Is Pistachio safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Pistachio. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
A study of 912 infants in T rkiye with food allergy were evaluated before 24 months of age. During the first 6 months of life, 83.7% were exclusively breastfed, 15.8% were mixed-fed with formula, and 0.5% were exclusively formula-fed. Overall, 13.2% of the infants with food allergies were allergic to pistachio. Out of 61 exclusively breastfed infants with food allergies, 1 had an allergy to pistachio in the first 3 months of life and 3 had allergy to pistachio during the period of 4 to 6 months of age.[ 2 ] A 22-month-old girl developed facial hives on twice during breastfeeding that resolved spontaneously within 2 hours. These events were two months apart and she tolerated breastfeeding between the events. On both occasions the mother had eaten a large quantity of pistachios an hour earlier. The mother then ingested 100 grams of pistachio nuts 12, 5 and 1 hour prior to collecting 150 mL of breastmilk and a 10 mL aliquot of this was fed to the child. The patient developed facial and neck erythema and wheals, which subsided spontaneously after 20 minutes. Skin prick tests with commercial antigens were positive for pistachio, cashew and walnut, but negative with the mother s milk collected after pistachio ingestion. After instructing the mother to follow a pistachio- and cashew-free diet, the patient had no further reactions with breast milk feedings.[ 3 ]
Effects on milk supply
Pistacia atlantica in an ointment was studied for nipple fissure and pain in lactating women. The ointment consisted of 7 grams of beeswax, 10 grams of ghee and 7 grams of Saqez (oleoresin made from scratching the trunks of Pistacia atlantica trees). Either the ointment or expressed breastmilk was applied 3 times daily to the nipple fissure and areola. Pain and serious nipple fissures were less severe in the treatment group than in the control group who applied expressed breastmilk to their fissures.[ 4 , 5 ]
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date. Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.