Daily non-soy legume consumption reverses vascular impairment due to peripheral artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) results from a decrease in blood flow to the limbs due to the presence of atherosclerotic plaque. It has been reported that isoflavones isolated from soybeans reduce arterial stiffness, a component of atherosclerotic disease. This study examined the effect of consuming whole legumes (non-soy) on arterial function in humans with PAD.


METHODS
Twenty-six individuals with PAD consumed ½ cup/day cooked legumes (beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas) daily for 8 weeks. Measurements of circulating factors and vascular function at baseline and study conclusion were compared.


RESULTS
No changes in were detected relative to baseline values for most parameters. Total and LDL-cholesterol were reduced by 5.0% and 8.7%, respectively. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) showed a 5.5% increase. Changes in ABI and LDL-cholesterol did not correlate. Serum markers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation were unchanged, but short-chain acylcarnitine concentrations were significantly decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
A legume-rich diet can elicit major improvements in arterial function and serum cholesterol in the absence of changes in either body mass or blood pressure, although the improvements in vascular function and serum lipids were unrelated. Although the positive results obtained with this dietary intervention were not explained by biomarkers of endothelial function and inflammation, altered acylcarnitine levels indicate an improvement in skeletal muscle metabolism due to enhanced tissue perfusion.
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada. Electronic address: pzahradka@sbrc.ca.
Peter
P
Zahradka
Brenda
B
Wright
Wendy
W
Weighell
Heather
H
Blewett
Alanna
A
Baldwin
Karmin
K
O
Randolph P
RP
Guzman
Carla G
CG
Taylor
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D007887:Fabaceae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007249:Inflammation; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007529:Isoflavones; C116917:acylcarnitine; D002784:Cholesterol; D002331:Carnitine
Acylcarnitine; Ankle-brachial index; Cholesterol; Legumes; Peripheral artery disease