Wan‐Yuan Kuo

Lentils have potential to improve metabolic health but there are limited randomized clinical trials evaluating their comprehensive impact on metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of lentil-based vs. meat-based meals on fasting and postprandial measures of glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammation. Thirty-eight adults with an increased waist circumference (male ≥ 40 inches and female ≥ 35 inches) participated in a 12-week dietary intervention that included seven prepared midday meals totaling either 980 g (LEN) or 0 g (CON) of cooked green lentils per week. Linear models were used to assess changes in fasting and postprandial markers from pre- to post-intervention by meal group. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were assessed through a survey randomly delivered once per week during the intervention. We found that regular consumption of lentils lowered fasting LDL (F = 5.53, p = 0.02) and total cholesterol levels (F = 8.64, p < 0.01) as well as postprandial glucose (β = −0.99, p = 0.01), IL-17 (β = −0.68, p = 0.04), and IL-1β (β = −0.70, p = 0.03) responses. GI symptoms were not different by meal group and all symptoms were reported as “none” or “mild” for the duration of the intervention. Our results suggest that daily lentil consumption may be helpful in lowering cholesterol and postprandial glycemic and inflammatory responses without causing GI stress. This information further informs the development of pulse-based dietary strategies to lower disease risk and to slow or reverse metabolic disease progression in at-risk populations.

To increase farm income and food security, a collaboration was made with smallholder women farmers in Kaffrine, Senegal to develop a culturally acceptable peanut nutrition bar using healthy indigenous and local ingredients and feasible manufacturing methods. This study aimed to use response surface methodology to optimize the bar's formulation and characterize the texture, nutrient profile, sensory qualities, and water activity. The bars were made by varying the ratio of cowpea flour to corn flour (w/w, d.b., 0/100, 25/75, 50/50, 75/25, and 100/0) and the percentage of baobab pulp powder in the cowpea–corn flour blend (w/w, d.b., 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%) with a fixed amount of 13 g of peanut paste added to all formulations. The use of acacia gum as a binder increased the bars’ cohesiveness. Increasing the ratio of cowpea flour to corn flour decreased the cohesiveness and increased protein, fiber, calcium, iron, and folate levels of the bars. Increasing the percentage of baobab pulp powder increased the hardness, fiber, and vitamin C levels, and decreased cohesiveness and water activity of the bars. The bar formulation optimized for sensory acceptance had a cowpea to corn ratio of 85.3:14.7, a baobab level of 9.95%, and 13 g of peanut paste. According to the research, the optimum formulation gave 38%, 32%, 36%, 50%, 11%, and 83% of the recommended dietary allowance of protein, fiber, calcium, iron, vitamin C, and folate, respectively, per serving for school‐age children and featured culturally acceptable texture and desirable water activity for commercialization. This study provided critical foundations for the subsequent feasibility assessment of a commercial launch, projected to significantly increase the revenue and nutrient intake of the partnering communities. Practical Application The commercialization of the peanut nutrition bar will serve as a source of new income for Senegalese smallholder women farmers, provide essential nutrients for school‐age children and potentially reduce post‐harvest loss. Response surface methodology used in this study can also be applied to food product development with indigenous communities to develop an accepted and community‐feasible product formulation.