Pecan pie: the nut has trials, the pie has none

Nobody has studied pecan pie as a food. We found no trial of the pie itself, so every health number on this page comes from pecans eaten as nuts, without the sugar filling. The strongest is a 2026 meta-analysis of 10 randomized trials in adults, in which eating pecans lowered LDL cholesterol by 7.42 mg/dL (95% CI 4.01 to 10.83) and triglycerides by 14.06 mg/dL, with no significant change in HDL. Dose decides whether that shows up. In a short 28-day trial in 102 adults with excess weight or high blood lipids, mostly women, pecans supplying 13 or 20 percent of daily energy lowered LDL by about 12 mg/dL, while 6 percent of energy did not improve blood lipids against the control diet. We have no data on how many grams of pecan a slice contains, and nobody has tested whether the filling changes the effect.

The numbers, per 3.5 oz (100 g)

As people eat it, per 3.5 oz (100 g)

How much is actually in it

• USDA lists homemade pecan pie at 22.2 g fat, 87 mg cholesterol and 0.211 mg copper per 3.5 oz (100 g), with a commercial version lower at 16.69 g fat and 42 mg cholesterol. — Pie, pecan, prepared from recipe (FDC 172786) and Pie, pecan, commercially prepared (n = 2 records) Evidence C source
  Fat 16.69-22.2 g/100 g; cholesterol 42-87 mg/100 g; copper 0.184-0.211 mg/100 g

What a real portion looks like

• In the US dietary survey database a regular slice of pecan pie weighs 5.3 oz (150 g) and a whole 8 to 9 inch pie 1200 g, so a regular slice of the homemade recipe carries about 33 g fat. — FNDDS 53385000 Pie, pecan (fdc_id 2708015) (n = -) Evidence C source
  Mini slice 75 g, regular slice 150 g, large slice 250 g, whole pie 1200 g; 150 g x 22.2 g/100 g = 33.3 g fat
• In a 28-day RCT in 102 adults, pecans supplying 13 or 20 percent of daily energy lowered LDL cholesterol by about 12 mg/dL, but 6 percent of energy did not improve fasting blood lipids versus control. — 102 adults with excess body weight or dyslipidemia, 28 days (n = 102) Evidence B source
  LDL -12.7 +/- 3.3 (13%) and -11.9 +/- 3.4 mg/dL (20%); 6% of energy did not improve fasting lipids vs control

What your body absorbs

• In a randomized crossover trial in 16 adults, a pecan test meal doubled plasma gamma-tocopherol at 8 hours and raised plasma antioxidant capacity by 10 to 12 percent at 2 hours. — 16 healthy men and women aged 23-44 y, 3 test meals with 1-week washout (n = 16) Evidence B source
  Gamma-tocopherol doubled at 8 h (P < 0.001); hydrophilic ORAC +12%, lipophilic ORAC +10% at 2 h; oxidized LDL -30% at 2 h

What cooking and storage change

• By the USDA retention table for Nut and Seed Products, roasting keeps 85 percent of thiamin and 80 percent of folate while minerals such as magnesium, zinc and copper stay at 100 percent. — USDA R6 group factor, Nut and Seed Products, NUTS,ROASTED (code 2203) (n = -) Evidence C source
  Thiamin 85%, folate 80%, vitamin B6 95%, magnesium/zinc/copper/iron 100% retained
• A systematic review of 32 studies found that the major allergy proteins of pecan and other tree nuts mostly stay stable under heat, so baking is not expected to remove pecan allergens. — 32 articles, mostly in vitro studies of processed tree nuts (n = 32 studies) Evidence D source
  NsLTPs and seed storage proteins heat stable; roasting reduced allergenicity only for PR-10 proteins in hazelnut and almond

What it does to your health

• A 2026 meta-analysis of 10 RCTs found eating pecans lowered LDL cholesterol by 7.42 mg/dL, total cholesterol by 8.49 mg/dL and triglycerides by 14.06 mg/dL, with no significant change in HDL. — adults in 10 randomized controlled trials of pecan consumption, search to 30 November 2025 (n = 10 RCTs) Evidence A source
  LDL-C WMD -7.42 mg/dL (95% CI -10.83 to -4.01); TC -8.49 (-12.61 to -4.37); TG -14.06 (-22.37 to -5.75); HDL-C +0.97 (-0.25 to 2.20)
• In a 12-week RCT in 138 adults at cardiometabolic risk, swapping usual snacks for 57 g pecans a day cut LDL cholesterol by 7.2 mg/dL versus usual diet, while weight tended to rise by 1.5 lb (0.7 kg). — 138 adults with at least 1 metabolic syndrome criterion, mean age 46, 12 weeks (n = 138) Evidence B source
  LDL -7.2 mg/dL (95% CI -12.3 to -2.1); TG -16.4 mg/dL (-30.0 to -2.9); weight +1.5 lb (-0.22 to 3.1; metric: 0.7 kg, -0.1 to 1.4); no change in FMD

Safety, limits and interactions

• A systematic review of 27 diagnostic studies describes one-way cross-reactivity between walnut and pecan, relevant for people with tree nut allergy. — 27 studies of diagnostic accuracy for specific tree nut allergy (n = 27 studies) Evidence C source
  Walnut/pecan cross-reactivity is unidirectional; diagnostic accuracy only reasonable
• A US retail survey of 3,656 tree nut samples in 2014 to 2015 detected no Salmonella in pecans, against 1.2 percent in walnuts and 4.2 percent in macadamia nuts. — 3,656 raw tree nut samples from US retail markets, October 2014 to October 2015 (n = 3656) Evidence C source
  Salmonella not detected in pecans; walnuts 1.20% (0.53-2.40), macadamia 4.20% (2.40-6.90)

What people believe that the data does not support

• The EU did not authorize the claim that eating 1.1 oz (30 g) of nuts including pecans a day helps maintain heart health. — EU market (n = -) Evidence E source
  -

Who this works differently for

• In a 4-week RCT in 44 older adults averaging 59 years, 68 g pecans a day lowered LDL cholesterol by 15 mg/dL versus a nut-free diet. — 44 older adults (59 +/- 6 y), 68 g pecans/d vs nut-free, 4 weeks (n = 44) Evidence B source
  LDL -15 +/- 3.7 vs +1.9 +/- 4.4 mg/dL (P = .01); fasting vascular function unchanged
• A meta-analysis of 5 RCTs with 436 people with cardiovascular disease found nuts including pecans did not change systolic blood pressure (mean difference -1.16 mmHg) over 6 to 12 weeks. — 436 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in 5 RCTs; almonds, pecans, Brazil nuts, mixed nuts; 6-12 weeks (n = 436) Evidence A source
  SBP MD -1.16 mmHg (95% CI -5.68 to 3.35); DBP MD 0.10 mmHg (-2.30 to 2.51)

The bottom line

By the USDA SR Legacy entry, homemade pecan pie carries 22.2 g fat, 87 mg cholesterol and 0.211 mg copper per 3.5 oz (100 g), and a commercial pie 16.69 g fat and 42 mg cholesterol, single reference values with no spread across samples. In the US dietary survey a regular slice weighs 5.3 oz (150 g). That works out to about 33 g fat for the homemade recipe, a calculation from the 100 g figure and not a measurement. Our composition data give no verified calorie or sugar figure for a slice. For nutrients, the only cooking data we have is for roasted nuts. The USDA retention table for roasting keeps 85 percent of thiamin, 80 percent of folate and all of the magnesium, zinc and copper, a group factor that we apply to baking by assumption. In a crossover trial in 16 healthy adults aged 23 to 44, a single test meal of whole or blended pecans doubled blood gamma-tocopherol at 8 hours, an acute test that says nothing about pie. Three more trials fill in the picture, all on nuts alone. In 138 adults with at least one sign of metabolic syndrome, 2 oz (57 g) of pecans a day in place of usual snacks for 12 weeks lowered LDL by 7.2 mg/dL (95% CI 2.1 to 12.3) against the usual diet. Weight went up by 1.5 lb (0.7 kg) in the same trial, with an interval from minus 0.22 to 3.1 lb (0.1 to 1.4 kg). In 44 adults averaging 59 years, 68 g a day for 4 weeks lowered LDL by 15 mg/dL against a nut-free diet, in a small and short trial. In people who already have cardiovascular disease, a meta-analysis of 5 trials with 436 patients found that nuts, pecans among them, did not change systolic blood pressure over 6 to 12 weeks (minus 1.16 mmHg, 95% CI minus 5.68 to 3.35). The EU refused to authorize the claim that 1.1 oz (30 g) of nuts a day, pecans included, helps maintain heart health. A refused claim cannot go on a label, and that is a different thing from proof of no effect. The cautions we have evidence for concern allergy and contamination. A review of 32 mostly laboratory studies suggests the main allergy proteins in pecans and other tree nuts stay stable under heat, so baking should not be expected to make the pie safe for someone allergic to pecans. Diagnostic studies describe a one-way cross-reactivity between walnut and pecan, which matters for anyone with a tree nut allergy. A US retail survey of 3,656 raw tree nut samples in 2014 and 2015 found no Salmonella in pecans, against 1.2 percent of walnuts. That survey tested raw nuts, not pie. Our cards say nothing about children, pregnancy or medicines.

Sources

1. pcpi-daily-r7-01 · composition dataset
   Pie, pecan, prepared from recipe (FDC 172786, SR Legacy, Baked Products): fat 22.2 g, cholesterol 87 mg, copper 0.211 mg per 100 g; 2 records range fat 16.69-22.2 g, cholesterol 42-87 mg, copper 0.184-0.211 mg; Foundation samples 0, CoFID match none
   USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy, FDC 172786 Pie, pecan, prepared from recipe · checked 2026-09-29
2. pcpi-daily-r7-02 · portion dataset
   FNDDS 53385000 Pie, pecan (fdc_id 2708015, Cakes and pies): 1 mini/small slice 75 g, 1 regular slice 150 g, 1 large slice 250 g, 1 individual pie 150 g, 1 regular pie (8-9" dia) 1200 g, 1 large pie (10" dia plus) 2000 g
   USDA FNDDS 2021-2023, food code 53385000 · checked 2026-09-29
3. pcpi-daily-r7-08 · RCT
   Pecan intake providing 20% and 13%, but not 6%, of daily energy improved fasting blood lipid profiles compared with the control, with postprandial NEFA reductions observed only at 13%.
   J Nutr, 2026 · checked 2026-09-29
4. pcpi-daily-r7-05 · RCT (crossover)
   Following the whole and blended pecan test meals, plasma concentrations of γ-tocopherols doubled at 8 h (P < 0.001) and hydrophilic- and lipophilic-ORAC increased 12 and 10% at 2 h, respectively.
   J Nutr, 2011 · checked 2026-09-29
5. pcpi-daily-r7-03 · retention dataset
   USDA-RETN-R6:2203 NUTS,ROASTED, group Nut and Seed Products: thiamin_mg 85% retained, folate_total_ug 80%, vitamin_b6_mg 95%, magnesium_mg 100%, zinc_mg 100%, copper_mg 100%, iron_mg 100%
   USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6 (2007), code 2203 · checked 2026-09-29
6. pcpi-daily-r7-04 · systematic review
   The majority of the in vitro studies investigating the allergenicity of nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) and seed storage proteins in hazelnut, almond, cashew nut, Brazil nut, walnut, pecan nut and pistachio nut show heat stability towards different thermal processing methods.
   Allergy, 2013 · checked 2026-09-29
7. pcpi-daily-r7-06 · meta-analysis
   Interestingly, significant reductions were observed in TC (WMD: − 8.49 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 12.61 to − 4.37; P < 0.001; I²=0.0%), TG (WMD: − 14.06 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 22.37 to − 5.75; P = 0.001; I²=0.0%), and LDL-C levels (WMD: − 7.42 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 10.83 to − 4.01; P < 0.001; I²=0.0%) following pecan consumption (Fig. 4).
   Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, 2026 · checked 2026-09-29
8. pcpi-daily-r7-07 · RCT
   Compared with the usual diet group, pecan intake reduced total cholesterol (-8.1 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -14.5, -1.7), LDL cholesterol (-7.2 mg/dL; 95% CI -12.3, -2.1), non-HDL-cholesterol (-9.5 mg/dL; 95% CI -15.3, -3.7), and triglycerides concentrations (-16.4 mg/dL; 95% CI -30.0, -2.9).
   Am J Clin Nutr, 2025 · checked 2026-09-29
9. pcpi-daily-r7-11 · systematic review
   The unidirectionality of cross-reactivity between cashew/pistachio and walnut/pecan is described and can aid diagnosis.
   J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract, 2021 · checked 2026-09-29
10. pcpi-daily-r7-12 · prevalence survey
    Salmonella was not detected in pecans and in-shell hazelnuts.
    J Food Prot, 2017 · checked 2026-09-29
11. pcpi-daily-r7-13 · EU claim register
    POL-HC-7666 Nuts - peanuts and tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts), excluding brazil, macadamia and cashew nuts Eating 30g of nuts per day as part of a balanced diet helps maintain heart health. Non-authorised
    EU Register on nutrition and health claims, claim POL-HC-7666, snapshot 2026-09-21 · checked 2026-09-29
12. pcpi-daily-r7-09 · RCT
    From the pre- to post-diet visit, there were greater reductions in fasting total cholesterol (pecan: -14 ± 4.0 vs control: -0.2 ± 5.4 mg/dL; P = .04), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (pecan: -15 ± 3.7 vs control: +1.9 ± 4.4 mg/dL; P = .01)
    Nutr Res, 2023 · checked 2026-09-29
13. pcpi-daily-r7-10 · meta-analysis
    They also had no effect on systolic (mean difference [MD]: -1.16 mmHg [95% CI, -5.68 to 3.35], I2 = 0%-moderate certainty of evidence) or diastolic (MD: 0.10 mmHg [95% CI, -2.30 to 2.51], I2 = 0%-high certainty of evidence) blood pressure.
    Nutr Rev, 2025 · checked 2026-09-29