Eating Beans for Obesity

Overseen By Madelyn Munoz

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Must not be taking: Steroids, Antidepressants

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Lactation, Hypertension, Cardiovascular, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 1 day

28 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this research is to test how eating a meal containing beans impacts how participants' bodies use food for energy.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are taking medications that affect appetite, blood lipids (fats in the blood), body composition, body weight, or food intake, you will need to stop taking them to participate in this trial. The trial does not specify a washout period (time without taking certain medications), but these medications are not allowed.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment involving pinto beans for obesity?

Research suggests that extracts from Phaseolus vulgaris (the scientific name for pinto beans) can help with weight control by reducing fat accumulation and blocking carbohydrate absorption, which may lead to weight loss. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is eating beans safe for humans?

Beans, including pinto beans and other types of Phaseolus vulgaris, are widely consumed and generally considered safe for human consumption. Some studies suggest they may have health benefits, such as reducing cancer risk and aiding in weight management, without significant safety concerns. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

How does eating pinto beans help with obesity compared to other treatments?

Eating pinto beans, like other beans, may help with obesity by increasing satiety (feeling full) and reducing body fat and waist size. Beans are unique because they can improve lipid metabolism (how the body processes fats) and may block carbohydrate absorption, which can aid in weight control. ^{4 5 8 9 10}

Research Team

Shanon Casperson, PhD

Principal Investigator

USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults with a BMI between 18.5 and 30 who can sign consent, are on birth control if applicable, have their own transport to the research center, don't smoke or use tobacco products including e-cigarettes, aren't taking steroids or trying to change their weight.

Inclusion Criteria

You do not smoke or use any other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

I can travel to the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center.

Your body mass index (BMI) is between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2.

Exclusion Criteria

Participation in a weight loss diet/exercise program

Non-English speaking

I cannot or will not eat the food provided in the study.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants consume meals containing either whole cooked pinto beans, pinto bean flour, or a control meal to assess substrate oxidation

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for substrate utilization and energy expenditure after meal consumption

5 hours

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Control
• Pinto bean flour
• Whole cooked pinto bean

Trial Overview The study examines how eating meals containing whole cooked pinto beans or pinto bean flour compares to a control meal without beans in terms of affecting metabolism and energy use in the body.

Participant Groups

Group I: Whole cooked pinto bean meal Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will consume a meal comprised of 100 grams of whole cooked pinto beans

Group II: Pinto bean flour meal Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will consume a meal comprised of pinto bean flour equivalent to 100 grams of whole cooked pinto beans

Group III: Control meal Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will consume a control meal

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

60

Recruited

5,300+

Findings from Research

In a study of 60 healthy overweight subjects, those who took Beanblock® for 12 weeks experienced significant weight loss (from 82.8 kg to 78.8 kg) and a reduction in waist circumference (from 94.4 cm to 88.2 cm), while the control group showed only minor changes.

Beanblock® also significantly reduced oxidative stress levels and improved feelings of satiety and appetite, with no reported side effects, indicating it is a safe and effective supplement for weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beanblock® (standardized dry extract of Phaseolus vulgaris) in mildly overweight subjects: a pilot study. Luzzi, R., Belcaro, G., Hu, S., et al.[2018]

Green bean extracts significantly increased glycerol release in both mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes and rat white adipose tissue, indicating enhanced lipolysis, which is the breakdown of fats.

The extracts also reduced intracellular triglyceride accumulation by up to 47.1%, suggesting that green beans may help in reducing fat storage and could be beneficial in combating obesity-related health issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Phaseolus vulgaris Extract on Lipolytic Activity and Differentiation of 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes into Mature Adipocytes: A Strategy to Prevent Obesity. Castillo, F., González, DR., Moore-Carrasco, R.[2022]

In a rat model for breast cancer, a high dietary concentration of common bean (60% wt/wt) significantly reduced cancer burden by 62.2%, primarily through the induction of apoptosis.

The study identified that dietary beans affect the mTOR signaling pathway, which is often deregulated in human breast cancers, and also led to reduced levels of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, and C-reactive protein, suggesting a potential mechanism for the cancer-protective effects of beans.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cell signaling pathways associated with a reduction in mammary cancer burden by dietary common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Thompson, MD., Mensack, MM., Jiang, W., et al.[2021]

In a 4-week study with 25 healthy participants, both those taking a proprietary white bean extract and those on a placebo lost weight and waist size, but the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant.

However, among participants with the highest carbohydrate intake, those taking the white bean extract lost significantly more weight (8.7 lbs vs 1.7 lbs) and waist size (3.3 in vs 1.3 in) compared to the placebo group, suggesting the extract may be more effective for individuals consuming higher amounts of carbohydrates.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Blocking carbohydrate absorption and weight loss: a clinical trial using a proprietary fractionated white bean extract. Udani, J., Singh, BB.[2016]

In a study involving 43 healthy young men, different types of pulses (like navy beans) were tested for their effects on appetite and food intake, but none of the pulse treatments significantly reduced food intake compared to white bread or glucose drinks.

While pulse consumption did lower subjective appetite, the overall energy content of the food was the main factor affecting food intake, suggesting that the link between pulse consumption and lower obesity risk may not be due to short-term effects on satiety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Food intake and satiety following a serving of pulses in young men: effect of processing, recipe, and pulse variety. Wong, CL., Mollard, RC., Zafar, TA., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 160 male obese mice, diets containing cooked navy beans significantly reduced the incidence of colon cancer lesions compared to a control diet, with reductions of up to 91% for adenomas and adenocarcinomas.

Both the soluble and insoluble fractions of cooked navy beans contributed to their cancer-preventive effects, indicating that consuming whole beans may provide multiple protective benefits against colon cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary cooked navy beans and their fractions attenuate colon carcinogenesis in azoxymethane-induced ob/ob mice. Bobe, G., Barrett, KG., Mentor-Marcel, RA., et al.[2021]

Anasazi beans have significantly lower levels of soluble and bound condensed tannins compared to traditional pinto beans, which may make them a healthier option.

The lectins in anasazi beans are classified as non-toxic, while those in pinto beans are considered toxic, highlighting a safety advantage of anasazi beans over pinto beans.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antinutritional factors in anasazi and other pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Weder, JK., Telek, L., Vozári-Hampe, M., et al.[2019]

In a study of 14 overweight and obese adults, consuming 5 cups of canned navy beans per week for 4 weeks significantly reduced waist circumference, with females losing an average of 2.5 cm and males 2.1 cm (P < 0.001).

The consumption of navy beans also positively affected metabolic risk factors, showing a notable decrease in pulse rate, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol in males, while females experienced an increase in pulse rate but stable cholesterol levels, indicating a sex-dependent response to bean consumption.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Canned Navy Bean Consumption Reduces Metabolic Risk Factors Associated with Obesity. Luhovyy, BL., Mollard, RC., Panahi, S., et al.[2017]

A systematic review of 21 clinical trials showed that pulse crop consumption, particularly common beans, is linked to better weight control and reduced body fat, although the exact mechanisms were unclear.

In a study using rat models, bean consumption reduced visceral fat and adipocyte size without affecting food efficiency, and it enhanced fatty acid oxidation in the liver, suggesting that beans may help combat obesity through improved lipid metabolism.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beneficial Effects of Common Bean on Adiposity and Lipid Metabolism. Thompson, HJ., McGinley, JN., Neil, ES., et al.[2018]

In a study of 246 women, higher bean intake was associated with lower body fat percentage and smaller waist circumference, suggesting that beans may help in managing obesity.

Women who adhered to a bean-based dietary pattern had significantly lower body fat and waist measurements compared to those with low adherence, indicating that incorporating beans into the diet could be beneficial for weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bean Consumption Accounts for Differences in Body Fat and Waist Circumference: A Cross-Sectional Study of 246 Women. Tucker, LA.[2020]

References

1. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beanblock® (standardized dry extract of Phaseolus vulgaris) in mildly overweight subjects: a pilot study. [2018]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Phaseolus vulgaris Extract on Lipolytic Activity and Differentiation of 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes into Mature Adipocytes: A Strategy to Prevent Obesity. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cell signaling pathways associated with a reduction in mammary cancer burden by dietary common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Blocking carbohydrate absorption and weight loss: a clinical trial using a proprietary fractionated white bean extract. [2016]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Food intake and satiety following a serving of pulses in young men: effect of processing, recipe, and pulse variety. [2019]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary cooked navy beans and their fractions attenuate colon carcinogenesis in azoxymethane-induced ob/ob mice. [2021]

7. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antinutritional factors in anasazi and other pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). [2019]

8. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Canned Navy Bean Consumption Reduces Metabolic Risk Factors Associated with Obesity. [2017]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beneficial Effects of Common Bean on Adiposity and Lipid Metabolism. [2018]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bean Consumption Accounts for Differences in Body Fat and Waist Circumference: A Cross-Sectional Study of 246 Women. [2020]