This review says that it may, but more studies need to be done with obese human subjects. Because about 80 percent of weight loss interventions fail, many due to hunger and food cravings, pulses can be an important area of research because of their role in satiety. Pulses are high in protein and fiber, two important components in glycemic control linked to appetite reduction. The researchers were interested in the consumption of whole pulse foods, not their specific isolates, in determining levels of appetite satiety in aiding weight loss.

Some of the results of this review were very positive, showing analysis that there was a 31 percent increase in satiety after subjects consumed pulses compared to controls. However, the second meal effects of studies they reviewed did not show any significance, so that area of research needs more attention. Overall, the researchers state the need for more high quality long-term trials in order to “strengthen the emerging evidence for the relationship between dietary pulses, satiety, and weight management.”

Li SS, Kendall CWC, de Souza RJ, Jayalath VH, Cozma AI, Ha V, et al. Dietary pulses, satiety and food intake: a systematic review and meta-analysis of acute feeding trials. Obesity 2014;22:1773-1780.

Summarized by the NDSU Extension Service.