Fermented Phaseolus vulgaris: acceptability and intestinal effects

Abstract

Dry beans such as Phaseolus vulgaris are an important source of nutrients, especially in developing countries. However, their consumption is limited by the flatulence problem, which occurs in the gut after their ingestion, owing to the presence of highly fermentable compounds, such as α-galactosides, soluble dietary fibre, and resistant starch. It has been shown that natural fermentation reduces the content of these compounds by about 90%. In the present work, the effects of the consumption of unfermented and fermented beans (P. vulgaris) on the bowel habits (frequency and faecal volume) and on the main adverse intestinal symptoms usually associated with bean consumption were compared. This study was carried out for 28 days with ten women, whose age ranged between 25 and 40 years, eating 45 g of fermented-cooked and cooked beans for 7 days, with a 2-week break between the experimental periods. A sensorial evaluation with 51 panellists was performed revealing that 56% of the panel gave the fermented samples a score between 6 and 9, corresponding to “slightly like it” and “really like it”, respectively. The consumption of fermented beans significantly decreased the flatulence problem by 56.1%, the intestinal noises by 48% and the nausea by 80%. Abdominal bloating was reduced by 11%. It was concluded that the fermented and cooked beans were palatable and that the process could decrease the flatulence problem that is usually caused by the consumption of P. vulgaris by humans.