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Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) - University of Port Harcourt
ISSN: 1119-8362
Vol. 9, Num. 3, 2005, pp. 99-104
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Journal of Applied Sciences & Environmental Management, Vol. 9, No. 3,
2005, pp. 99-104
Review
Article
The Role of Pulses in Human
Nutrition: A Review
OFUYA , Z M; AKHIDUE, V
Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of
Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323, Port Harcourt.
Nigeria Email: ofuyazuleat@yahoo.com
Code Number: ja05067
Pulses belong to the family leguminosae
(COPR, 1981). The family leguminosae is made up of many species which are
cultivated all over the world (Rubatzky and Yamaguchi, 1997). Legumes have a
wide range of usage, some are used as fodder or green manure, some are used as
silage, while others are extracted for their oil, notably soyabean and
groundnut (COPR, 1981). Such oil contributes a great deal to the energy intake
of people all over the world. Majority of legumes are grown for their green
pods, green seeds, or dried seeds (COPR, 1981). The term pulses cover all
those grown for their dried seeds (COPR, 1981). Pulses have a variety of
functions. The use of pulses range from their forming a staple diet to their
being used as condiments, milk, cheese and snacks (Reddy et al.,
1986; Uzogara and Ofuya, 1992). They play a very important role in human
nutrition. The present paper reviews the work that has been done on the
nutritional value of pulses.
Production: Pulses
are grown all over the world (Reddy et al., 1986). Production
as
per continent is shown in the table below.
Table
1 Production of Pulses by Continent in 103 Mt*
PLS
|
SCIENTIFIC
NAME
|
N
& C AMERICA
|
S.
AMERICA
|
AFRICA
|
EUROPE
|
ASIA
|
USSR
|
1Dry
Beans
|
Phaseolus vulgaris
|
2627
|
2839
|
1911
|
830
|
6366
|
170
|
Broad
beans
|
Vicia faba
|
88
|
109
|
1124
|
551
|
2408
|
-
|
Peas
(dry)
|
Pisum sativum
|
435
|
98
|
334
|
2727
|
2377
|
7800
|
Chickpeas
|
Ciser arietinum
|
180
|
26
|
290
|
90
|
7257
|
-
|
Lentils
|
Lens culinaris
|
288
|
-
|
136
|
74
|
1714
|
-
|
Cowpea
|
Vigna unguiculata
|
57
|
-
|
1003
|
6
|
27
|
-
|
1
Haricot bean (also common bean)
*MT Metrric Tonnes, Data
obtained from FAO Year Book (1975 & 1986)
Asia is
the largest producer of the pulses listed above, followed by the USSR,
where most of the pulses produced are in the form of dry Peas (Pisum sativum).
The next largest producing continent for all pulses is Africa and
the types of beans majorly produced are dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris),
broad beans (Vicia faba) and cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata).
The continent that produces next to Africa is Europe,
where most of the pulses produced are dry Peas (Pisum sativum).
The least producing continents are North America,
Central and South America. In these continents the
dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) constitutes the pulse produced
most.
Consumption
of Pulses: Pulses are consumed all over the world. Consumption is
higher in those parts of the world, where animal proteins are scarce and
expensive for example, South East Asia and Africa
(COPR, 1981). In this part of the world, they provide a large proportion of
the protein required for adults and children. About 20% of the protein
presently available to man, come from pulses in the developing countries (Reddy
et al., 1986).
The
nutritional value of pulses: The nutritional importance of
pulses are numerous, they can be a valuable source of energy. The energy
content of most pulses have been found to be between 300 and 540 Kcal / 100g
(Table 2). Energy is required for all metabolic processes. The energy of
Pulses come from the nutrient supply of protein, fat and carbohydrate.
Table 2. The Energy Content Of Some Pulses Commonly Consumed
By Man
Pulses
|
Scientific
name
|
Energy
(kcal/100g)
|
Cowpeas
|
Vigna unguiculata
|
340
|
Chickpeas
|
Cicer arietinum
|
347
|
Broad
bean
|
Vicia faba
|
320
|
Cluster
bean
|
|
307
|
Lentil
|
Lens culinaris
|
302
|
Mung
bean
|
Vigna radiata
|
310
|
Peanut
|
Arachis hypogea
|
570
|
Pigeon
pea
|
Cajamis cajan
|
301
|
Soya
bean
|
Glycine max
|
403
|
Source:
Woleung et al (1968); Gopalan et al (1980)
The carbohydrate supply: The
carbohydrate content of pulses is high (Table 3) (Reddy et al.,
1985; Oke et al., 1995). The high carbohydrate content
contributes a great deal to the energy supply of pulses. A large percentage of
pulses occurs as starch (Table 3), about 1.8 - 18% occurs as oligossacharide
while 4.3 - 25% occurs as dietary fibre (Table 4). Although the oligossacharides,
which are made up of raffinose, stachyose, verbascose, cause gas production in
man, they are presently believed to have some beneficial effects. They can
shorten transit time and promote the growth of bifido bacteria in man. Infact
researchers in Japan have actually suggested that oligossacharides
from soyabeans could be used as substitute for common table sugar. They are
also hypothesized to improve longevity and reduce colon cancer risk (Hayakawa et
al., 1990; Koo and Rao, 1991). The high dietary fibre content of pulses
(Table 4), are postulated to have some important physiological effects, such as
reducing the transit time in the mammalian gut (Sathe et al.,
1984). This would help to relieve gastrointestinal conditions such as
constipation and diverticular disease. It is also capable of lowering the
blood cholesterol level due to its ability to bind with cholesterol in the
human gut (Burkitt and Trowell, 1985). This feature is being suspected as
being capable of reducing colonic cancer in man (Davis and Stewart, 1987; Hangen
and Bennink, 2002). Pulses also have low glyceamic indices (Hatford, 1985; Björek et al.,
2000), which makes them valuable foods for diabetics. The
cotyledon of legumes like locust bean and guar (guar gum) reduces postprandial
glucose and insulin concentrations in man (Fairchild et al., 1996; Gatenby,
1991; Feldman et al., 1995).
PROTEIN SUPPLY
Pulses have a high protein
content (Table 5), the value is about twice that in cereal and several times
that in root tuber (FAO, 1968), so they can help to improve the protein intake
of meals in which cereals and root tubers in combination with pulses are eaten
(Kushwah et al., 2002). Pulse when eaten with cereals, can also help to
increase the protein quality of the meal (Table 6). In man, protein helps in
the repair of body tissue, synthesis of enzymes and hormones and also in the
supply of energy. In children, the consumption of pulses should be encouraged,
particularly where animal protein is scarce and expensive, as this would help
to furnish the child with the necessary amino acids required for growth.
Table 3. Starch and Total
Carbohydrate Content of Pulses
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
Total carbohydrates %
|
Starch %
|
Amylose content of
starch %
|
Winged bean
|
Psophocarpus tatragonubulus
|
24.0 42.2
|
|
|
Smooth peas
|
Pisum sativum
|
56.6
|
36.9 48.6
|
23.5 33.1
|
Wrinkled pea
|
Pisum sativum
|
|
24.0 36.6
|
62.8 65.8
|
Great Northern beans
|
|
61.2 61.5
|
44.0
|
10.2 30.3
|
California small white beans
|
|
|
57.8
|
29.1 32.6
|
Broad beans
|
Vicia faba
|
57.3
|
41.2 52.7
|
20.7 45.5
|
Lentil
|
Lens culinaris
|
59.7
|
34.7 52.8
|
20.7 45.5
|
Cowpea
|
Vigna unguiculata
|
56.0 68.0
|
31.5 48.0
|
|
Lupine seed
|
Lupinus spp
|
|
0.3 3.5
|
|
Black gram
|
Vigna mungo
|
56.5 63.7
|
32.2 47.9
|
43.9
|
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
Total carbohydrates %
|
Starch %
|
Amylose content of
starch %
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bengal gram
|
Cicer arietinum
|
60.1 61.2
|
37.0 50.
|
31.8 45.8
|
Mung gram
|
Vugna radiata
|
53.3 61.2
|
37.0 53.6
|
13.8 35.0
|
Red gram
|
Cajanus cajan
|
57.3 58.7
|
40.4 48.2
|
39.6
|
Red kidney bean
|
Phaseolus vulgaris
|
56.3 60.5
|
31.9 47.0
|
17.5 37.2
|
Navy bean
|
Phaseolus vulgaris
|
58.4
|
27.0 52.7
|
22.1 36.0
|
Pinto beans
|
Phaseolus vulgaris
|
54.6 63.7
|
51.0 56.5
|
25.8
|
Pink beans
|
Phaseolus vulgaris
|
|
42.3
|
14.9 35.3
|
Black eye beans
|
Vigna unguiculata
|
|
41.2
|
15.8 38.3
|
African yam bean
|
Strepnostylis stenocarpa
|
40.8
|
|
|
Source:
Reddy et al. (1985); Frank-Peterside, Dosumu, and Njoku (2002); Ofuya
(2002); Oke, Tewe, and Fetuga (1995).
Table 4. Dietary Fibre Content of
Pulses (Per 100g of Whole Mature Seeds)
Legume
|
Dietary fibre
|
References
|
Chickpea
|
25.6
|
1
|
Groundnut
|
6.1
|
2
|
Kidney bean
|
25.4
|
2
|
Mung bean
|
15.2
|
1
|
Pea
|
16.7
|
1
|
Soya bean
|
11.9
|
2
|
Cluster bean
|
4.3
|
2
|
Lentils
|
11.7
|
2
|
Pigeon pea
|
15.0
|
2
|
Kamath and Belvady (1980)
By Paul and Southgate (1978)
Table 5. Protein Content Of
Pulses
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
Protein content g/100g
DM
|
Mean
|
Range
|
Broad bean
|
Vicia faba
|
24.0
|
22.0 38.2
|
Chick pea
|
Cicer arietinum
|
22.2
|
19.1 31.2
|
Common bean
|
Phaseolus vulgaris
|
23.9
|
15.2 36.0
|
Common pea
|
Pistum sativum
|
23.1
|
14.2 36.1
|
Cowpea
|
Vigna unguiculata
|
24.0
|
20 34.2
|
Pigeon pea
|
Cajanus cajan
|
21.0
|
17.9 31.0
|
Groundnut
|
Arachis hypogaea
|
26.2
|
17.1 31.0
|
Soya bean
|
Glycine max
|
40.3
|
28.7 50.1
|
African yam bean
|
Streptpstylis stenocarpa
|
18.4
|
18 22
|
Source: FAO (1981); Ofuya
(2002); Frank-Peterside, Dosumu and Njoku (2002); Oke, Tewe and Fetuga (2002); Amartiefo
et al. (2002)
Table 6 Protein Quality of
Cereal Grain and of Cereal Grain / Bean Diets Fed at Equal Levels of Dietary
Protein
Protein source
|
Average weight gain (g)
|
PER
|
100% rice
|
43
|
2.15
|
90% rice + 10% beans
|
56
|
2.32
|
100% maize
|
13
|
0.87
|
90% maize + 10% beans
|
32
|
1.40
|
100% sorghum
|
12
|
0.88
|
90% sorghum + 10% beans
|
30
|
1.39
|
100% wheat
|
19
|
1.05
|
90% wheat + 10% beans
|
41
|
1.73
|
100% oats
|
34
|
1.60
|
90% oats + 10% beans
|
75
|
2.37
|
Casein
|
75
|
2.71
|
Source:
Bressani (1972)
FAT SUPPLY: The
fat content of pulse varies in different species. Most species contain about
1% fat, while groundnut and soyabean, have very high fat content, about 30% for
soyabean and 49% for peanut (FAO, 1968). The fat content besides contributing
to the energy needs, provides the needed essential fatty acids for man. A
pulse like soyabean, contains linolenic acid, which is an omega3fatty acid. This
fatty acid is currently being studied for its ability to reduce the risk of
heart disease and cancer.
MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLY
VITAMIN SUPPLY: The vitamins
present in appreciably quantities in pulses are thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxine
and folic acid; vitamin E and K are also found in pulses. The B-vitamins act
as co-enzymes in biological processes Vitamin E is known to play a role as an
antioxidant inhibiting the oxidation of vitamin A in the GIT and of polyunsaturates
in the tissues. It is also believed to maintain the stability of cell
membranes (Davies and Stewart, 1987). Vitamin K functions primarily in the
liver where it is necessary for the formation of blood clothing factors.
Conclusion: Thus
far, the many important functions of pulses have been highlighted. Their
consumption should be encouraged in both adults and children. Because of their
high dietary fibre content, I will advice more usage among the affluents who
can afford lots of animal protein. Their use should also be encouraged among
malnourished children because of their high protein content. The use of pulses
as components of weaning foods in combination with cereals is also recommended,
as this would give cheaper cereals with more complete protein. Finally, the
use of oil from pulses should be encouraged because of the high polyunsaturated
fatty acid content. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are suspected of being capable
of reducing the risk of heart diseases.
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