A form of vitamin E in pistachios may make the nuts a good snack for anyone looking to reduce their risk of certain cancers.

"It is known that vitamin E provides a degree of protection against certain forms of cancer," said study author Dr Ladia Hernandez. "Higher intakes of gamma-tocopherol, which is a form of vitamin E, may reduce the risk of lung cancer."

Researchers from the University of Texas conducted a six-week clinical trial to determine if eating pistachios could increase levels of gamma-tocopherol. They found that for individuals on the pistachio diet, cholesterol-adjusted serum gamma-tocopherol was significantly higher at the end of the intervention period compared to baseline.

"Pistachios are one of those ‘good-for-you’ nuts, and 2 ounces per day could be incorporated into dietary strategies designed to reduce the risk of lung cancer without significant changes in body mass index," said Hernandez.

Other food sources that are a rich source of gamma-tocopherol include nuts such as peanuts, pecans, walnuts, soybean and corn oils. Vitamin E with gamma-tocopheral is also available in nutritional supplement form.