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Consumption of lupinus mutabilis sweet in the prevention and management of diabetes mellitus type-2

Abstract:

The social and economic cost to treat type-2 diabetes (T2DM), one of the major public health problems in the world, is high. There is an urgent need to develop novel strategies to prevent and find new culturally friendly low-cost therapeutic alternatives to treat the disease. Several studies have shown that peptides derived from legume proteins have metabolic properties, including hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, anti-carcinogenic, antiinflammatory, and anti-thrombotic. People who consume diets rich in legumes significantly decrease total serum cholesterol levels compared to control groups; also, peptides derived from legumes show inhibitory properties of enzymes involved in the pathophysiology of T2DM and cardiovascular diseases such as angiotensin-converting enzyme and dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibition. These studies demonstrate the importance of legumes in the diet and their potential as functional foods that could contribute to the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases, including diabetes. For several years, our research group has developed studies with Andean crops to determine health beneficial properties in these foods that can be applied in the prevention and treatment of the most prevalent diseases in Ecuador, including cardio-metabolic diseases. Here we discuss clinical and molecular evidence for the use of the legume Lupinus mutabilis Sweet in the treatment of T2DM. Current evidence indicates that consumption of legumes including Andean L. mutabilis can contribute to the prevention and treatment of T2DM. It is important to educate and promote the consumption of legumes by the general population.