Introduction: Pistachio nuts are considered a rich source of leucine and other essential amino acids, as well as being a good source of antioxidants. These properties suggest that pistachio ingestion could potentially influence recovery from exercise induced muscle damage.  Aim: We aimed to determine if pistachio nut consumption would influence lower limb muscle soreness and/or function in a dose (0oz/d, 1.5oz/d, 3oz/d) dependent manner. Method: Following local ethics committee approval, we used a randomized cross-over approach in trained team-sport players (n=18 males, mean(SEM) age 23.1 ± 1.2y, stature 180.7 ± 1.5cm, mass 77.0 ± 3.0kg, and VO2max 47.5 ± 2.3ml.kg-1.min-1). These players completed three experimental trials, each separated by a minimum period of 3 weeks. Trials were conducted following 2 weeks of pistachio nut ingestion and involved a 40-minute downhill treadmill run to induce muscle damage. Lower limb muscle soreness (visual analogue scale), muscle function (maximal voluntary isokinetic torque and vertical jump), and blood markers of muscle damage / inflammation (creatine kinse, C-reactive protein, myoglobin, superoxide dismutase) were assessed before the damaging exercise (baseline) and at 24h, 48h, and 72h of recovery following exercise. Data were analysed using a repeated measures ANOVA with post-hoc paired T-tests, or one-way ANOVA when appropriate. Initial analysis examined for trial order effects in the model. Where no order effect was observed this variable was removed from the model and main effects of trial and time and their interaction were examined. Results: No trial order effects were observed for any of the key outcome measures (soreness, isokinetic torque, vertical jump height, or blood parameters) across trials. Subjective measure of muscle soreness was reduced for mean soreness response (p<0.05) across the whole recovery period in the non-dominant quadriceps between 0oz/d and 3oz/d trials (mean difference (95%CI): 13(1 to 25) AU). Although not significant, mean soreness in the dominant quadriceps also was lower in the 3 oz per day group compared to the 0 oz per day control group (p=0.06; 13(-1 to 26) AU). No main effects were observed in mean soreness of hamstrings across the recovery period. No main effects were observed for isokinetic torque of knee extensors or knee flexors. A time effect was observed in vertical jump height (p<0.01) but no group, or group´time interactions were evident. A significant time effect was noted for serum creatine kinase, but no group effect or group´time interaction. Serum creatine kinase concentration peaked at 24h post-damage (mean(SEM): 763(158)µg/L) from baseline (300(87)µg/L), but had returned to baseline by 72h post (398(80)µg/L). No differences were observed between trials in any of the other blood parameters assessed. Conclusions: These data suggest that pistachio nut ingestion at 3oz/d dose provides some alleviation of muscle soreness, but not upon muscle function. This specific effect on soreness rather than on muscle function suggests a mechanism of action related to blunting of the inflammation response. However, further work is required to explore these effects when greater damage is induced, or during longer term follow-up.