Common Bean Leaves as a Source of Dietary Iron: Functional Test in an Iron-Deficient Rat Model

Abstract

Recent findings made by our group indicate that the iron content in Phaseolus vulgaris leaves is at least four times greater than in grains therefore, we evaluated the effect of supplementation with bean leaf (iron content of 275 mg/kg on a dry basis) in iron-deficient rats. Anemia was induced by feeding rats with an iron-deficient diet (IDD) for 11 days and iron-recovery diets were subsequently tested for 14 days using a normal diet, a 10 % bean leaf-supplemented IDD (BLSD) or a ferrous sulfate-supplemented IDD. Decreased levels of leukocytes (64 %), erythrocytes (30 %), lymphocytes (62 %), granulocytes (72 %), hematocrit (34 %), hemoglobin (35 %), and ferritin (34 %) were observed in the iron-deficient rats compared to the control rats. BLSD supplementation showed the highest recovery values relative to those recorded for control rats: leukocytes (40 %), erythrocytes (24 %), lymphocytes (33 %), granulocytes (88 %), hematocrit (17 %), and hemoglobin (18 %), suggesting that common bean leaves could be a good source of bioavailable iron with possible immunomodulatory effects.

The effect of white kidney bean fertilized with nano-zinc on nutritional and biochemical aspects in rats

“…Amylase inhibitor from WKB reduced hyperglycemia in diabetic rats [10]. Comparative evaluation between meals prepared from lentils or WKB in anemic rats showed that WKB extremely enhanced iron bioavailability and liver store than lentils [11]. WKB non-digestible fibers have been shown to improve an early stage of colorectal cancer by modulating signaling pathway genes in rats [12].…”

Vegetal Sources of Iron

“…In a study conducted by Martínez-Zavala et al [25] about the iron content in the bean plant leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris), a recovery of hematic biomarkers was observed, such as hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, and hematocrit in rats with induced anemia, when diets with iron source from this legume were administered.…”

Iron-Enriched Nutritional Supplements for the 2030 Pharmacy Shelves

“…Bean leaves are rich in iron and can be used as a treatment for iron deficiency. Using a rat model of induced anemia, Martínez-Zavala et al used a diet enriched in bean leaves to recover the correct blood cell population percentage [73].…”

“…Nowadays, foods that possess high concentrations of nutrients, limited caloric content and show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are often called superfoods by nutritionists and media [145,146]; nevertheless, they are often overlooked on food stores shelves. Some examples include foods like milk rich in calcium and minerals derived from unconventional animals like camel [147] and donkey [148,149], berries [150] and scarcely cultivated vegetables or vegetable parts that are discarded during food processing [73], indigenous vegetables [151] sustainable, and nutritious diets, as well as omega-3 fatty acids from fish or nuts. The potential benefits of superfoods have great margins of employment in the treatment of chronic inflammation [48,152] or as supplements in healthy dietary patterns [153].…”