# Legumes as Functional Food for Cardiovascular Disease
## 3 Legumes as Functional Food for Cardiovascular Diseases
Based on human Apo5 polymorphism studies, the most frequently analyzed _ApoA5_ variant is 1131T->C with the C allele associated with higher TAG levels [80; 81; 82; 83]. This SNP was observed to interact with various dietary factors especially dietary fat that affect TAG concentrations such as found in diabetic dyslipidemia [84] and is associated with increased coronary arterial disease (CAD) risk [80; 81]. In the work of [PERSON] et al., (2010) [78], modification of a third of the participants' diets from refined rice to legumes as a carbohydrate source three times a day, supplementation of increased vegetable intake (30-70 g/unit/day) and a regular 30-min walk after dinner each day (Dietary Intervention and Regulatory Exercise, DIRE) for 12 weeks resulted in the reduced rate of decrease in TAG levels from 20% for the TT genotype to only 11.7% connected to the TC/CC genotype (_p_ < 0.001) and for HDL-C from 9% for the TT genotype to 5% associated with the TC/CC genotype (_p_ < 0.001) while ApoA5 plasma concentrations increased by 7.37% (_p_ < 0.1) for the TT genotype, but was shown to be statistically insignificant to the 5.12% increase associated with the TC/CC genotype [85]. The same group later studied humans with impaired fasting glucose and those who were newly diagnosed with Type II diabetes whose diets were modified to replace refined rice intake with an equal proportion of legumes, barley, and whole grains thrice a day and supplementation of increased vegetable intake (30-70 g/unit/day) for 12 weeks [86]. In this study, the reduction of TAG levels decreased from 11.6% for the TT genotype to only 7.2% for the TC/CC genotype (_p_ < 0.05) while there is an increase, though not statistically significant, in HDL-C levels from 4.97% correlated with the TT genotype to only 5.35% when associated with the C allele. ApoA5 plasma concentrations were detected to be 10.5% for the TT genotype while it was found to be 13.5% when associated with the C allele [86]. Not only does consumption of legume seeds associated with cardiovascular health but also the ingestion of their specific seed proteins. [PERSON] et al., (2015) [87] showed that rats fed with either the 7S globulin from cowpea or adzuki beans decreased serum TC and non-HDL-C while increasing HDL-C comparable to the simvastatin-fed group. They also found that these 7S cowpea proteins lowered hepatic cholesterol and TAG levels. Over the last few years, consumption of plant proteins including those from various legumes such as pea, lupin, cowpea, jack bean, mungbean, chickpea, lentils, and soybean had increased due their numerous associated health benefits [62; 63; 64; 30]. Legume proteins demonstrate antioxidant [63; 64], blood pressure (BP) lowering [88; 89; 90; 91; 92], and anti-thrombotic properties. These proteins also reduce the risk of CVD by lowering serum TC due to decreased synthesis and secretion of hepatic TAG and of serum LDL-C, TAGs and VLDL while increasing serum HDL-C levels and hepatic uptake of VLDL [93; 90; 94; 95; 96; 97; 98]. We, herein, review various legumes that are found to be associated with cardiovascular health through the ingestion of the legumes themselves or by the introduction of certain protein groups and/or specific proteins into the diet as summarized in Table 2.  
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\begin{tabular}{p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt}} \hline