METABOLIC CHARACTERISTICS OF A NOVEL COMMON BEAN PRODUCT

Type-2 diabetes (T2DM) in Kenya is on a rise with about 458,900 people diagnosed in 2017 and a 2.5-fold projected increase by 2030. Prevalence of T2DM is 5.8% and 6.2% in men and women. T2DM has an inflammatory disease character and is characterized by hyperglycemia. Common beans in T2DM patients could have many health benefits such as modulation of glucose metabolism, reduction of low-density lipoproteins, and satiety. In this research, we develop a food-grade novel common bean product from food-grade ingredients though the application of conventional food processing technologies. We will then assess postprandial insulin, blood glucose and appetite responses associated with consumption of the common bean product in healthy volunteers and T2DM patients. The specific aims of our research are: 1. to assess the glycemic index (GI) of the common bean product in vivo among 10 healthy volunteers. The GI of the product will be measured over a 120 min period starting at the ingestion of the common bean product. Participants will be fed with an equi-carbohydrate portion of the common bean product to the reference food (anhydrous glucose powder, 50g or dextrose (glucose monohydrate), 55g). The test food and reference food will be assessed in each subject on separate days with a 1 week period between each study day. 2. to assess the food insulin index (FII) of the common bean product in vivo among 10 healthy volunteers. Participants will be fed with iso-caloric (240 kilocalorie) portions of the test food and reference food. 3. to determine glycemic, insulinemic and satiety (appetite) response associated with consumption of the common bean product among T2DM patients. Glycemic and insulinemic response will be evaluated over a 120 min period starting at the ingestion of the common bean product. Appetite scores will be used to assess the satiety power of the test product. The appetite score will be assessed before and after consumption of test product at time points 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes using short questionnaire.