In order to elucidate the component(s) of yellow peas responsible for their health benefits, the effects of 10 or 20 g of isolated yellow pea protein (P10 and P20) or fibre (F10 and F20) on food intake (FI) at an ad libitum pizza meal served at 30 min (experiment 1) or 120 min (experiment 2), blood glucose (BG) and appetite in young healthy males (20-30 y) were investigated. In experiment 1, P20 suppressed FI compared to all other treatments and lowered cumulative FI (pizza meal kcal + treatment kcal) compared to F10. Protein treatments suppressed pre-meal (0-30 min) BG compared to control, whereas only P20 suppressed post-meal (50-120 min) BG. In experiment 2, there was no effect of treatment on any outcome measures. Thus, protein is the component responsible for the short-term effects of yellow peas on glycaemia and FI, but its second-meal effects diminish by 2 hours post-consumption.

In order to elucidate the component(s) of yellow peas responsible for their health benefits, the effects of 10 or 20 g of isolated yellow pea protein (P10 and P20) or fibre (F10 and F20) on food intake (FI) at an ad libitum pizza meal served at 30 min (experiment 1) or 120 min (experiment 2), blood glucose (BG) and appetite in young healthy males (20-30 y) were investigated. In experiment 1, P20 suppressed FI compared to all other treatments and lowered cumulative FI (pizza meal kcal + treatment kcal) compared to F10. Protein treatments suppressed pre-meal (0-30 min) BG compared to control, whereas only P20 suppressed post-meal (50-120 min) BG. In experiment 2, there was no effect of treatment on any outcome measures. Thus, protein is the component responsible for the short-term effects of yellow peas on glycaemia and FI, but its second-meal effects diminish by 2 hours post-consumption.

The effect of utilization of pulse flours with coarse and fine particle size milled from green lentils, yellow peas, navy beans, and pinto beans in pita bread and pan bread was studied. Composites containing 25, 50, 75, and 100% pulse flours were studied for pita baking, and 10, 15, and 25% for pan bread baking. Addition of the pulse flours produced pitas with the pockets, but they were smaller in diameter and firmer in texture than the wheat control. Supplemented pan bread had lower specific loaf volume and firmer crumb with coarser grain. The recommended tolerance levels of pulse flour addition were 25% for pita bread and 10-15% for pan bread depending on the pulse flour and particle size. It appears that navy beans and pinto beans are more suitable for baking applications using composite flours than lentils and yellow peas, and coarse flours produced breads with improved quality compared to fine flours.

The effect of utilization of pulse flours with coarse and fine particle size milled from green lentils, yellow peas, navy beans, and pinto beans in pita bread and pan bread was studied. Composites containing 25, 50, 75, and 100% pulse flours were studied for pita baking, and 10, 15, and 25% for pan bread baking. Addition of the pulse flours produced pitas with the pockets, but they were smaller in diameter and firmer in texture than the wheat control. Supplemented pan bread had lower specific loaf volume and firmer crumb with coarser grain. The recommended tolerance levels of pulse flour addition were 25% for pita bread and 10-15% for pan bread depending on the pulse flour and particle size. It appears that navy beans and pinto beans are more suitable for baking applications using composite flours than lentils and yellow peas, and coarse flours produced breads with improved quality compared to fine flours.

Whole yellow pea flour (WPF) and fractionated yellow pea flour (FPF) are novel functional food ingredients that vary in nutritional composition. Consequently, the health benefits of WPF and FPF remain undefined. The purpose of this research was to identify the effects of WPF and FPF on risk factors and morbidities associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity as well as the gastrointestinal microbiome. Using USDA recommended dosages of WPF and FPF, clinical endpoints and the colonic microbiome were investigated using a human clinical trial engaging a cross-over design and a diet and energy controlled paradigm. Humans were also utilized to investigate post-prandial glycemic responses and sensory characteristics of novel functional foods formulated with WPF. Finally, Golden Syrian hamsters were used to assess the impact of high doses of WPF and FPF on clinical endpoints and caecal microbial abundance. Results reveal that USDA recommended dosages of WPF and FPF in humans decreased (p<0.05) fasting insulin and estimates of insulin resistance compared to white wheat flour (WF). Android-to-gynoid fat ratios in women were lower (p=0.027) in the WPF group compared to the WF group. FPF decreased (p<0.05) post-prandial energy expenditure alongside a tendency (p<0.075) to reduce carbohydrate oxidation. Novel biscotti and banana bread formulated with WPF induced low post-prandial glycemic responses which were similar to boiled whole yellow peas and significantly lower (p<0.05) than white bread. Sensory analysis of novel WPF biscotti and banana bread demonstrated that WPF-based food products are palatable and acceptable for human consumption. Hamsters consuming diets containing 10% WPF and FPF induced similar reductions (p<0.05) in fasting insulin levels compared to controls. However, animals consuming WPF increased (p<0.05) oxygen consumption while FPF decreased (p<0.05) fasting glucose levels. In addition, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed that WPF and FPF induced distinct shifts in caecal microbial populations within the phyla Firmicutes. Finally, pyrosequencing analysis of human fecal microbiota demonstrated that FPF and WPF induced shifts in bacterial genera, primarily within Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. In conclusion, whole and fractionated yellow pea flours are functional food ingredients and can be utilized to manage risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases in humans.

Whole yellow pea flour (WPF) and fractionated yellow pea flour (FPF) are novel functional food ingredients that vary in nutritional composition. Consequently, the health benefits of WPF and FPF remain undefined. The purpose of this research was to identify the effects of WPF and FPF on risk factors and morbidities associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity as well as the gastrointestinal microbiome. Using USDA recommended dosages of WPF and FPF, clinical endpoints and the colonic microbiome were investigated using a human clinical trial engaging a cross-over design and a diet and energy controlled paradigm. Humans were also utilized to investigate post-prandial glycemic responses and sensory characteristics of novel functional foods formulated with WPF. Finally, Golden Syrian hamsters were used to assess the impact of high doses of WPF and FPF on clinical endpoints and caecal microbial abundance. Results reveal that USDA recommended dosages of WPF and FPF in humans decreased (p<0.05) fasting insulin and estimates of insulin resistance compared to white wheat flour (WF). Android-to-gynoid fat ratios in women were lower (p=0.027) in the WPF group compared to the WF group. FPF decreased (p<0.05) post-prandial energy expenditure alongside a tendency (p<0.075) to reduce carbohydrate oxidation. Novel biscotti and banana bread formulated with WPF induced low post-prandial glycemic responses which were similar to boiled whole yellow peas and significantly lower (p<0.05) than white bread. Sensory analysis of novel WPF biscotti and banana bread demonstrated that WPF-based food products are palatable and acceptable for human consumption. Hamsters consuming diets containing 10% WPF and FPF induced similar reductions (p<0.05) in fasting insulin levels compared to controls. However, animals consuming WPF increased (p<0.05) oxygen consumption while FPF decreased (p<0.05) fasting glucose levels. In addition, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed that WPF and FPF induced distinct shifts in caecal microbial populations within the phyla Firmicutes. Finally, pyrosequencing analysis of human fecal microbiota demonstrated that FPF and WPF induced shifts in bacterial genera, primarily within Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. In conclusion, whole and fractionated yellow pea flours are functional food ingredients and can be utilized to manage risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases in humans.