

These included 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, betaine, pipecolate, S-methylcysteine, choline, eicosapentaenoate (20:5n3), benzoate, S-adenosylhomocysteine, N-delta-acetylornithine, cysteine, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)lactate, gentisate, hippurate, 4-hydroxyhippurate, and salicylate. Diet-derived metabolites were detected in plasma or urine and confirmed for presence in the navy bean intervention meals and snacks.

Increased plasma 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutyrate (1.34-fold), S-methylcysteine (1.92-fold), and pipecolate (3.89-fold), and urine S-adenosylhomocysteine (2.09-fold) and cysteine (1.60-fold) represent metabolites with cancer-protective actions following navy bean consumption. At 4 weeks, 16 plasma and 16 urine metabolites were significantly different in the navy bean intervention group compared with placebo control ( P < 0.05). Increased navy bean consumption was hypothesized to (i) delineate dietary biomarkers and (ii) promote metabolic shifts relevant for cancer protection in the plasma and urine metabolome. Nontargeted metabolomics was applied to study meals and snacks, navy beans, plasma, and urine. Plasma and urine were collected at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks following consumption. Twenty participants completed a single-blinded, randomized-controlled dietary intervention with precooked navy beans (35 g bean powder/day) or control (0 g/day) for 4 weeks. This study investigated the effect of navy bean ingestion on plasma and urine metabolite profiles of overweight and obese colorectal cancer survivors. Human studies support that dietary navy bean intake modulates metabolism by the gut microbiome. Navy beans contain bioactive phytochemicals with colon cancer prevention properties as demonstrated in carcinogen-induced animal models.
