Acute Effects of Legume-enriched Meals Compared to Western Diet Meals on Postprandial Metabolism in Participants with Increased Cardiometabolic Risk

In a randomized crossover design, 30 older men and women with increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases consume 4 mixed meals, which differ in dietary pattern, protein source and protein quantity. Two meals are designed according to the Planetary Health Diet with legumes as primary protein source whereas the other two meals are designed according to the Western Diet with animal food as primary protein source. Two meals are designed as high protein meals (62 g of protein) and two meals are designed as low protein meals (36 g of Protein). Therefore, participants consume 4 different test meals, a Low and a High Protein Western Diet Meal and a Low and a High Protein Planetary Health Diet Meal in a randomized order. During a postprandial observation period of 6 hours, parameters of lipid metabolism (e.g., plasma triglycerides), glucose metabolism (e.g., plasma glucose, serum insulin), as well as markers of inflammation (e.g., IL-6) and vascular function (e.g., pulse wave velocity) are analysed. Furthermore, amino acid profile, neuropsychologic parameters (e.g., appetite) and satiety-associated hormones (e.g., Ghrelin) are investigated. Each intervention will be separated by a washout period of approximately 14 days.

Inclusion criteria

• written informed consent
• Non-smoking
• BMI: 27 - 34,9 kg/m2
• Waist circumference (women ≥ 80 cm, men ≥ 94 cm)
• Systolic blood pressure: ≥ 120 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure: ≥ 80 mmHg
• At least one of the following criteria
• Fasting triglycerides in serum: ≥ 150 mg/dL
• Fasting HDL-Cholesterol in serum: women < 50 mg/dl, men < 40 mg/dL
• Fasting C-reactive protein in serum: ≥ 2 mg/L
• Fasting glucose in plasma: ≥ 100 mg/dL

Exclusion criteria

• food intolerances and allergies (especially to legumes)
• Smoking
• malabsorption syndromes
• thyroid diseases
• impaired renal function
• chronic liver disease
• heart failure
• myocardial infarction
• insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
• chronic inflammatory diseases
• tumors
• anemia
• immunosuppression
• intake of supplements (e.g., fish oil)
• Participation in another study
• other exclusion criteria at the discretion of the physician/ investigator