A cup of beans a day: could it calm inflammation and boost insulin response?
NCT ID NCT04267705
First seen Aug 28, 2026 · Last updated Aug 28, 2026
Summary
This trial tests whether eating a cup of black beans or chickpeas every day for 12 weeks can reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity in adults who are overweight or have elevated blood sugar. Participants are randomly assigned to eat beans, chickpeas, or rice as a control. Researchers will measure blood markers of inflammation, gut bacteria composition, and cognitive function to see if pulses offer benefits beyond a simple carbohydrate.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Daily consumption of black beans or chickpeas compared to rice
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple dietary change to help manage inflammation and blood sugar in people with overweight or obesity.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage dietary study, and results may not apply to everyone. The effect might be modest or absent, and the 12-week period may be too short to see lasting changes.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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103 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2020
- Expected to finish
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Jan 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Men or women, age 18 or older * BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 * Fasting blood glucose concentration between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL at the screening visit * Nonsmokers (Past smokers can be allowed if they have abstinence for a minimum of 2 years) * Judged to be in good health on the basis of the medical history ie., no clinical evidence of cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal or hepatic disease * Not taking any medications that would interfere with outcomes of the study, i.e. lipid-lowering medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, dietary supplements, etc. * Able to provide informed consent * Able to comply and perform the procedures requested by the protocol (including dietary restrictions, consumption of study treatments, records of food diary and GI-tract questionnaire, sample collection procedures and study visit schedule) * Able to maintain the usual physical activity pattern * Able to abstain from alcohol consumption and avoid vigorous physical activity for 24 hours prior to and during the study visit Exclusion Criteria: * Men and women who smoke * Men and women with known or suspected intolerance, allergies or hypersensitivity to study foods or treatments * Men and women who have blood pressure \>160 mmHg (systolic)/100 mmHg (diastolic) at the screening visit * Men and women who have fasting blood glucose concentration \<100 or \>125 mg/dL at the screening visit * Men and women with documented vascular disease, e.g., heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, angina, related surgeries, etc. that, in the opinion of the investigator, could interfere with the interpretation of the study results * Men and women with cancer other than non-melanoma skin cancer in the previous 5 years * Men and women diagnosed with chronic constipation, diarrhea or other chronic gastrointestinal complaints (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome) * Women who are known to be pregnant or who are intending to become pregnant over the course of the study * Women who are lactating * Taking medication or dietary supplements that may interfere with the outcomes of the study; e.g., antioxidant supplement, anti-inflammation, lipid-lowering medication, blood pressure-lowering medication, etc... Subjects may choose to go off dietary supplements (requires 30 days washout); e.g., fish oil, probiotics, etc... * Men and women who have participated in prebiotics or laxative trial within 3 months prior to enrollment or any other clinical trial within 1 month * Major trauma or a surgical event within 2 months or longer depending on trauma or event and after consultation with PI. * Vegan or other extreme dietary regimens (e.g., Atkins diet, etc.) as judged by the investigator. * Taking the fiber supplements and/or on high fiber diets * Has used antibiotics within the previous 2 months * Had gastrointestinal barium opaque meal within 3 months * Has used prebiotics, probiotics, or drugs active on gastrointestinal motility, or a laxative of any class within 1 month * History of an eating disorder (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating) diagnosed by a health professional * Substance (alcohol or drug) abuse within the last 2 years * Excessive coffee and tea consumers (\> 4 cups/d) * Donated blood within last 3 months * Men and women who do excessive exercise regularly or are an athlete * Unstable weight: gained or lost weight +/- 5 kg (11 lbs) in previous 2 months * Women who are taking unstable dose and brand of hormonal contraceptives and/or stable dose and brand less than 6 months * Unusual working hours i.e., working overnight (e.g. 3rd shift)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Clinical Nutrition Research Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60616, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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