Recently a research team investigated the effects of Antep (Turkish) pistachios erectile dysfunction (ED). The results were somewhat surprising … at least to me.
The team evaluated 17 married male patients who had had ED for at least 12 months. The patients’ International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores, penile color Doppler ultrasound (PCDU) parameters, and serum lipid levels were evaluated.
Then the men were instructed to ingest 100 grams of pistachio nuts daily  for 3 weeks. The men  only consumed the pistachio diet during lunch, in order to provide maximum absorption.
IIEF and PCDU were evaluated before and after the pistachio diet. In addition, plasma total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride were measured before and after dietary modifications from all subjects.
Mean IIEF-15 score was 36±7.5 before the diet and 54.2±4.9 after the diet (P=0.001).
Similarly, an increase in all five domains of IIEF was observed after the diet (P<0.05).
Mean peak systolic velocity values before and after the pistachio diet were 35.5±15.2 and 43.3±12.4 cm s–1, respectively (P=0.018).
After the pistachio diet, TC and LDL levels decreased significantly, whereas HDL level increased (P=0.008, 0.007, and 0.001, respectively).
The researchers concluded that a pistachio diet improved IIEF scores and PCDU parameters without any associated side effects in patients with ED.
Furthermore, the lipid parameters showed statistically significant improvements after this diet.
According to the researchers, “Pistachio nuts (Pistacia vera L.) are rich sources of plant proteins, dietary fibers and especially antioxidant substances (for example, antioxidant vitamins), besides being high in unsaturated fatty acids and low in saturated fatty acids, which may also have cardioprotective effects.”
In addition, “Endothelial dysfunction, characterized by impaired nitric oxide bioavailability, precedes the development of atherosclerotic lesions and has been suggested as an important link between ED and cardiovascular disease.”
They go on to say, “Although various studies exist regarding the positive effects of pistachio nuts on serum lipid profiles, to the best of knowledge, its effect on ED has not been investigated yet.”
If you give this diet a try, do let me know how it works.
The study was published in the International Journal of Impotence Research: The Journal of Sexual Medicine.