Common Name: Broad Bean
Synonyms: Fava bean, horse bean, filed bean, tic bean
Scientific name: Vicia faba

Overview:

Fava beans have been an integral part of Old World agriculture since around 6000BC. It has been in cultivation longer than any other plant except for lentils, chick peas, and peas. It is still widely grown as a cover crop as it can easily over winter and is capable of fixing nitrogen in the soil

As with any member of the bean family, fava beans are very nutritious and a good source of protein. Fava beans are the highest natural source of a neurotransmitter precursor, L-dopa. L-dopa is the precursor to dopamine an important neurotransmitter in the human brain. Dopamine is unable to cross the blood brain barrier. L-dopa which can cross this barrier is then converted to dopamine. L-dopa used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and is also one of the many amino acids that stimulate the pituitary gland to release HGH (human growth hormone. These amino acids are often called secretagogues because they stimulate the glands to secrete hormone. The high L-dopa content along with its important role as a neurotransmitter and secretagogue is what makes broad beans so important in maintaining optimum health.

HGH deficiency in adults is now recognized as a specific clinical syndrome with characteristic signs and symptoms. Replacement of the hormones which decline with age, such as growth hormone, estrogen and testosterone, is an important part of any antiaging program. L-dopa from fava beans is an important part of any regime to stimulate the pituitary gland to release more HGH.

Benefits:

Some of the health benefits of fava beans can be attributed to their high concentration of L-dopa. L-dopa has been shown to:

1. Be a precursor to the important amino acid dopamine. In fact it is used to treat and help control the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (in this disease the brain cannot make enough dopamine) increasing the dopamine available to the brain.
2. Play a role in stimulating the pituitary gland to release HGH (human growth hormone) into the blood stream. L-dopa helps increase the body’s ability to repair itself. L-dopa is involved in a complex chemical pathway known as the secretagogue pathway. By increasing the levels of L-dopa in the brain, the pituitary gland releases more HGH. Higher levels of HGH have been shown to:

• increase lean muscle mass
• decrease fat deposits
• improved mental functioning
• increase sexual energy and performance
• improved mood and sense of well being
• increased energy level
• a more youthful appearance and texture of the skin

Precautions:

Fava beans contain the substances vicine and convicine. In people with the hereditary condition known as G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency) a disorder of the metabolism, fava beans can induce a hemolytic anemia. This condition is often called favism.

Because fava beans may contain therapeutic amounts of L-dopa, some of the side effects are the same:

1. low blood pressure
2. heart arrhythmias
3. nausea
4. GI bleeding
5. Confusion
6. Visual and auditory hallucinations

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a health care provider before using any supplements. The affects of this supplement has not been tested on children and those suffering from liver or kidney disease. It is recommended that in children and people with liver or kidney disease this supplementation not be used.

Web References:

1. http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/hum_0140.shtml
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-dopa
3. http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_levadopa_l-dopa_000051_7.htm

Printed Reference Material:

1. Cohn L, Feller AG, Draper MW, Rudman IW, Rudman D. Carpal tunnel syndrome and gynaecomastia during growth hormone treatment of elderly men with low circulating IGF-1 concentrations. Clin Endocrinol. 1993; 39:417-425.
2. Fazio S, Sabatini D, Capaldo B, et al. A preliminary study of growth hormone in the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy. 1996; 334:809-814.
3. Gravolt, C.H., Schmitz, O., Simonsen, L., et al. Effects of a physiological GH pulse on interstitial glycerol in abdominal and femoral adipose tissue. American Journal of Physiology 277(5):E848-E854, 1999.
4. Ziegenfuss, T.N., Mendel, R.W. Acute hormonal responses to a novel botanical compound. Presented at the American Society for Exercise Physiology Annual Conference, Memphis, 2001.
5. Rabinowitz, D., Merimee, T.J., Burgess, J.A., et al. Growth hormone and insulin release after arginine: Indifference to hyperglycemia and epinephrine. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology 26:1,170, 1966.
6. Bratusch-Marrain, P., Waldhausl, W. The influence of amino acids and somatostatin on prolactin and growth hormone release in man. Acta Endocrinologica 90:403, 1979.
7. Hans, C.M., Maas, Wouter, R., et al. Growth hormone responses during strenuous exercise: the role of GH-releasing hormone and GH-releasing peptide-2. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 32(7):1,226-1,232, 2000.
8. Apaydin, H., Ertan, S., Ozekmekci, S. Broad bean (Vicia faba) a natural source of L-dopa prolongs "on" periods in patients with Parkinson's disease who have "on-off" fluctuations. Movement Disorders 15(1):164-166, 2000.
9. Bengtsson B-Å, Eden S, Lonn L, et al. Treatment of adults with growth hormone deficiency with recombinant human GH. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993; 76:309-317.
10. Marcus R, Hoffman AR. Growth hormone as therapy for older men and women. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 1998; 38:45-61.
11. PA Kempster1,2 MD, Z Bogetic2 MD, JW Secombei3 BApplSc, HD Martin3 Bsc, NDH Balazs3 Bsc and ML Wahlqvist2 MD, Motor effects of broad beans (Vicia faba) in Parkinson's disease: single dose studies,Departments of Neurosciences1, Medicine2 and Biochemistry3, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
12. Rudman D, Feller AG, Nagraj HS, et al. Effects of human growth hormone in men over 60 years old. N Engl J Med. 1990; 323:1-6.