Pigeon Peas (Cajanus Cajan) : a Natural Anti-inflammatory Facilitating Weight Loss in Obese Patients Returning to Sport?

Summary

Adult obesity is due to an excess of body fat. This corresponds to all the fat in the body (or adipose tissue). It is opposed to the lean mass which corresponds to the weight of muscles, organs and viscera. It is defined from the body mass index (or BMI). BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight by their height squared.

According to these criteria, the prevalence of obesity has reached 17% of the entire adult population in mainland France (ESTENBAN 2015 study). The prevalence figures for obesity in the French overseas departments are higher than in mainland France. The latest epidemiological data available in Martinique and Guadeloupe (KANNARI 2015 study) show that approximately 60% of the adult population is overweight and 25% of the adult population is obese.

Obesity is considered a chronic disease that increases the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic complications all the more when patients have a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2, defining severe obesity. When BMI is equal to or exceeds 40 kg/m2, obesity is said to be "morbid" and the risk of cardiovascular complications increases by about 100% to 400% depending on the type of complications. The risk of mortality increases by 50 to 100% compared to the normal weight population.

Obesity and inflammation Adipose tissue accumulates around the abdominal viscera after the fat storage capacity of the subcutaneous territories has been reached. The accumulation of visceral fat is accompanied by a low-grade inflammatory response that is responsible for the secretion of lipid derivatives and mediators toxic to the cardiovascular system and insulin sensitivity. The inflammatory response is characterized by the expression of numerous pro-inflammatory molecules synthesized by adipocytes and immunocompetent single-macrophage cells infiltrating the vascular stroma of adipose tissue. In addition, hyperglycemia and excess lipid intermediates cause the assembly of inflammasomes in the cytosol. Among them, the NLRP3 inflammasome involved in multiple human inflammatory pathologies.

Inflammation opposes weight loss, hence the need to reduce the inflammatory response to facilitate weight loss in obese people.

Pigeon pea, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, is a legume found in Creole gardens and traditionally eaten at Christmas.

The OBESICA study aims at studying the interest of consuming pigeon pea associated with regular physical activity on the inflammatory state of the body and weight loss in obese patients.

Conditions

• Severe Obesity

Interventions

BIOLOGICAL

Standardized physical activity protocol associated with the consumption of Cajanus cajan (EXACAJAN)

Supervised re-training by an Adapted Physical Activity (APA) professional combined 100 g of pigeon peas 3 times a week Physical activity protocol is standardized. It's the same than in the control arm. The preparation of pigeon peas and their consumption will be standardized in terms of species cultivated, geographical origin and culinary preparation. A follow-up of the food intakes standardized plus follow-up logbook, recording the weekly pigeon pea intake, will also be filled out by the participant. The addition of 100 grams of pigeon peas to the diet corresponds to an intake of about 980 mg of polyphenols, 360 mg of carotenoids and 570 mg of vitamin C (24). Thus, the patient's diet will be fortified with approximately 420 mg of polyphenols per day. This level of polyphenol supplementation is known to have beneficial effects on human health.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• GIRCI SOHO

  collaborator OTHER

• University Hospital Center of Martinique

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Rémi NEVIERE, MD, PhD · CHU de Martinique

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-11-30

Primary Completion

2024-11-30

Completion

2025-09-30

Countries

• Martinique

Study Locations