title: Effects of non-soy legume consumption on C-reactive protein: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because of conflicting results of presented studies, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was to examine the effect of non-soy legume intake on inflammatory markers and C-reactive protein (CRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched Pubmed, ISI Web of Knowledge, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar for relevant studies up to July 2013, using medical subject headings [MeSH] and other related keywords. Nine RCTs were systematically reviewed to examine the effect of non-soy legume consumption on inflammatory markers. Eight studies involving 464 participants were included in the meta-analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the meta-analysis showed that non-soy legume consumption had a trend toward a significant effect on decreasing CRP and high-sensitivity (hs)-CRP concentrations (mean difference (MD) = -0.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.44 to 0.02; P = 0.068). There was no overall effect of non-soy legume consumption on CRP or hs-CRP levels in either the parallel or crossover study designs. Our subgroup analysis of CRP type and study design, showed that non-soy legume intake had a significant effect on CRP levels in parallel studies (MD = -1.01; 95% CI, -1.78 to -0.23; P = 0.011) and a significant effect on hs-CRP levels (MD = -0.53; 95% CI, -0.95 to -0.11; P = 0.014) and in the crossover sub group (MD = -0.68; 95% CI, -1.28 to -0.08; P = 0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review of RCTs showed that non-soy legume consumption may contribute to reductions in CRP and hs-CRP concentrations. However, further controlled clinical trials are needed to investigate the effect of non-soy legume intake on other inflammatory markers.
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salehi-Abargouei
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saraf-Bank
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Community Services, School of Nutrition, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bellissimo
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic address: Azadbakht@hlth.mui.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Azadbakht
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000178:diet therapy*; D045730:Soy Foods
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; Inflammation; Meta-analysis; Non-soy legume intake; Randomized clinical trial