectional study. Front Aging Neurosci. 2023;15:1174599.
5. Varesi A, et al. The brain-gut-microbiota interplay in depression: A key to design innovative therapeutic approaches. Pharmacol Res. 2023;192:106799.

SOURCE American Pistachio Growers