Pistachios May Have an Eye on Healthy Aging
Pistachios contain lutein, a carotenoid that accumulates in the retina and a 2025 randomized controlled trial found that eating two ounces daily for 12 weeks increased macular pigment optical density in healthy middle-aged and older adults with low baseline levels. The improvement appeared within six weeks and was maintained through the end of the study.
Macular pigment helps protect retinal tissue from light-related damage, making the findings an interesting example of how foods typically promoted for heart health may have benefits elsewhere in the body. The study was small and funded by American Pistachio Growers, however, so larger independent trials will be important before pistachios earn an eye-health halo.
