Comparing the effects of black and navy beans on vascular properties in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Pulses such as dried beans may be useful in the treatment of hypertension. Vascular protection by beans may relate to their phenolic compounds, which are associated with darker-coloured seeds. Thus, black beans were compared to navy beans for their effects on hypertension and vascular remodelling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Assessments of blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and vessel morphology were conducted to ascertain the vascular effects of the beans. Results showed that neither black beans nor navy beans influenced blood pressure or PWV in SHR. However, vascular remodelling was mitigated by black beans but not by navy beans. This was indicated by the absence of a significant difference in the ratio of aortic elastin content to vessel wall area in black bean-fed SHR compared to normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. The consumption of black beans could therefore be a therapeutic dietary strategy for combating vascular remodelling in hypertension.