Compendium of the most significant studies on properties, intake, and human health effects.

Sen Gupta D, Thavarajah D, Knutson P, Thavarajah P, McGee RJ, Coyne CJ, Kumar S. Lentils (Lens culinaris L.), a rich source of folates. J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Aug 14;61(32):7794-9. doi: 10.1021/jf401891p. 

De Angelis D, Pasqualone A, Costantini M, Ricciardi L, Lotti C, Pavan S, Summo C. Data on the proximate composition, bioactive compounds, physicochemical and functional properties of a collection of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) and lentils (Lens culinaris Medik.). Data Brief. 2020 Dec 15;34:106660. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.106660.

Haileslassie HA, Ramikie R, Vatanparast H, Ramdath DD, Froehlich Chow A, Shand P, Engler-Stringer R, Lieffers JR, Hood-Niefer S, Henry C. A Nutrition Intervention to Promote the Consumption of Pulse-Based Foods in Childcare Centers: Protocol for a Multimethod Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2020 Dec 24;9(12):e22775. doi: 10.2196/22775. 

Choukri H, Hejjaoui K, El-Baouchi A, El Haddad N, Smouni A, Maalouf F, Thavarajah D, Kumar S. Heat and Drought Stress Impact on Phenology, Grain Yield, and Nutritional Quality of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus). Front Nutr. 2020 Nov 23;7:596307. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.596307.

Hernandez-Aguilar C, Dominguez-Pacheco A, Palma Tenango M, Valderrama-Bravo C, Soto Hernández M, Cruz-Orea A, Ordonez-Miranda J. Lentil sprouts: a nutraceutical alternative for the elaboration of bread. J Food Sci Technol. 2020 May;57(5):1817-1829. doi: 10.1007/s13197-019-04215-5.

Rebollo-Hernanz M, Aguilera Y, Herrera T, Cayuelas LT, Dueñas M, Rodríguez-Rodríguez P, Ramiro-Cortijo D, Arribas SM, Martín-Cabrejas MA. Bioavailability of Melatonin from Lentil Sprouts and Its Role in the Plasmatic Antioxidant Status in Rats. Foods. 2020 Mar 12;9(3):330. doi: 10.3390/foods9030330. 

Ramdath DD, Lu ZH, Maharaj PL, Winberg J, Brummer Y, Hawke A. Proximate Analysis and Nutritional Evaluation of Twenty Canadian Lentils by Principal Component and Cluster Analyses. Foods. 2020 Feb 11;9(2):175. doi: 10.3390/foods9020175. 

Yeo J, Shahidi F. Identification and quantification of soluble and insoluble-bound phenolics in lentil hulls using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS and their antioxidant potential. Food Chem. 2020 Jun 15;315:126202. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.126202. 

Sackesen C, Erman B, Gimenez G, Grishina G, Yilmaz O, Yavuz ST, Sahiner UM, Buyuktiryaki B, Yilmaz EA, Cavkaytar O, Sampson HA. IgE and IgG4 binding to lentil epitopes in children with red and green lentil allergy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2020 Feb;31(2):158-166. doi: 10.1111/pai.13136. 

Njoumi S, Josephe Amiot M, Rochette I, Bellagha S, Mouquet-Rivier C. Soaking and cooking modify the alpha-galacto-oligosaccharide and dietary fibre content in five Mediterranean legumes. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2019 Aug;70(5):551-561. doi: 10.1080/09637486.2018.1544229.

Herrera T, Navarro Del Hierro J, Fornari T, Reglero G, Martin D. Acid hydrolysis of saponin-rich extracts of quinoa, lentil, fenugreek and soybean to yield sapogenin-rich extracts and other bioactive compounds. J Sci Food Agric. 2019 Apr;99(6):3157-3167. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.9531. 

Allergies

Hildebrand HV, Arias A, Simons E, Gerdts J, Povolo B, Rothney J, Protudjer JLP. Adult and Pediatric Food Allergy to Chickpea, Pea, Lentil, and Lupine: A Scoping Review. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021 Jan;9(1):290-301.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.10.046. 

Sackesen C, Erman B, Gimenez G, Grishina G, Yilmaz O, Yavuz ST, Sahiner UM, Buyuktiryaki B, Yilmaz EA, Cavkaytar O, Sampson HA. IgE and IgG4 binding to lentil epitopes in children with red and green lentil allergy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2020 Feb;31(2):158-166. doi: 10.1111/pai.13136.

Lentil (Lens culinaris) is a vegetable belonging to the Fabaceae family and provides interesting quantities of polyphenols, plant metabolites with antioxidant properties.

Polyphenols have a key role in the prevention of degenerative diseases in man.

In 100 grams of lentils we find various compounds listed with the quantity in milligrams (1) referred to the raw product. The cooked product has about 1/3 less quantity.

Minerals

• Potassium 677-943 mg
• Phosphorus 281-335 mg

Vitamins

• Folates 479-555 mg
• Vitamin A,IU 32-39 mg

Phytosterols

• stigmasterol 20 mg
• campesterol 15 mg
• beta-sitosterol 15-24 mg

Flavonoids

• kaempferol 0,24-13,20 mg
• quercetin 0,03-10,85 mg

and also

Phytic acid 620 mg

The results of this study indicate that aerial parts of lentils may be recommended as a source of bioactive substances.In particular, the green parts of lentils have been shown to contain several acylated flavonoids. with antioxidant and anticoagulant properties (2).

Replacing one-half of available carbohydrates from high-glycemic index foods such as rice and potatoes with lentils significantly attenuates the postprandial blood glucose response in healthy adults; this may contribute to blood glucose lowering (3).

Lentil: studies and insights

Bibliografia_________________________________________________________________

(1) Ganesan K, Xu B. Polyphenol-Rich Lentils and Their Health Promoting Effects. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Nov 10;18(11):2390. doi: 10.3390/ijms18112390.

(2) Żuchowski J, Rolnik A, Adach W, Stochmal A, Olas B. Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Hemostasis by Flavonoids from Lentil Aerial Parts. Molecules. 2021 Jan 18;26(2):497. doi: 10.3390/molecules26020497.

(3) Moravek D, Duncan AM, VanderSluis LB, Turkstra SJ, Rogers EJ, Wilson JM, Hawke A, Ramdath DD. Carbohydrate Replacement of Rice or Potato with Lentils Reduces the Postprandial Glycemic Response in Healthy Adults in an Acute, Randomized, Crossover Trial. J Nutr. 2018 Apr 1;148(4):535-541. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxy018.