Chickpea protein may calm inflammation in hard-training cyclists
García-Durán J, Sánchez-Oliver AJ, Rodríguez-Martín NM, Fernández-Pachón MS, Pedroche J
Medicinal Plants
The humble chickpea in your garden bed or pantry carries protein fragments that, once broken down, seem to help the body dial back inflammation after tough workouts, a reminder that food plants pack more than just calories.
Researchers gave road cyclists a chickpea protein supplement for two weeks after their training sessions and compared them to cyclists getting a placebo. The chickpea group showed bigger drops in two blood markers linked to muscle damage and inflammation (LDH and CRP) than the placebo group. The effect was modest and short-term, but it hints that this legume's proteins, once broken into smaller pieces, might help the body recover from physical stress.
Key Findings
24 male road cyclists took 12 g/day of chickpea protein hydrolysate or placebo for 14 days after training
Lactate dehydrogenase (p=0.04) and C-reactive protein (p=0.02) decreased significantly more in the chickpea group than placebo
Creatine kinase and myoglobin trended favorably in the chickpea group but did not reach statistical significance (p=0.062)
chevron_right Technical Summary
A small trial in competitive cyclists found that a chickpea protein supplement taken after training reduced blood markers of muscle stress and inflammation compared to a placebo, though it didn't change body composition over the short two-week period.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Effects of a chickpea protein hydrolysate on exercise-induced biomarkers of muscle damage and inflammation in federated road cyclists.
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined the effects of a chickpea protein hydrolysate (CPH) on biomarkers associated with exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation in...
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The chickpea or chick pea is an annual legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae, cultivated for its edible seeds. Its different types are variously known as gram, Bengal gram, chana (চানা), garbanzo, garbanzo bean, or Egyptian pea. It is one of the earliest cultivated legumes, the oldes...