# Prebiotic Activity of Pinto Beans and Metabolic Outcomes in Estrogen Deficiency

> **NIH NIH R15** · OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY STILLWATER · 2022 · $369,467

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
Estrogen deficiency increases the risk for many chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
Recent evidence demonstrating gut microbial dysbiosis and gut integrity dysfunction that occur in estrogen
deficiency provides new mechanistic targets to counter the cardiometabolic disturbances associated with
menopause. The gut also plays an important role in the metabolism of estrogen through the action of microbial-
derived estrogen deconjugating enzyme (i.e., β-glucuronidase) which alters the enterohepatic recirculation of
estrogen making it more bioavailable. β-glucuronidase can also deconjugate phenolic compounds that can
prolong their circulation and enhance their bioactivity. It is well established that dietary fibers such as resistant
starch (RS) and fructooligosaccharides have prebiotic activity and could be used to counter the effects of
estrogen deficiency on gut health and metabolic outcomes. However, polyphenols are also capable of acting as
prebiotics by shifting the microbiome to favor the colonization of beneficial gut microbes. Studies examining
the prebiotic activity of combination of fiber and polyphenols found in natural products and their mechanisms
of action in the context of estrogen deficiency are limited. Pinto beans (PB) are rich in in these bioactive
compounds with prebiotic activity and can confer health benefits in estrogen deficiency. Our recent findings
demonstrated that PB prevented gut dysbiosis, improved markers of gut integrity, reduced inflammation, and
improved insulin sensitivity in mice fed a Western-style diet. In this application, we proposed to build on that
work by investigating the mechanism through which PB modulates cardiometabolic outcomes in a mouse model
of estrogen deficiency. We hypothesize that PB, due to its many bioactive compounds particularly its RS
content, will modulate gut microbial composition and alter β-glucuronidase activity as well as the production of
short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) which will consequently improve gut health and metabolic outcomes in
estrogen deficiency. This hypothesis will be tested by: Aim 1) determining the alterations in gut microbial
composition and metabolic outcomes induced by PB and RS in estrogen deficiency; and Aim 2) investigating
the role of the gut-derived β-glucuronidase in the metabolic response due to estrogen deficiency. The proposed
study will provide an excellent training opportunity for students and our findings will advance our
understanding of how prebiotics such as PB mediate their effects on metabolic outcomes in estrogen deficiency.
Our findings will lay the groundwork for future clinical studies, which is in line with our long-term goal of
developing economical, safe and effective strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10439276
- **Project number:** 1R15AT011962-01
- **Recipient organization:** OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY STILLWATER
- **Principal Investigator:** Edralin A. Lucas
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $369,467
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10439276

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10439276, Prebiotic Activity of Pinto Beans and Metabolic Outcomes in Estrogen Deficiency (1R15AT011962-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10439276. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*