Location: Small Grain and Food Crops Quality Research
Project Number: 3060-21650-002-059-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 15, 2024
End Date: Dec 31, 2025
Objective:
The proposal aims to expand on our recent studies which demonstrated the benefit of pulse-derived resistant starches (specifically in lentils and chickpeas) through improved gut microbiome and beneficial gut-derived metabolites modulation and reduction in gut leakiness and inflammation. Given our recent research findings, we now aim to further investigate the prebiotic potential of dietary pulses using a multi-omics and comprehensive approach in an 8-week randomized clinical trial. Our overarching objectives are as follows: 1) To evaluate the effect of daily whole-cooked chickpea and lentil consumption for 8-weeks on gut health, including microbiome-metabolome arrays and gut epithelial/barrier function, in healthy young adults, 2) To examine the effect of daily whole-cooked chickpea and lentil consumption for 8-weeks on the measures of metabolic health and inflammation in healthy young adults, and 3) To determine the feasibility of healthy young adults to successfully incorporate and sustain the recommended daily intake of pulses into their diets for eight consecutive weeks.
Approach:
The goal of this project is to elucidate how lentils and chickpea intake in healthy young adults modulates gut microbiome-metabolome function leading to improved gut epithelial barrier function (permeability/leakiness) and inflammation, reduced markers of cardiometabolic health, while improving gut transit time and reducing gastrointestinal symptoms. An additional goal is to identify and inform strategies to incorporate pulses into young adults’ diets in a safe, sustainable and beneficial way. Specifically, 1) To evaluate the effect of daily whole-cooked chickpea and lentil consumption for 8-weeks on gut health, including microbiome-metabolome arrays and gut epithelial/barrier function, in healthy young adults, 2) To examine the effect of daily whole-cooked chickpea and lentil consumption for 8-weeks on the measures of metabolic health and inflammation in healthy young adults, and 3) To determine the feasibility of healthy young adults to successfully incorporate and sustain the recommended daily intake of pulses into their diets for eight consecutive weeks.A parallel arm, randomized clinical trial in healthy young adults will be used. 65 subjects will be recruited, screened, and randomized into either a lentil (LEN), chickpea (CHK) or control (CTL) group for 8-weeks. The first 4-weeks will be a diet acclimation phase, where subjects will gradually increase their intake of lentils/chickpeas up to the pulse recommendation set by the DGA for their age/gender. This design is novel to this study and important for gradual gut adaptation to pulse/fiber intake, as some people report GI symptoms as a barrier to pulse intake. Next 4-weeks will be a maintenance phase where subjects will maintain the recommended pulse intake. The test subjects will be healthy young adults (18-39 years old) will be recruited from the greater Tallahassee area via non-probability convenience sampling, printed flyers, campus communication, and social media platforms. Enrolled subjects will be randomly assigned to either of the 3 groups (LEN, CHK, CTL) through computer-generated randomization to prevent any bias.
