title: Hormonal implications of the hypocholesterolemic effect of intake of field beans (Vicia faba L.) by young men with hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: This study examined the hypocholesterolemic effect and hormonal changes resulting from 30 d of supplementation with Vicia faba L. (field bean) flour of diets of young men (aged 18-21 y; n = 40) with borderline-high or high serum cholesterol values. All subjects (groups A-D) consumed the same basic diet. Additionally, volunteers in the control group (A) consumed 90 g control flour/d whereas those in the three bean groups received either 90 g cooked field bean flour (groups B and C) or 90 g raw field bean flour (group D) daily. Groups A and B included volunteers with borderline-high cholesterol values [5.2-6.2 mmol total cholesterol/L and 3.4-4.1 mmol low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol/L]. Subjects in groups C and D had high serum cholesterol concentrations (total cholesterol > 6.2 mmol/L and LDL cholesterol > 4.1 mmol/L). After 30 d, serum glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol, total, LDL-cholesterol, and very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol values were significantly lower than initial values in all subjects who consumed diets containing field bean flour (P < or = 0.0001, except for LDL-cholesterol concentrations in group C, for which P < or = 0.0007). Legume intake also resulted in a significant increase (P < or = 0.0001) in glucagon and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. Neither cortisol nor thyroid hormone values changed significantly. The results suggest that the hypocholesterolemic effect of field bean intake depends at least partly on a concomitant increase in glucagon and decrease in insulin values. The more marked reduction in triacylglycerol and VLDL-cholesterol concentrations in subjects who consumed raw field beans indicates a coparticipation of their thermolabile components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. gema.fruhbeck@mrc-dunn.cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frühbeck
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Monreal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santidrián
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003296:Cooking; D004032:Diet; D007887:Fabaceae; D005433:Flour / Q000032:analysis; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D005934:Glucagon; D006854:Hydrocortisone