Comparison of pulses and legumes consumption across demographic characteristics

Pulses were consumed by 55.1% (n = 4221/7656) and 56.7% (n = 4537/7999) of the UK children (1.5–18 years) and adults (19–96 years), which represented mean intakes of 10.6 ± 27.0 g/d and 15.0 ± 21.0 g/d respectively. Only 1% (n = 60/7656) of the children and 2% (n = 140/7999) of the adults included in the analysis consumed on average one portion (80 g) or more of pulses/day. The percentage of participants who consumed legumes (defined here as beans, peas, and green beans) was 72.5% (n = 5548/7656) in children and 79% (n = 6319/7999) in adults and the mean consumption was 16.7 ± 32.5 g/day and 27.3 ± 26.0 g/day in children and adults respectively. Only 1.4% (n = 110/7656) of children and 5.2% (n = 416/7999) of adults consumed on average one portion of legumes/day. In children, baked beans were the most consumed pulse followed by green beans, peas, soybeans and chickpeas. In adults, baked beans were also the most consumed pulse, followed by soybeans, green beans, chickpeas and peas (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Percentage distribution of the commonly consumed legumes in children (1.5–18 years) and adults (19–96 years) in the UK from the NDNS (2008–2019). Haricot beans refers to all haricot beans consumed in other forms other than baked beans

The mean pulse and legume consumption by different demographic characteristics is reported in Table 1. Those of Asian ethnicity, 4.6% of the total sample population (n = 721/15655), consumed significantly more pulses (8.1 g-10.4 g/day in children and 7.5 g-27.5 g/day in adults) and legumes (8.5 g-11.6 g/day in children and 10.8 g-25.9 g/day in adults) than all other ethnicities, P < 0.001. Individuals from Northern Ireland consumed significantly less pulses (1.6–4.3 g/day in children and 2.0–5.5 g/day in adults) and legumes (0.9–7.4 g/day in children and 4.0–8.6 g/day in adults) compared to individuals from the rest of the UK (all p < 0.05). In adults, participants from year 9 (2016–2017) consumed 5.3 g more legumes compared to participants from year 3 (2010–2011) (P = 0.046). Children from households with an annual income under £5,000 consumed less pulses than children from households with an annual income that ranged from £5,000-£9,999, (P = 0.038) but not for legumes (P = 0.49). Compared to adults from households with an annual income between £25,000-£29,999, only adults from households from £15,000-£19,999 and £45,000–49,999 consumed more pulses (P < 0.05) but these differences were not statistically significant for legumes. In years 2 (2009–2010) and 3 (2010–2011) of the survey, children consumed 3.0 g (P = 0.029) and 2.5 g (p = 0.039) more pulses compared to year 7 (2014/2015), respectively; while in adults, participants from year 9 (2016–2017) consumed 4.6 g (P = 0.041) and 3.8 g (P = 0.027) more pulses compared to years 2 (2009–2010) and 6 (2013–2014) respectively, and participants from year 11 (2018–2019) consumed 4.6 g (P = 0.047) and 3.8 g (P = 0.026) more pulses compared to years 2 (2009–2010) and 6 (2013–2014) respectively. In children, participants from years 2 (2009–2010) and 3 (2010–2011) consumed 3.0 g to 4.8 g more legumes compared to participants from years 4 (2011–2012), 6 (2013–2014), 7 (2014–2015), and 8 (2015–2016) (P < 0.05).

Table 1 Intake of pulses and legumes according to demographic characteristics among UK children (n = 7656) and adults (n = 7999) from the NDNS (2008–2019)Association of pulse and legume intake with dietary intake and health outcomesNutrient intake and status

In children, consumption of pulses and legumes was associated with significantly higher intakes of dietary energy, fibre, vitamin E, thiamine, folate, biotin, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, and manganese; and lower intakes of saturated fats, total and free sugars (all P < 0.05), (Table 2). Only a higher intake of protein was observed for greater legume consumption (P < 0.001). However, consuming pulses was not significantly associated with circulating biomarkers of nutrient intake, with the exception of plasma vitamin B6 which was 14.4 nmol/L lower per portion (80 g) of pulses consumed (P = 0.012). One portion of legumes was associated with a higher serum selenium and plasma total carotenoids, (P < 0.05) see Table 3.

Table 2 Association between consumption of one portion (80 g/day) of pulses and legumes with nutrient intakes among children (n = 7656) and adults (n = 7999) in the NDNS from years 2008–2019Table 3 Association between the consumption of one portion (80 g/day) of pulses and legumes with plasma markers nutrient intake among children |(n = 7656) and adults (n = 7999) in the NDNS from years 2008–2019

In adults, consumption of pulses and legumes was related to significantly higher intakes of dietary energy, fibre, carbohydrates, vitamins E and C, thiamine, folate, biotin, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc and manganese; and lower intakes of saturated fats, free sugars, vitamin B12 and haem iron (all P < 0.05). A higher intake of protein was only observed for legumes (P = 0.001), see Table 2. A portion (80 g) of pulses and legumes were significantly associated with higher plasma carotenoids, but serum markers of nutrient status were not significantly associated, see Table 3.

CVD risk markers

Pulse and legume consumption were not significantly related to anthropometric or CVD risk markers in either children or adults as shown in Table 4.

Table 4 Association between consumption of one portion (80 g/day) of pulses and legumes with CVD risk markers among children (n = 7656) and adults (n = 7999) in the NDNS from years 2008–2019EAT-Lancet Index

In children, the mean score for the Eat-Lancet index was 21.5 ± 5.2 ranging from 9.0 to 36.0. Consumption of 1 g of pulses and legumes was associated with a 0.05 increase in the EAT Lancet index score (P < 0.001); this translates into a 3.7 and 3.8 point higher score for pulses and legumes per portion (80 g) respectively, see Table 2.

In adults, the mean score for the Eat-Lancet index was 22.3 ± 3.4 ranging from 8.0 to 38.0. Consuming 1 g of pulses and legumes was associated with a 0.05 increase in the EAT-Lancet index score (P < 0.001); this translates into a 3.7 point higher score per portion (80 g) for both pulses and legumes, see Table 2.

Household expenditure on pulses and legumes in the UK

A total of 163,692 people were surveyed in the family food module of the LCFS since 2001 with each decile of income/week comprising of between 14,400 to 17,300 participants. There was a general increasing trend in the average household expenditure/person in pulses and legumes from £0.79 to £1.68 and £2.10 to £2.90 respectively between 2001 and 2022 (Fig. 2). An average of 0.49% to 0.62% of the total household expenditure was spent on pulses and legumes between 2001 to 2021–22 across deciles 1 to 10 of income in the UK. Households from deciles 1 had the lowest absolute spend on pulses and legumes compared to all the other deciles while decile 10 had the highest absolute spend (Fig. 3a). However, as a percentage of weekly income, deciles 1 and 10 spent 0.95% and 0.22% on pulses and 1.73% and 0.52% on legumes, respectively (Fig. 3b).

Fig. 2

The absolute spend in pounds (£)/person/week (A) and percentage of weekly income spent (B) on pulses and legumes across 10 income deciles between 2008 to 2018–19

Fig. 3

The absolute spend in pounds (£)/person/week (A) and percentage of weekly income spent (B) on pulses and legumes across 10 income deciles between 2008 to 2018–19

Legumes are depicted by the gray line and pulses by the black line. The horizonal line is the time span of the NDNS; The black box represents the COVID-19 pandemic. The differences in the changes in reporting of the year were due to changes in the family food module from financial year basis to calendar year basis and back to financial year basis.

The average equalised disposable pre-income tax (OECD Scale) per week for each decile (averaged from 2010–2020/21) was1 £154; 2 £210; 3 £264; 4 £319; 5 £383; 6 £454; 7 £544; 8 £664, 9 £875; 10 £875 +.