• The assessment of metabolic health includes factors such as cholesterol and inflammation.
• According to the findings of an American study, daily consumption of chickpeas can reduce cholesterol, while black beans can reduce inflammation.
• The results could inspire programmes focused on the prevention of heart disease and diabetes.

Consuming one serving of legumes daily can support metabolic health, counteracting cholesterol and inflammation: this is what emerged from a new study not yet published in scientific journals but presented at the annual conference of the American Society for Nutrition, held in Orlando from 31 May to 3 June.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology, investigated the effects of consuming one serving of chickpeas or black beans per day for 12 weeks in 72 adults with prediabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to consume chickpeas, black beans, or rice (used as a control food) in addition to their usual diet. Blood samples were taken at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the study to monitor changes in cholesterol, inflammation, and blood glucose levels.

Cholesterol reduced with chickpeas, inflammation lowered with black beans

According to the findings, total cholesterol levels decreased significantly, from an average of 200.4 to 185.8 milligrams per decilitre, following the consumption of chickpeas. These legumes also appear to reduce inflammation, albeit in the short term. Consuming black beans had no effect on cholesterol, but did lower levels of an inflammation marker.

"People with prediabetes often have altered lipid metabolism and low-grade chronic inflammation, both of which can contribute to the development of conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes," explained Morganne Smith, one of the study's authors. "Our study found that bean consumption helped significantly lower cholesterol and reduce inflammation in people with prediabetes, although glucose levels did not change. These findings could be used to inspire dietary guidelines, clinicians, or public health programmes focused on the prevention of heart disease and diabetes."

The links between diet and metabolic health

Overall, the study's results suggest that chickpeas and black beans may offer different health benefits thanks to their distinct nutritional profiles. "This is something we are currently exploring, particularly with regard to the bioactive components that distinguish black beans from chickpeas," said Smith. "We are particularly interested in identifying changes in microbially derived metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, and how these changes may contribute to improving metabolic health." The researchers' goal is to better understand the links between diet, the microbiome, and the prevention of chronic diseases.