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A high-legume low-glycemic index diet reduces fasting plasma leptin in middle-aged insulin-resistant and -sensitive men

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 415–418 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Fasting leptin and ghrelin levels were measured in 36 insulin-sensitive (IS) and 28 insulin-resistant (IR) men who consumed a legume-enriched low-glycemic index (LG) diet or healthy American (HA) diet in a randomly ordered cross-over feeding study consisting of two 4-week periods. Weight remained stable over the entire study. Fasting plasma leptin was significantly reduced from pre-study levels by both the LG (18.8%, P<0.001) and HA (16.1%, P<0.001) diets, whereas fasting ghrelin did not change. By subgroup analysis according to prestudy insulin status, leptin was reduced in IR subjects after both the LG (17.1%, P<0.01) and the HA (33.3%, P<0.001) diets, whereas IS subjects responded only after the LG diet (23.1%, P<0.01). Thus, a legume-rich LG index diet may be a beneficial strategy for reducing circulating leptin concentrations, even under conditions of weight maintenance.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Amy Ciccarella, Sami Heim and Mary Lou Kiel for their help with menu development and food preparation, and Diane Mitchell and Linda Phelps for their help with the conduct and interpretation of 24-h dietary recalls. Supported by the National Cancer Institute (Subcontract 25XS101) with partial support provided by the GCRC at Penn State University (NIH M01 RR 10732).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Chandlee Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Z Zhang, A C Ross, D Bagshaw & T J Hartman

  2. Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Center for Cancer Research, The National Cancer Institute, Bethesda and Frederick, Bethesda, MD, USA

    E Lanza, P S Albert & N H Colburn

  3. Department of Human Development & Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    M J Rovine

  4. Department of Biobehavioral Health & Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    J S Ulbrecht

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  1. Z Zhang
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  2. E Lanza
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  3. A C Ross
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  4. P S Albert
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  5. N H Colburn
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  6. M J Rovine
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  7. D Bagshaw
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  8. J S Ulbrecht
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Correspondence to T J Hartman.

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Zhang, Z., Lanza, E., Ross, A. et al. A high-legume low-glycemic index diet reduces fasting plasma leptin in middle-aged insulin-resistant and -sensitive men. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 415–418 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.273

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.273

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