The aim of the project was the evaluation of the effects of the consumption of different amounts of lupins in brine on lipid, glucose, inflammatory, oxidative stress, gut microbiota profile and (epi)genetic markers in healthy volunteers, by means of a 4-week 2-arm parallel randomized controlled trial.
Epidemiological and intervention studies confirm a tight relationship between lifestyle - and particularly dietary choices - and human health. Among the dietary patterns, it has been showed that the adherence to a plant-based diet, i.e. Mediterranean diet, may have a pivotal role in promoting a health longevity and counteracting cardiovascular, neurological and cancer-related diseases. In fact, the abundant consumption of fruit, vegetables, cereals and pulses leads to a high intake of vegetable proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, fibre and bioactive compounds which may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-atherosclerotic, hypocholesterolemic and antimicrobial activities. In particular, there is a growing interest for valorization of pulses, among which lupins represent a good alternative as healthy snack but also as serving to be used during the principal meal. Lupins are traditional legumes of the Mediterranean basin, and they represent a good source of bioactive peptides, soluble fibre and minerals. Different trials evaluated the health effects of the consumption lupin derived products in humans concluding that it may lead to a decrease of blood pressure, reduction of blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of information regarding the effects of the consumption of whole lupins, and in particular in one of the most sold forms, as in brine. In this parallel randomized controlled trial, 60 healthy volunteers were randomly allocated for a 4-week consumption of: * Active comparator arm: 30 grams per week of lupins in brine; * Experimental arm: 600 grams per week of lupins in brine and the suggestion of reduction of at least two servings per week of meat, processed meat and/or cheese; At baseline and after 4 weeks of dietary intervention, subjects were visited in medical facility and asked to provide blood, urine, saliva, feces for the evaluation of: * Anthropometric and blood pressure parameters; * Blood lipid and carbohydrate profile; * Blood transaminase parameters; * Blood and urine inflammation markers; * Leucocyte and saliva DNA genetic and epigenetic markers; * Fecal profile of gut microbiota. In addition, volunteers filled in different questionnaires regarding their dietary habits, the physical activity and the gut healthiness.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
Volunteers were asked to consume lupins in brine for 4 weeks.
Volunteers were asked to consume lupins in brine for 4 weeks and refrain to two servings per week of meat or processed meat or cheese.
University of Teramo
Teramo, Italy
Variation of plasma lipids
Measure of plasma concentrations (mg/dL) of triglycerides before and after dietary intervention. Statistical analysis of the primary outcome was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Variation of anthropometric parameters
Measure of body weight (kg), height (m), BMI (kg/m2) fat mass (kg), free fat mass (kg) before and after dietary intervention. Weight (in kilograms) and height (and in meters) will be combined to report BMI in kg/m\^2). Statistical analysis of the secondary outcome was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Variation of blood pressure parameters
Measure of blood pressure (mmHg). Statistical analysis of the secondary outcome was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Variation of blood glucose
Measure of blood glucose (mg/dL) before and after dietary intervention. Statistical analysis of the secondary outcomes was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
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Variation of blood insulin
Measure of blood insulin (µUI/mL) before and after dietary intervention. Statistical analysis of the secondary outcomes was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Variation of C-peptide
Measure of blood C-peptide (ng/mL) before and after dietary intervention. Statistical analysis of the secondary outcomes was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Variation of blood lipid-related parameters
Measure of blood total (mg/dL), LDL- (mg/dL), HDL- (mg/dL) cholesterol before and after dietary intervention. Statistical analysis of the secondary outcomes was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Variation of transaminase parameters
Measure of blood aspartate transaminase (AST, U/L), alanine transaminase (ALT, U/L), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT, U/L )before and after dietary intervention. Statistical analysis of the secondary outcomes was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Variation of inflammatory parameters
Measure of blood C-reactive protein (CRP, mg/dL) and uric acid (mg/dL) before and after dietary intervention. Statistical analysis of the secondary outcomes was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Variation of citokine and interleukine parameters
Measure of blood interleukins (IL) IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-18, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α (pg/mL) before and after dietary intervention. Statistical analysis of the secondary outcomes was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Variation of urinary inflammatory parameters
Measure of urinary 8-isoprotaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α, ng/mL) before and after dietary intervention before and after dietary intervention. Statistical analysis of the secondary outcomes was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Variation of genetic and epigenetic expression of inflammatory mediators parameters
Measure of DNA methylation on CpG sites from peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cells (% on single site) and expression of miRNA on saliva samples (fold change over control) before and after dietary intervention. Statistical analysis of the secondary outcomes was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Variation of gut microbiota profile parameters
Measure of fecal microbiota composition (colony-forming unit, CFU/g) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) before and after dietary intervention. Statistical analysis of the secondary outcomes was performed within and between each single intervention-arm. Further, a post-hoc subdivision of the study participants by means of anthropometrics or metabolic marker cut-off value was applied, and statistical differences of the primary outcome have been considered.
Time frame: 4 weeks