Background – Chickpeas are common in many ethnic diets and are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), dietary fibre and resistant starch. However, little information is available on the health effects of regular chickpea consumption.
Objective – To compare the effects of a diet supplemented with chickpeas to a wheat-supplemented diet of similar fibre content on serum lipids and glycaemic control, and to compare these diets plus a wheat based diet of low fibre content on satiety and bowel function.
Design – Twenty-seven free-living adults followed two randomized, crossover dietary interventions each of five weeks duration. The chickpea diet included canned chickpeas (140g/day), bread and biscuits containing 30% chickpea flour. The diets were isoenergetic to the participants’ usual diet, matched for macronutrient content and controlled for dietary fibre. Following on from the second randomised intervention, a sub-group of 18 participants underwent a third lower-fibre wheat diet. Measures at the end of the diets were compared by repeated measures ANOVA using GLM.
Outcomes – Serum TC was 0.25 mmol/L (p< 0.01) and LDL-C was 0.20 mmol/L lower (p=0.02) following the chickpea diet compared to the wheat diet. An unintended significant increase in PUFA and corresponding decrease in MUFA consumption occurred during the chickpea diet and statistical adjustment for this reduced the effect on serum lipids by about 50%. There was no significant difference in glucose or insulin concentrations. Perceived general bowel health improved significantly during the chickpea diet although there was considerable individual variation. Greater satiety was reported by some participants and was significantly greater than on the low fibre diet. Conclusions – The small but significantly lower serum TC and LDL-C during the chickpea diet could provide a valuable health benefit.