(P11-042-25) Study Protocol Abstract: The Effect of Regular Lentil and Chickpea Intake on Gut Microbiome and Metabolic Health in Healthy Young Adults: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives: Many young adults do not consume enough fiber, which can negatively influence health. Pulses can provide a sustainable way to bridge this fiber gap. Our recent preclinical studies have unveiled prebiotic mechanisms and benefits of pulses on microbiome and gut health through enhancing epithelial integrity, reducing inflammation, and fostering beneficial microbes. Given this, the objectives of the current study are to evaluate how 8 weeks of daily whole-cooked lentil and chickpea intake affect gut health, including microbiome-metabolome arrays and gut epithelial/barrier function. Secondary objectives include examining the impact of pulses on measures of metabolic health and inflammation and determining the feasibility of incorporating pulses into the diets of young adults.

Methods: This pilot, parallel-arm, randomized clinical trial will include sixty healthy young adults (18-30 years old) randomly assigned to one of three groups: chickpea (CHK), lentil (LEN), or a control (CTL). The CHK and LEN groups will supplement their normal diet with daily servings of whole-cooked canned chickpeas or lentils, respectively, while the CTL group will follow their normal diet while avoiding pulse intake. The required intake of chickpeas or lentils is determined by stepwise progression of intake, reaching a recommended dosage for participant age and sex as per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 of 25-28 g for females and 31-38 g for males. Data will be collected at baseline, week 4 (mid-point), and week 8 (study endpoint). Primary outcomes include gut microbiome diversity; secondary outcomes include plasma/fecal metabolome, oral microbiome, gut transit time (via blue-dye/gas-sensing capsules), blood samples (to measure lipid profiles, inflammatory markers and appetite hormones), 3-day food logs and questionnaires (to assess subjective stress and anxiety, physical activity, sleep quality and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Results: The study enrollment and data collection are ongoing.

Conclusions: Our study builds on the premise that young adults who are lacking in fiber intake will benefit from increasing pulse intake. We aim to unveil the mechanisms by which pulses may improve gut and metabolic health.

Funding Sources: USDA-ARS Pulse Crop Health Initiative (RN). JCW was supported by the National Institutes of Health and American Heart Association