Products for Sportspeople Containing Constituents Derived from the Common Bean Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae)—A Narrative Literature Review

Abstract

The third-largest land plant family, Fabaceae (Papilionaceae), includes trees, shrubs, and perennial or annual herbaceous plants containing both numerous beneficial constituents (e.g., proteins, carbohydrates, dietary fibre) and antinutrients (e.g., saponins, tannins, phytic acid, gossypol, lectins). The consumption of leguminous plants allows sports people to complete their requirements for nourishment but, on the other hand, it contributes to digestive system ailments. Therefore, the aim of the presented study was to review the experimental articles and patents referring to the application of common (kidney) bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)-based nutritional products for athletes. The survey of the literature was carried out according to PRISMA statements by browsing Scopus, PubMed and ISI Web of Science databases, as well as Google Scholar, Google Patents and Espacenet Patent Search engines using factorial combinations of the following keywords: (‘common bean’ or ‘kidney bean’ or ‘Phaseolus vulgaris’) and (‘athlete’ or ‘sport’) and (‘food’ or ‘nutrition’ or ‘diet’). Altogether, 84 patents issued in the years 1995–2023 were noted. The majority of patents were developed by research teams consisting of at least four authors representing scientists affiliated in the United States of America and China. The patents refer to the production of food ingredients, nutritional products, and compositions: (i) for relieving fatigue, enhancing endurance, and increasing muscle mass and strength, (ii) for maintaining physical and mental health, and (iii) for controlling body weight. Moreover, the analysis of 19 original articles indicated the substantial acceptability of meals containing the common bean. To summarize, the performed investigations demonstrate the considerable use of Phaseolus vulgaris in sport nutrition and the growing acceptance of this trend.

Plant-Based Proteins, Peptides and Amino Acids in Food Products Dedicated for Sportspeople—A Narrative Review of the Literature

“…The close relationship between muscle mass and strength and overall athlete performance was evidenced, among others, by Suchomel et al [ 209 ]. The lower number of inventions devoted to the improvement of mental and physical health, the relieving of fatigue and muscle recovery, the increase in performance and/or endurance, and the control of body weight corresponds with other studies [ 37 , 40 , 41 , 42 ].…”

“…It is worth mentioning that in the database Espacenet, the publication of an invention appears18 months after the filing date [ 204 ]. A similar trend of the decline in the number of patents in the last years of the review period was already noticed in the case of the review of nutritional products for sportspeople based on the kidney bean [ 41 ] and sweet potato [ 40 ]. On the other hand, the survey of the use of maize [ 42 ] and soybean [ 37 ] showed a gradual increase in the number of inventions in the consecutive study periods.…”

“…They added that the most widely used species include, among others, soybean, pea, lupin, chickpea, wheat, rice, maize, barley, sorghum, canola and sunflower. In addition, the performed study shows that the majority of inventions present nutritional activity corresponding with surveys of food products dedicated to sportspeople and based on constituents derived from kidney beans [ 41 ] and maize [ 42 ]. Simultaneously, the aforementioned findings appear to be concordant with the survey of the literature conducted by Munialo [ 208 ], evidencing the considerable nutritional value of plant proteins used in the food industry.…”

“…[ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ], Ipomoea batatas L. Lamarck [ 40 ], Lens culinaris Medik. [ 34 ], Oryza sativa L. [ 30 , 38 ], Phaseolus lunatus L. [ 34 ], Phaseolus vulgaris L. [ 34 , 41 ], Pisum sativum L. [ 30 , 34 ], Triticum L. [ 33 , 38 ], Vigna radiate [ 34 ] and Zea mays L. [ 42 ].…”