Randomised controlled trialindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-LEG-126 standard review
Lentil meals for 8 weeks
Eight weeks of lentil consumption attenuates insulin resistance progression without increased gastrointestinal symptom severity: A randomized clinical trial.
Overview
Wilson SMG et al.. Nutr Res 2022 · PMID 36122501 · DOI 10.1016/j.nutres.2022.08.002
Lentil meals improved insulin resistance, and most participants had no or only mild gut symptoms.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Test lentils on glucose and GI symptoms.
- How was the study done?
RCT.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
30 adults.
- What was actually found?
Better HOMA-IR; mild symptoms.
- How large was the observed effect?
HOMA-IR -1.5 (high dose).
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Lentils are well tolerated by most people.
- What are the study's limitations?
Small; short.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts C-LEG-09/13.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
It does not show long-term outcomes.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Wilson SMG et al.
- Journal
- Nutr Res
- Year
- 2022
- Identifier
- PMID 36122501 DOI 10.1016/j.nutres.2022.08.002
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26 + Crossref works API
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
No conflict of interest declared.
2. Research question
Do lentil-based meals improve glycaemic control and how severe are GI symptoms?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Randomised controlled trial – Randomised controlled dietary intervention (8 weeks, three lentil doses)
- Population
Nondiabetic adults with increased waist circumference
- Country
Not stated in abstract
- Period
8 weeks
- Sample size
30 completers
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Waist >40 in (men), >35 in (women); nondiabetic.
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
300 g or 600 g cooked green lentils per week in midday meals
- Comparator
Meat-based meals (0 g lentils)
- Endpoints
HOMA-IR, glucose/insulin AUC, satiety, GI symptoms
- Statistical methods
Linear models
5. Actual results
- Results
HOMA-IR +1.2 in control vs -0.9 (P=.03) and -1.5 (P<.01) with moderate and high lentil doses; 87.4% reported no to mild GI symptoms; bloating, abdominal discomfort and cramping severity 0.3-0.5 units lower.
- Absolute risks
Not applicable
- Authors' conclusion
Dose-dependent reduction of rising insulin resistance with low GI symptom severity.
6. Strengths
- Randomised dose groups
- Prepared meals
7. Weaknesses
- Small
- Short
- Abstract only
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- RoB 2
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Small sample, unblinded.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Effect plausible but imprecise.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Regular lentil meals caused mostly no or mild GI symptoms and improved insulin resistance (contradicts C-LEG-09 and C-LEG-13).
11. Independent contrary findings
None.
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Applicable.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Supports tolerance and benefit of lentils.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | low |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | partly replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
Longer trials.
15. Linked fact checks
- Gas from legumes and greens distends the colon, keeps blood from reaching the brain and causes dizziness that is wrongly diagnosed as anaemia; the human body is not equipped to digest the hulls of fava beans, lentils or beans. – Studies contradicting or limiting the claim
- Legumes as a whole (fava beans, lentils, chickpeas, beans, cowpeas, peas, lupin, peanuts) are harmful and should be fully forbidden. – Studies contradicting or limiting the claim