Consumption of underutilised grain legumes and the prevention of type II diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases: Evidence from field investigation and physicochemical analyses

Abstract

This study was carried out to correlate grain legume consumption to the prevention of type II diabetes and some cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) (high blood pressure, obesity, and stroke). An exploratory survey was carried out among the population (n = 468) of the Diamaré division (Far-north, Cameroon). In addition, nutritional properties of selected grain legumes (GLs) were determined. Results showed generally that consumption of soybean, Bambara bean, and cowpea was linked to the prevention of metabolic diseases within the studied population. The nutritional properties of these GLs were also noteworthy. Remarkable protein content was noted in soybean's whole flour (WF) (38.133±0.366 g/100g DM), followed by the underutilised cultivar BVB of Bambara bean (26.434±0.366 g/100g DM). The cowpea seed has the highest total carbohydrate and vitamin C content of 59.294±0.129 g/100g DM and 327.715±0.336 µg EAA/100g DM, respectively, followed by the underutilised cultivar BVB with values of 57.696±0.097 g/100g DM and 261.951±0.376 µg EAA/100g DM. Dietary fibre content of Bambara bean seeds (18 - 28%) was higher than those of the other seeds, and probably plays important role in the prevention ability of diabetes and CMD of Bambara bean. Soybean's WF and those of the three underutilised Bambara bean cultivars contained the highest levels of total phenolic compounds and flavonoids, i.e., 206.089±0.087 mg GAE/100 DM, 143.868±0.299 mg QE/100g DM for soybean, respectively. The highest free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) was noted with the polyphenolic compounds’ extracts from soybean's WF, i.e., 21.193±0.049 µg TE/100g DM, followed by those from the underutilised BVB cultivar with a value of 16.594±0.160 µg TE/100g DM. The highest ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was obtained with soybean (34.481±0.029 µg TE/100g DM), followed by the cultivar GHB (32.036±0.076 µg TE/100g DM). The significant levels of protein, phenolic compounds, and dietary fibre in these seeds confirmed these correlations and their potential therapeutic effects and nutritional properties. Given the richness of the grain legumes in proteins and other bioactive compounds, raw materials and/or protein hydrolysates (peptides) will surely be a promising raw material for the pharmaceutical industries in the fight and/or prevention of metabolic diseases, in the fight against food insecurity, in the prevention and/or reversal of neurodegenerative diseases, and the formulation of a new functional ingredient.