Effects of Replacing Red Meat With Legumes on Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases in Healthy Men (Leg4Life)

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of partial replacement of red meat with legume-based foods on gut metabolism and markers for colorectal cancer as well as markers for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes in healthy working age men. The study participants will be stratified into two groups with different amounts of red meat in diet: 1) a diet containing 760 g of cooked and boneless red meat, supplying 25% of daily protein intake and 2) a diet supplying 20% of protein intake with legume-based foods and 5% of protein intake with red meat. The participants will get all meat and and legume-based foods from the research center; otherwise they will be asked to follow their habitual diet. Blood, urine, and stool samples will be collected at the baseline and at the end of the 6 week intervention, as well as BMI, blood pressure and body composition. Nutrient intake and food consumption will be analyzed from 4-day food records at the baseline and at the end of the intervention period.

A human intervention study with healthy volunteers will be carried out to investigate the effects of partial replacement of red meat with legume-based foods on gut metabolism and markers for colorectal cancer as well as biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.

The study will be done in parallel-design, randomized fashion, with healthy male volunteers aged 20-65 years. Inclusion and exclusion criteria are described elsewhere. Duration of the intervention will be 6 weeks.

Intervention groups will be as follows (n=50/group):

Group 1: The habitual diet of participants is supplemented with 760 g of cooked and boneless red meat per week, representing the average meat consumption of Finnish men and supplying 25% of protein intake.

Group 2: The habitual diet of participants is supplemented with legume-based foods providing equal amount of protein as 560 g of red meat and 200 g of red meat per week.

The consumption of red meat and legumes will be kept stable throughout the intervention and participants are advised to avoid consuming any red meat or legumes in addition to those provided from the research center. The investigators also aim to investigate, whether replacing red meat with legumes induces other changes in diet. This information is be important if increasing legume consumption is recommended at the population level.

Before starting the intervention, participants will get dietary advice how to follow their diets. They will get the red meat and legume-based foods for free to help to implement the diets and to enhance compliance.

Blood, urine and fecal samples will be collected at the baseline and at the end of the intervention. Nutrient intake and food consumption during the intervention will be analyzed from 4-day food records at the baseline and at the end. Nutrient intakes will be calculated using a new Finnish 'Aromi' software.

The following data collection and analyses will be carried out at the baseline and at the end of the intervention period:

* height, weight, waist and hip circumferences
* body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis
* resting blood pressure
* fasting lipid profile in the plasma (total cholesterol, LDL and HDL, triglycerides)
* fasting glucose and insulin, HbA1c in the blood
* high sensitive C-reactive protein
* markers for nutritional status in plasma/serum: hemoglobin, transferrin receptor, ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D
* urea/nitrogen in the urine
* total and heme-based N-nitroso compounds in feces, concentrations of bile acids, gut microbiota

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy
* Omnivorous
* No exclusion criteria listed below

Exclusion Criteria:

* Vegan
* Food allergies against ingredients in foods supplemented in the study
* Oral medication for any allergies
* Regular use of food supplements
* Extreme sports
* Inflammatory bowel disease
* Colon irritable
* Coeliac disease
* Any kind of cancer within 5 years
* Continuous antibiotics or less than 3 months of the latest antibiotics use
* Type 1 or 2 diabetes
* Hypercholesterolemia
* Hormonal, liver or kidney disease
* Alcohol consumption more than 24 measures per week
* Smoking, using snuff