Effects of Pulse Consumption, Gut Microbiome, and Appetite in Healthy Participants

• Investigate the acute and chronic effects of pulse consumption on the microbiome and plasma SCFA metabolomics in overweight subjects fed a high pulse (n=22) diet versus a no pulse containing diet (n=22).
• Furthermore, we will quantitate the rate of production of plasma SCFA, markers of satiety (PYY, GLP-1 and ghrelin), blood lipids, and carbohydrate (CHO) metabolism (glucose levels and oxidation) during a standardized meal to determine the effects of consuming pulses on appetite and satiety after acute and chronic dietary consumption.
• We will conduct subjective appetite assessments to investigate appetite control over the short- and long-term.

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women (premenopausal only)
• Age 20-55y (we will attempt to start baseline testing at the same time of the menstrual cycle (luteal) for the women
• BMI ≥25 or ≤40 kg/m2 (most at risk for metabolic abnormalities and will benefit from a pulse intervention-2/3 of Americans are overweight or obese)
• Weight stable (no fluctuations in body weight of greater than 4 kg in the last 3 months)
• Willing to consume a research diet
• Willing to provide blood and fecal samples
• Sedentary to low active physical activity status (less than 7200 steps per day)
• Stably treated with statin drugs, anti-hypertensives, and anti-depressants. These are acceptable as long as the drug category does not alter appetite, body weight, or the microbiome (if known)
• Pre-diabetes acceptable (glucose <125 mg/dL or HbA1c < 6.5%)
• At least one characteristic of the metabolic syndrome (but not diabetic)

• A large waistline: 35 inches or more for women 40 inches or more for men
• High triglycerides: 150 mg/dL or higher
• Low HDLc level: <50 mg/dL for women <40 mg/dL for men
• High blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg
• Fasting blood sugar ≥100 mg/dL - Pre-diabetes acceptable (glucose <125 mg/dL or HbA1c <6.5%) -

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or lactating
• Postmenopausal (evidence suggests an interplay between the gut microbiome)
• BMI of <25 or >40 kg/m2
• Use of medications that affect the gut microbiome (e.g. antibiotics)
• Taking medications known to affect appetite (e.g., phentermine) or gastrointestinal function (e.g., metformin)
• On a special diet or undergoing weight loss, vegetarian, or other restricted dietary patterns
• Ad libitum intake of fiber above 25g/day (mean intake in the US population is 17g/day) and < 10g/d
• History of disease (example colon cancer, HIV, cardiovascular disease, psychiatric disorders, etc.)
• Use of tobacco products