Legumes, Millets, and Composite Functional Foods: A Review of Formulations and Clinical Evidence for Addressing Malnutrition, Obesity, and Metabolic Disorders

The incorporation of millets and legumes into the daily diet is gaining momentum owing to their exceptional complementary nutritional profiles. However, a significant limitation is the presence of anti-nutrients, which can be effectively reduced by various processing techniques. These smart crops have been utilized to develop a variety of functional foods with potential health benefits for metabolically related disorders. This review focuses on the development of functional foods by classifying the literature into the following formulation categories: legume-millet formulations, millet-based formulations supplemented with legumes, legume-based formulations supplemented with millets, and multicomponent formulations containing legume and/or millet ingredients. Due to limited clinical studies on true combined legume-millet functional foods, the evidence from legume-only and millet-only studies is utilized as indirect supporting evidence. A structured review of preclinical animal models and available human trials including observational studies and controlled interventions is presented to evaluate these health benefits while clearly distinguishing direct from indirect evidence. Additionally, emerging research trends and keyword relationships were explored through a bibliometric analysis via VOSviewer to highlight underexplored areas for future investigation. Ultimately, integrating legumes and millets into functional foods provides a sustainable dietary approach to enhance nutritional quality and promote these underutilized crops.