Effectiveness of Pulse-Based Foods Combined With Exercise for Improving Components of the Metabolic Syndrome
Effectiveness of Pulse-Based Foods Combined With Exercise for Improving Components of the Metabolic Syndrome
The investigators specific objective is to determine the effectiveness of a pulse-based diet
 combined with an exercise training program for reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome in
 older adults. The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that predispose one to the
 development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These risk factors include increased
 abdominal obesity, high blood triglyceride levels, low blood high-density lipoproteins, high
 blood pressure, high blood glucose and insulin levels, and increased inflammation. The
 investigators hypothesize that a pulse-based diet combined with exercise training will be
 very effective for reducing the risks of the metabolic syndrome because each intervention
 acts on different components of the metabolic syndrome.

 The design will involve a randomized single-blind cross-over for the pulse-based diet, and a
 single blind randomized parallel group assignment for the exercise-based intervention. 100
 subjects will be randomized to receive the pulse-based diet or their regular diet for 2
 months and then cross-over to receive the opposite diet for 2 months, separated by a
 one-month "wash out". Subjects will be further randomized to exercise or "exercise placebo"
 groups for the duration of the trial (i.e. 5 months). The exercise intervention will involve
 aerobic training as this is most effective for reducing metabolic syndrome risk.

 Dependent variables will be measured at 4 time points: baseline, after the first 2-month
 diet, before the second 2-month diet (i.e. after the washout) and at the end of the second
 2-month diet. These variables will include: Serum triglycerides, high density lipoproteins,
 C-reactive protein (as an inflammatory marker), glucose, and insulin, trunk body fat, and
 blood pressure. A composite metabolic syndrome score will be determined by converting each of
 these variables into Z-scores and determining the mean of these Z-scores. Secondary variables
 will include other serum lipids, including low density lipoproteins and total cholesterol.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  men and women over the age of 50y

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  allergies to beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas

 -  currently taking medication for blood lipids

 -  currently engaged in vigorous aerobic activity greater than 2 times per week