Effects of long-term consumption and single meals of chickpeas on plasma glucose, insulin, and triacylglycerol concentrations.
BACKGROUND
Legumes are recommended for better glucose control in persons with diabetes. Whether subjects with normal insulin sensitivity would also benefit from legume consumption is not clear.


OBJECTIVE
Our goal was to compare the effects on insulin sensitivity of chickpea-based and wheat-based foods when eaten as single meals or over 6 wk.


METHODS
Acute and long-term studies were conducted in healthy middle-aged men and women. In the acute study (n = 19), plasma glucose, insulin, and calculated homeostasis model assessment (HOMA; an index of insulin sensitivity) were measured on 3 separated days over 3 h after the subjects consumed 50-g available carbohydrate loads from either chickpeas, wheat-based foods, or white bread. The long-term comparison (n = 20) was a randomized, crossover study in which chickpea-based and wheat-based foods were eaten for 6 wk each. Plasma glucose, insulin, and HOMA were measured in the fasting state and 2 h after a 75-g glucose load.


RESULTS
After single meals, plasma glucose was substantially lower 30 and 60 min after the chickpea meal than after the other 2 meals (P < 0.05), and plasma insulin and HOMA were lower at 120 min (P < 0.05 for both). Despite this, the long-term study failed to show significant differences in plasma glucose, insulin, or HOMA either in the fasting state or after a glucose load.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with a wheat-based meal, a single chickpea-based meal led to a lesser response in plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, but this was not translated into long-term improvement in insulin sensitivity over 6 wk, at least in healthy subjects.
Baker Heart Research Institute (Wynn Domain), Melbourne, Australia. paul.nestel@baker.edu.au
Paul
P
Nestel
Marja
M
Cehun
Andriana
A
Chronopoulos
D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D029863:Cicer; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014908:Triticum
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides