LEGUMES LINK TO LOWERING RISK FOR DIABETES AND COLON CANCER
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This page was last updated: February 16, 2010
New research in 2009 suggests that legumes may lower the risk for diabetes and colon cancer.  Legumes are vegetables that include beans, peas, soy, clover and lentils.  These are typically very low in fat, have no cholesterol and high in vitamins such as folate, potassium, iron and magnesium.  Many cultures have incorporated legumes which can be a healthy substitute for meat.

A study published in November 2009 suggest that consumption of a legume enriched, low glycemic index diet is associated with biomarkers (measure progress of disease or effectiveness of treatment) of insulin resistance and inflammation among men at risk for colorectal cancer.

So far this is the first randomized crossover feeding trial testing such effects of the diet.  A comparison was observed between the healthy American diet (which includes meats and saturated fats) with legume-enriched diet under weight stable conditions.  Their first goal was to measure inflammation via C-reactive protein and insulin production by measuring C-peptide levels.  Second goal was to assess such changes by insulin resistance and medical history of tumor growths.  Some 64 men completed colonoscopies within the 2 years previous.  Random ordered of the two diets were given for 4 weeks following a period to washout.  The legume-enriched, low GI~38 diet was compared with the high GI healthy American diet.  Measurements before and after the diets were taken.  Men who consumed both diets had improved CRP levels or inflammation marker and tumor markers.  In the legume diet tumor markers declined marginally and significantly in the healthy American diet (indication of higher number of tumor cells reacting). Fasting glucose were significantly higher for the legume diet but better at (+1.8%) compared to the healthy American diet of (-2.2%).  It was therefore suggested that healthy dietary choices can improve biomarkers for inflammation in colorectal cancer and insulin resistance.

RESOURCE
Terryl J. Hartman, Paul S. Albert, Zhiying Zhang, Deborah Bagshaw, Penny M. Kris-Etherton, Jan Ulbrecht, Carla K. Miller, Gerd Bobe, Nancy H. Colburn and Elaine Lanza;
Consumption of a Legume-Enriched, Low-Glycemic Index Diet Is Associated with Biomarkers of Insulin Resistance and Inflammation among Men at Risk for Colorectal Cancer; J. Nutr. (November 4, 2009). doi:10.3945/jn.109.114249
© 2009 American Society for Nutrition

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