Effect of Legumes Intake on the Oxidative Stress Markers in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Randomized Cross-over Study

Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of late diabetic complications, the markers of which could be improved by the beneficial effects of legumes. In this randomized crossover trial, 24 overweight subjects, aged 50-80 years, with type 2 diabetes, were selected. We aimed to determine the effects of non-soybean legumes consumption on oxidative stress markers such as ox-LDL (oxidative LDL), MDA (Malonedialdehyde) and TAC (total antioxidant capacity) in type 2 diabetic patients. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, receiving two diets – the TLC (controls) or the TLC diet with legumes (receiving 2 servings of legumes instead of meat three days of the week in the TLC diet). Duration of each diet was 8 weeks with a 4 week wash-out period. At the beginning and end of each dietary period, fasting plasma glucose, ox-LDL, MDA, TAC and weight were measured. After the nutritional intervention, diabetic patients, those individuals who followed the legume-based TLC diet had significant reduction in ox- LDL (-3.1±0.5 vs. -0.7±0.4; P=0.003) and MDA (-1.1±0.2 vs. -0.3±0.1; P=0.006), but no change was observed in the TAC and BMI of the case and control groups. The legume-based TLC diet improves oxidative stress markers in diabetic patients, compared to the legume-free TLC diet.