HORMONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE HYPOCHOLESTEROLEMIC EFFECT OF INTAKE OF FIELD BEANS (VICIA-FABA L) BY YOUNG MEN WITH HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

This study examined the hypocholesterolemic effect and hormonal change s resulting from 30 d of supplementation with Vicia faba L. (field bea n) flour of diets of young men (aged 18-21 y; n = 40) with borderline- high or high serum cholesterol values. All subjects (groups A-D) consu med the same basic diet. Additionally, volunteers in the control group (A) consumed 90 g control flour/d whereas those in the three bean gro ups received either 90 g cooked field bean flour (groups B and C) or 9 0 g raw field bean flour (group D) daily. Groups A and B included volu nteers with borderline-high cholesterol values [5.2-6.2 mmol total cho lesterol/L and 3.4-4.1 mmol low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol/ L]. Subjects in groups C and D had high serum cholesterol concentratio ns (total cholesterol > 6.2 mmol/L and LDL cholesterol > 4.1 mmol/L). After 30 d, serum glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol, total, LDL-choles terol, and very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol values were significantly lower than initial values in all subjects who consumed diets containing field bean flour (P less than or equal to 0.0001, exc ept for LDL-cholesterol concentrations in group C, for which P less th an or equal to 0.0007). Legume intake also resulted in a significant i ncrease (P less than or equal to 0.0001) in glucagon and high-density- lipoprotein cholesterol. Neither cortisol nor thyroid hormone values c hanged significantly. The results suggest that the hypocholesterolemic effect of field bean intake depends at least partly on a concomitant increase in glucagon and decrease in insulin values. The more marked r eduction in triacylglycerol and VLDL-cholesterol concentrations in sub jects who consumed raw field beans indicates a coparticipation of thei r thermolabile components.