Protein extracted from Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaves: Bio-evaluation and characterization as suitable plant-based meat-protein alternative.

This study aimed to isolate and characterize moringa leaf protein (MLP) via HPLC and evaluate its consumption's effects through rat model. Four groups of Albino Wistar rats (n = 25 each) along with a control group (n = 25) were acclimatized. The isolated MLP was added to the basal diet (casein; control) in various percentages (25, 50, 75, 100%) for a 21-day experimental period. On three intervals (1st, 11th, 21st days), blood samples were collected and subjected for hematological and biochemical examination (Renal Function Test (RFT), Liver Function Test (LFT)). MLP contained a variety of essential and non-essential amino acids in substantial amounts. The Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) of 50% MLP-treated group was the highest (1.72) among MLP treatments. Increases in feed intake and weight were observed in treated rats compared to the control. The hematological profile of the rats revealed increases in Hemoglobin (Hb) (7.9-14.0%), White Blood Cell (WBC) (35.9-51.5%), Red Blood Cell (RBC) (17.1-22.2%), Hematocrit (HCT) (13.1-22.9%), and platelets levels (36.5-40.6%) from day 1. Protein isolates decreased liver parameters but resulted in non-significant changes in liver and kidney functions in rats. Further investigation is needed to determine the safe daily intake of MLP.

Dietary L-Lysine Requirement of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Alevins.

The suitable dietary L-lysine concentration for coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) alevins was assessed by a dose response feeding trial. Six experimental diets were made with graded L-lysine concentrations of 2.29%, 2.81%, 3.32%, 3.80%, 4.27%, and 4.78% of the dry matter, respectively, each of which was fed to triplicate groups of 100 alevins (initial body weight: 0.30 ± 0.01 g) in 18 plastic baskets (water volume 240 L). The alevins were cultured in a flowing freshwater system and fed manually to apparent satiation four times a day for 12 weeks. The survival rate of alevins did not differ significantly among the dietary groups. The specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and body protein deposition (BPD) increased significantly (p < 0.05) with the increase in dietary lysine concentration up to 3.80% and then reduced as lysine level further increased. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) had an inverse trend to SGR. The whole-body crude protein content of the alevins increased significantly with increasing dietary lysine level, while crude lipid content showed the opposite trend. In comparison, the contents of morphological indices, whole-body moisture, and ash were not affected significantly (p > 0.05) by the different dietary lysine concentrations. The highest contents of lysine, arginine, and total essential amino acids (EAAs) were observed in the group with 4.27% dietary lysine concentration, which did not differ significantly from those in the 3.32%, 3.80%, and 4.78% groups but was significantly higher than those in the 2.29% and 2.81% groups. Similarly, valine had the highest content in the group with 4.78%. The variations in dietary lysine had no significant impacts on other EAA and non-EAA contents except glycine, which increased with increasing dietary lysine level. Second-order polynomial model analyses based on SGR, PER, BPD, and FCR evaluated the optimum L-lysine requirements of coho salmon alevins as 3.74%, 3.73%, 3.91%, and 3.77% of the diet or 6.80%, 6.78%, 7.11%, and 6.85% of dietary proteins, respectively.

The in vivo and in vitro protein quality of three hemp protein sources.

In this work, the protein quality of defatted hemp hearts and protein-enriched hemp fractions was determined. Protein quality was assessed using a rodent bioassay to evaluate growth and protein digestibility, while amino acid composition was determined via HPLC. A method for determining in vitro protein digestibility was compared to in vivo methodology and used to generate an in vitro protein quality score. The true protein digestibility of hemp protein 2, a hemp protein concentrate, was significantly lower than that of either defatted hemp hearts or hemp protein 1, a hemp protein concentrate (p < .05). While there was no relationship between the in vivo and in vitro measurements of protein digestibility (R 2 = .293, p = .459), there was a significant correlation between the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) determined in vivo and in vitro PDCAAS (R 2 = .989, p = .005). The protein efficiency ratio of hemp protein 1 was significantly lower than that of either defatted hemp hearts or hemp protein 2 (p < .05). These data highlight the nutritional capacity of hemp protein sources while also demonstrating the relationship between in vivo and in vitro methods for determining protein quality.

[Protein efficiency ratio of genetically modified pork powder with fat-1 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protein efficiency ratio(PER) of genetically modified pork powder with fat-1 gene(GM group), and thus evaluate whether the nutritional evaluation value of fat-1 gene pork powder has changed. METHODS: Sixty weaned SD rats(60-80 g) were randomly divided into casein group, parental control group and GM group according to sex and weight, 20 rats in each group, half of each sex. The rats in the three groups were fed with corresponding formulated feed containing 10% protein for 28 days. The body weight and food intake of each group were recorded weekly. Blood was collected at the end of the experiment to determine hematology and blood biochemical indexes. The food utilization rate, organ/body weigh indexes, PER and corrected PER were calculated. RESULTS: The weight of rats in all groups increased steadily during the experimental period. Statistically significant differences were found in some hematology and blood biochemical indexes and organ/body weigh indexes. No biologically significant changes were found. The food utilization rate of GM group was higher than that of casein group(P<0.05), which was equivalent to that in the parental control group. The PER of both genetically modified pork powder with fat-1 gene and parental white pork powder were higher than that of casein(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The PER of genetically modified pork powder with fat-1 gene was equal to that of its parental white pork powder.

Sustainable Process for Tortilla Production Using Ohmic Heating with Minimal Impact on the Nutritional Value, Protein, and Calcium Performance.

The nixtamalization process used for tortilla production entails extended processing time and generates pollutant effluents. Ohmic heating (OH) is an emerging technology that uses an alternating electric current for rapid and uniform food heating and mitigates effluent concerns. However, gaps exist in nutrient bioavailability studies. In this work, we assessed OH's impact on tortilla nutritional value, protein, and calcium using a rat model. Twenty-five male Wistar rats were fed one of four diets for 21 days: raw corn (RC) as an experimental control, OH-processed tortillas (OHTs), traditionally processed tortillas (TPTs), commercial tortillas (CTs), and a casein diet (CD) as a growth control. Despite similar protein and macronutrient profiles, OH significantly enhanced insoluble fiber content. The weight gain sequence was OHTs > TPTs > CTs > RC. OHTs exhibited superior protein digestibility (88.52%), which was 3% higher than other diets. The serum albumin (2.63-2.73 g/dL) indicated moderate malnutrition due to the tortilla's lower protein content. Nonetheless, the protein efficiency ratio (1.2-1.74) showed no significant difference from TPTs. Bone characteristics and fracture strength resembled the tortilla-fed groups, surpassing RC. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the OHT and TPT diets improved male rat bone thickness and crystallinity. The findings suggest the potential for OH as an eco-friendly tortilla production method, maintaining nutritional value comparable to traditional methods.

Perspective: Assuring the Quality of Protein in Infant Formula.

Current regulations require that the assessment of protein quality in infant formula be determined using the protein efficiency ratio (PER) rat bioassay where the growth of rats fed a test protein is compared with the growth of rats fed casein. This review cites authoritative body opinions that the PER is not a preferred method for scoring protein quality, particularly as applied to the infant formula. Methodological recommendations specified by FDA and recent guidance propose to control nonprotein dietary variables in the PER. In contrast, the essential amino acid pattern of human milk has been adopted internationally as the standard for protein quality in infant formula. Because casein, the control protein in the PER fails to meet the standard of human milk essential amino acids, the PER based on casein can generate a false assurance of the quality of protein in an infant formula. FDA should revise the method of demonstrating the quality factor for the biological quality of protein to the essential amino acid pattern of human milk, which would be simpler, conform to international standards, and should be considered by FDA under a new statute. Alternate methods of determination of protein quality can be used selectively when there are questions about the digestibility of new protein sources or the effects of manufacturing processes.

[Protein efficiency ratio of genetically modified corn with Cry1Ab-ma gene].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protein efficiency ratio(PER) of genetically modified corn with Cry1Ab-Ma gene and parental corn. METHODS: Sixty SD rats(60-80 g) were randomly divided into genetically modified corn group, parental corn group and casein control group, with 20 rats in each group and half male and half female. Casein was added to 10% of the diet in casein control group. When the protein content of the diets in the genetically modified corn group and parental corn group was still less than 10% according to the principle of maximum incorporation, the defective part was supplemented with casein. Rats were free to drink and eat for 28 days. Food intake and body weight of each group were recorded every week. Blood was collected at the end of the experiment to determine hematology and blood biochemical indexes. The main organs were weighed and organ/body weigh indexes were calculated. PER and corrected PER were calculated. RESULTS: The body weight of all the animals in each group showed an increasing trend, and the weight growth was normal. Although there were statistical differences in the individual indexes of end-stage hematology and blood biochemical indexes, there was no biological significance. There were no significant change in the organ/body weigh indexes. PER of genetically modified corn, parental corn and casein were 2.01±0.22, 1.77±0.30 and 3.64±0.48, respectively. The corrected PER of genetically modified corn and parent corn were 1.38 and 1.22, respectively. CONCLUSION: The PER of this batch of genetically modified corn with Cry1Ab-ma gene was better than that of parental corn, but worse than that of casein.

Growth performance, haematological assessment and chemical composition of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) fed different levels of Aloe vera extract as feed additives in a closed aquaculture system.

A 105-day experimental trial was conducted to assess different levels of dietary Aleo vera extract supplementation on water quality parameters, proximate composition, growth performance and haematological parameters of fry Oreochromis niloticus. Four different percentages of dietary leaf extract powder of Aleo vera (ALE) with a basal feed, designated as, i.e., T0 (Control group; without ALE), T1 (1% ALE), T2 (2% ALE), and T3 (3% ALE). Fish fry was reared in concrete tanks (7.0 m, 1.6 m, 1.0: L, W, H; water volume 11.2 m3/tank), with an average initial weight 4.04 ± 0.03 g/ fry, and each treatment was triplicated. Fry was randomly distributed at a stocking rate of 450 individuals/ tanks. The water quality parameters revealed that temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrates were found in a promising range as given by FAO/WHO limits. However, the record values obtained for Electric Conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), and alkalinities were not found in all tanks' suitable range according to FAO/WHO limits. The results revealed a significant impact of different percentages of dietary ALE supplementation on fry's body composition and haematological parameters. Moreover, the final body weight, final body length, average daily weight gain (g), net weight gain (g) and specific growth rate (%) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in T1 and T2 compared with T0 and T3 treatments. The poorest feed conversion ratio was recorded in the T2 group compared with other treatments. Thus, the current study provides information about the nutritional quality of Nile tilapia culturing in Pakistan.

Effect of different protein based feed on the growth of mahseer / Efeito de alimentação baseada em proteínas diferentes no crescimento de mahseer

For the proper growth of fish, it is necessary to feed the fish with a proper and balanced diet. A study was conducted to find out the effect of different protein-based diets on fingerlings of Tor putitora (mahseer). A feed with dietary protein levels of 35%, 40%, 45%, and 50% were prepared. The effect of different protein-based feed on weight gain, standard growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR), percent weight gain, food conversion efficiency (FCE), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) was studied. An increase was observed in the growth rate with an increase in protein concentration up to 45%. The fingerlings fed a 45% protein diet shown the highest growth, followed by 50%, 40%, and 35%. The SGR value was greatest for 45% protein diet (8.56) followed by 50% and 40%, while the least values were observed for 35% protein feed (1.57). The same trend was observed for FCE. The highest PER values was observed in fishes fed 45% protein-based feed (0.65) followed by 50% (0.56), 40% (0.38) and35% (0.17). The food conversion ratio was lowest for 45% protein diet (3.41), while the greatest for 35% protein feed (16.85). It was concluded that a 45% protein-based diet was the best feed formulation for higher production of Tor putitora. However, research on the same percentage of protein diet is recommended for yearlings.

Para o bom crescimento dos peixes, é necessário alimentá-los com uma alimentação adequada e balanceada. Um estudo foi realizado para descobrir o efeito de diferentes dietas à base de proteínas em alevinos de Tor putitora (mahseer). Foi preparado um alimento com níveis de proteína dietética de 35%, 40%, 45% e 50%. O efeito de diferentes alimentos à base de proteína no ganho de peso, taxa de crescimento padrão (SGR), taxa de conversão alimentar (FCR), ganho de peso percentual, eficiência de conversão alimentar (FCE) e taxa de eficiência proteica (PER) foi estudado. Foi observado um aumento na taxa de crescimento com um aumento na concentração de proteína de até 45%. Os alevinos alimentados com dieta de 45% de proteína apresentaram o maior crescimento, seguidos de 50%, 40% e 35%. O valor de SGR foi maior para dieta com 45% de proteína (8,56), seguido de 50% e 40%, enquanto os menores valores foram observados para ração com 35% de proteína (1,57). A mesma tendência foi observada para FCE. Os maiores valores de PER foram observados em peixes alimentados com 45% de ração à base de proteína (0,65), seguido por 50% (0,56), 40% (0,38) e 35% (0,17). A taxa de conversão alimentar foi menor para a dieta com 45% de proteína (3,41), enquanto a maior para a dieta com 35% de proteína (16,85). Concluiu-se que a dieta à base de proteína de 45% foi a melhor formulação alimentar para maior produção de Tor putitora. No entanto, a pesquisa sobre a mesma porcentagem de dieta proteica é recomendada para animais de um ano.

Effect of different protein based feed on the growth of mahseer

Abstract For the proper growth of fish, it is necessary to feed the fish with a proper and balanced diet. A study was conducted to find out the effect of different protein-based diets on fingerlings of Tor putitora (mahseer). A feed with dietary protein levels of 35%, 40%, 45%, and 50% were prepared. The effect of different protein-based feed on weight gain, standard growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR), percent weight gain, food conversion efficiency (FCE), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) was studied. An increase was observed in the growth rate with an increase in protein concentration up to 45%. The fingerlings fed a 45% protein diet shown the highest growth, followed by 50%, 40%, and 35%. The SGR value was greatest for 45% protein diet (8.56) followed by 50% and 40%, while the least values were observed for 35% protein feed (1.57). The same trend was observed for FCE. The highest PER values was observed in fishes fed 45% protein-based feed (0.65) followed by 50% (0.56), 40% (0.38) and35% (0.17). The food conversion ratio was lowest for 45% protein diet (3.41), while the greatest for 35% protein feed (16.85). It was concluded that a 45% protein-based diet was the best feed formulation for higher production of Tor putitora. However, research on the same percentage of protein diet is recommended for yearlings.

Resumo Para o bom crescimento dos peixes, é necessário alimentá-los com uma alimentação adequada e balanceada. Um estudo foi realizado para descobrir o efeito de diferentes dietas à base de proteínas em alevinos de Tor putitora (mahseer). Foi preparado um alimento com níveis de proteína dietética de 35%, 40%, 45% e 50%. O efeito de diferentes alimentos à base de proteína no ganho de peso, taxa de crescimento padrão (SGR), taxa de conversão alimentar (FCR), ganho de peso percentual, eficiência de conversão alimentar (FCE) e taxa de eficiência proteica (PER) foi estudado. Foi observado um aumento na taxa de crescimento com um aumento na concentração de proteína de até 45%. Os alevinos alimentados com dieta de 45% de proteína apresentaram o maior crescimento, seguidos de 50%, 40% e 35%. O valor de SGR foi maior para dieta com 45% de proteína (8,56), seguido de 50% e 40%, enquanto os menores valores foram observados para ração com 35% de proteína (1,57). A mesma tendência foi observada para FCE. Os maiores valores de PER foram observados em peixes alimentados com 45% de ração à base de proteína (0,65), seguido por 50% (0,56), 40% (0,38) e 35% (0,17). A taxa de conversão alimentar foi menor para a dieta com 45% de proteína (3,41), enquanto a maior para a dieta com 35% de proteína (16,85). Concluiu-se que a dieta à base de proteína de 45% foi a melhor formulação alimentar para maior produção de Tor putitora. No entanto, a pesquisa sobre a mesma porcentagem de dieta proteica é recomendada para animais de um ano.

Effect of different protein based feed on the growth of mahseer / Efeito de alimentação baseada em proteínas diferentes no crescimento de mahseer

For the proper growth of fish, it is necessary to feed the fish with a proper and balanced diet. A study was conducted to find out the effect of different protein-based diets on fingerlings of Tor putitora (mahseer). A feed with dietary protein levels of 35%, 40%, 45%, and 50% were prepared. The effect of different protein-based feed on weight gain, standard growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR), percent weight gain, food conversion efficiency (FCE), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) was studied. An increase was observed in the growth rate with an increase in protein concentration up to 45%. The fingerlings fed a 45% protein diet shown the highest growth, followed by 50%, 40%, and 35%. The SGR value was greatest for 45% protein diet (8.56) followed by 50% and 40%, while the least values were observed for 35% protein feed (1.57). The same trend was observed for FCE. The highest PER values was observed in fishes fed 45% protein-based feed (0.65) followed by 50% (0.56), 40% (0.38) and35% (0.17). The food conversion ratio was lowest for 45% protein diet (3.41), while the greatest for 35% protein feed (16.85). It was concluded that a 45% protein-based diet was the best feed formulation for higher production of Tor putitora. However, research on the same percentage of protein diet is recommended for yearlings.

Para o bom crescimento dos peixes, é necessário alimentá-los com uma alimentação adequada e balanceada. Um estudo foi realizado para descobrir o efeito de diferentes dietas à base de proteínas em alevinos de Tor putitora (mahseer). Foi preparado um alimento com níveis de proteína dietética de 35%, 40%, 45% e 50%. O efeito de diferentes alimentos à base de proteína no ganho de peso, taxa de crescimento padrão (SGR), taxa de conversão alimentar (FCR), ganho de peso percentual, eficiência de conversão alimentar (FCE) e taxa de eficiência proteica (PER) foi estudado. Foi observado um aumento na taxa de crescimento com um aumento na concentração de proteína de até 45%. Os alevinos alimentados com dieta de 45% de proteína apresentaram o maior crescimento, seguidos de 50%, 40% e 35%. O valor de SGR foi maior para dieta com 45% de proteína (8,56), seguido de 50% e 40%, enquanto os menores valores foram observados para ração com 35% de proteína (1,57). A mesma tendência foi observada para FCE. Os maiores valores de PER foram observados em peixes alimentados com 45% de ração à base de proteína (0,65), seguido por 50% (0,56), 40% (0,38) e 35% (0,17). A taxa de conversão alimentar foi menor para a dieta com 45% de proteína (3,41), enquanto a maior para a dieta com 35% de proteína (16,85). Concluiu-se que a dieta à base de proteína de 45% foi a melhor formulação alimentar para maior produção de Tor putitora. No entanto, a pesquisa sobre a mesma porcentagem de dieta proteica é recomendada para animais de um ano.

Multi-criteria assessment of pea protein quality in rats: a comparison between casein, gluten and pea protein alone or supplemented with methionine.

The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional quality of pea protein isolate in rats and to evaluate the impact of methionine (Met) supplementation. Several protein diets were studied: pea protein, casein, gluten, pea protein-gluten combination and pea protein supplemented with Met. Study 1: Young male Wistar rats (n 8/group) were fed the test diets ad libitum for 28 d. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) was measured. Study 2: Adult male Wistar rats (n 9/group) were fed the test diets for 10 d. A protein-free diet group was used to determine endogenous losses of N. The rats were placed in metabolism cages for 3 d to assess N balance, true faecal N digestibility and to calculate the Protein Digestible-Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS). They were then given a calibrated meal and euthanised 6 h later for collection of digestive contents. The true caecal amino acid (AA) digestibility was determined, and the Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score (DIAAS) was calculated. Met supplementation increased the PER of pea protein (2·52 v. 1·14, P < 0·001) up to the PER of casein (2·55). Mean true caecal AA digestibility was 94 % for pea protein. The DIAAS was 0·88 for pea protein and 1·10 with Met supplementation, 1·29 for casein and 0·25 for gluten. Pea protein was highly digestible in rats under our experimental conditions, and Met supplementation enabled generation of a mixture that had a protein quality that was not different from that of casein.

Optimal Dietary Protein Requirement for Juvenile Sesarmid Crab (Episesarma singaporense).

The optimal dietary protein requirement for sesarmid crabs (Episesarma singaporense) was investigated. Juvenile E. singaporense, individually reared in plastic glasses containing 250 mL sea water, were fed five fish meal-soybean meal-microbound diets variously containing dietary protein levels of 30%, 35%, 40%, 45% and 50% for six weeks. A completely randomized design was used in the experiment, comprising five treatments with 60 crabs in each. At the end of the experiment, a significant improvement in survival was observed in all treatments relative to the diet containing 30% dietary protein (p < 0.05) while the growth performance parameters did not differ across the five dietary groups. A significantly higher protein efficiency ratio was observed in the E. singaporense crabs receiving 45% dietary protein relative to the remaining treatments. The specific activities of the digestive enzymes, pepsin-like, trypsin, amylase, and lipase, and the amylase to trypsin ratio fluctuated across the five treatments, but that of chymotrypsin remained consistent, suggesting different nutritional responses to the various dietary protein levels. The crabs receiving the 45% protein diet had significantly higher in essential amino acid (EAA) profiles followed by the 40% protein diet, although some EAA values were only moderate. The pattern for the non-EAA (NEAA) was reversed, and the ΣEAA/ΣNEAA ratio was higher in the crabs receiving the 45% protein diets relative to the other treatments. Based on our investigations, the optimal dietary protein requirement achieving desirable characteristics of juvenile E. singaporense crabs was 45%. This finding would be a useful guideline in preparing artificial diets for the mariculture of this species.

Thermal processing methods differentially affect the protein quality of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum).

Chickpea is a widely produced pulse crop, but requires processing prior to human consumption. Protein bioavailability and amino acid quantity of chickpea flour can be altered by multiple factors including processing method. For this reason, the protein quality of processed chickpea flour was determined using in vivo and in vitro analyses for processed chickpeas. Processing differentially affected the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) of chickpeas with extruded chickpea (83.8) having a higher PDCAAS score than both cooked (75.2) and baked (80.03). Interestingly, the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS) value of baked chickpea (0.84) was higher compared to both extruded (0.82) and cooked (0.78). The protein efficiency ratio, another measure of protein quality, was significantly higher for extruded chickpea than baked chickpea (p < .01). In vivo and in vitro analysis of protein quality were well correlated (R 2 = .9339). These results demonstrated that under certain circumstances in vitro methods could replace the use of animals to determine protein quality.

Amino acid availability of protein meals of different quality for adult and growing mink (Neovison vison).

Protein and amino acid (AA) availability of three protein meals of expected different quality were evaluated in young growing and adult mink. Lamb meal (LM), poultry meal (PM) or fishmeal (FM) were used as main protein sources in three extruded diets investigated by determining apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and nitrogen balance in 12 growing mink males aged 8-11 weeks in a Latin square design. In adult mink, ATTD of the diets was determined. The diets had lower protein content than recommended for growing mink, protein contributing 23% of total metabolisable energy (ME), to ensure differences in growth response. The LM diet with expected low protein quality revealed lower content of essential AA than the PM and FM diets. The ATTD of major nutrients and essential AA was significantly affected by diet, with the poorest values for LM, intermediate for PM and the highest values for FM. Mink kits revealed lower ATTD values than adults for protein, AA and especially fat, resulting in lower dietary ME content for kits than for adults. The mean difference was greatest for the LM diet with lowest ATTD and smallest for the FM diet with the highest ATTD. Nitrogen retention and growth rate differed significantly among diets and was lowest for diet LM and highest for diet FM, respectively. Different dietary essential AA contents and ATTD, especially of methionine, were the main factors to explain the difference in growth response. Generally, plasma essential AA concentrations did not clearly reflect the different dietary supply and the different growth response. The study shows that a recommended level of 0.31 g apparent total tract digestible methionine per MJ ME covers the minimum requirement with a safety margin. To obtain optimal growth, the lower digestive capacity in young mink kits should be considered when choosing feed ingredients.

Research and regulatory gaps for the substantiation of protein content claims on foods.

Protein claims provide guidance to consumers seeking protein-rich foods. Protein claim regulations differ globally, and both Canada and the United States require protein quality assessments. A tripartite workshop identified the need to (i) harmonize, (ii) update existing amino acid composition and digestibility databases, (iii) develop non-animal bioassays, and (iv) evaluate the impact of protein claims on human health. The Protein-Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score method is recommended for current regulatory use in Canada.

The amino acid composition and protein quality of various egg, poultry meal by-products, and vegetable proteins used in the production of dog and cat diets.

New protein ingredients are used to support pet food market growth and the development of new products while maintaining animal dietary needs. However, novel protein sources (e.g., spray-dried chicken, and (or) rice, pea, and potato protein concentrates) have limited data available regarding their protein quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate protein ingredients used in the pet food industry by laboratory analysis and a chick growth assay as a model. Following analysis for proximate and amino acid composition, chicks (six birds per pen with four pens per treatment) were fed experimental diets for 10 d. Diets contained 10% crude protein from each of the experimental protein sources (spray-dried egg-SDEG; spray-dried egg white-SDEW, spray-dried inedible whole egg-SDIE, chicken by-product meal-CBPM, chicken meal-CKML, low-temperature fluid bed air-dried chicken-LTCK, low-temperature and pressure fluid bed dried chicken-LTPC, spray-dried chicken-SDCK, whey protein concentrate-WPCT, corn gluten meal-CGML, corn protein concentrate-CPCT, potato protein isolate-PPIS, rice protein concentrate-RPCT, pea protein isolate-PEPI, soy protein isolate-SPIS, and soybean meal-SBML) along with an N-free diet (negative control). Chicks fed SDEG, SDIE, and LTPC had the highest protein efficiency ratio (PER; P < 0.0001; 5.18, 5.37, and 5.33, respectively), LTCK and SDCK were intermediate (4.54 and 4.79), and the CBPM and CKML were the lowest among the poultry proteins for EAA:NEAA, PER, and Lys availability. Among the vegetable proteins, PPIS and SBML had the highest PER values (3.60 and 3.48, P < 0.0001). In general, the chick PER method ranked the quality of animal protein sources higher than vegetable proteins, and these results were consistent with the EAA:NEAA ratio and Lys availability.

[The evaluation of biological value and immunochemical characteristics of the coagulated chicken egg white].

The aim of the study was to investigate in vivo the biological value of the coagulated chicken egg white on growing rats and a comparative immunochemical evaluation in vitro of its antigenic power. The experiment was carried out on 50 growing Wistar male rats with a body weight of 80±5 g. The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=16): control group G1 and two experimental groups G2 and G3. The animals of the control group (G1) received a basic isocaloric and isonitrogenous (20% protein of casein by caloric content) semi-synthetic diet. The animals of the experimental groups G2 and G3 received the same semi-synthetic diet in which casein was replaced by chicken egg white (CEW) and coagulated CEW, respectively. The average food intake of group G3 animals, who received the CEW coagulate, was significantly lower (13.7±0.6 g per day, p<0.05) in comparison with the control group G1 (18.4±0.6 g) and the experimental group G2 (19.2±0.5 g). Moreover, body weight gain of animals treated with coagulated CEW didn't differ significantly from the control G1 animals. Already on the 8th day of the experiment, the body weight gain of G2 animals, who consumed native CEW, was significantly higher in comparison with both other groups. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) for animals of the G3 group was significantly higher (1.96±0.04) than the values for the animals of the control group G1 receiving casein (1.49±0.05, p<0.01), and for the animals of the experimental group G2 receiving CEW (1.60±0.02, p<0.05). The results of immuneenzymatic testing of the initial antigenic power of ovalbumin in native CEW indicated that its content was 33.0% relative to the standard ovalbumin value, antigenic power of which was assumed to be 100%. The developed process of coagulation contributed to a decrease in antigenic power to 2.17%. The obtained data indicate a high biological value and low antigenic power of the coagulated CEW, which makes it prospective for the usage in the composition of food products of mass demand and specialized food products.

The effect of thermal processing on the protein quality of Monodora myristica (Gaertn.)Dunal seeds.

BACKGROUND: Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) Dunal is a useful but underutilised tropical tree of the Annona- ceae or custard apple family of flowering plants which is rich in proteins. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of thermal processing on the protein quality of Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) Dunal seeds. METHODS: Raw, boiled (10, 20, 30 min) and roasted (10, 20, 30 min) Monodora myristica seeds were defatted, and the effect of heat treatment on their crude protein, amino acid composition/concen- tration and protein quality parameters was investigated. RESULTS: The results showed that crude protein was significantly reduced by heat treatment and ranged between 19.92–23.32%. Essential amino acids of the samples ranged from 26.34–34.06%. Glutamic acid (14.58 g/100 g), aspartic acid (9.18 g/100 g), leucine (7.76 g/100 g) and lysine (6.91 g/100 g) were the most predominant amino acids, while methionine + cysteine was the first limiting amino acid. There were some increases in some of the amino acids in the roasted samples. For instance, lysine was increased by 3.3% and arginine by 6.9%. The predicted protein efficiency ratio at all levels of processing was higher than 1.50, below which a protein is taken to be of poor quality. The calculated biological value ranged from 70.7% to 77.7%. Based on The Provisional Amino Acid (Egg) Scoring Pattern, the percentage adequacy of most essential amino acids in the samples was high. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the decrease in most amino acid contents by cooking, the plant food has the potential to provide high quality protein which can be exploited to enhance protein quality in human nutrition and performance in sports.

Nutritional value of detoxified Jatropha curcas seed cake protein isolates using rats as an animal model.

A bioassay study was conducted to investigate the effects of substituting casein with graded levels of detoxified Jatropha curcas seed cake protein isolates (JPI) as a protein source on the growth performance, feed efficiency ratio (FER) and its protein values using rats as an animal model. Thirty 21-day-old male Sprague-Dawley weaned rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, each group with 6 replications (n = 1). Each group consumed one of the following diets: protein-free, casein (CAS) and JPI diets (JPI20, JPI40 and JPI60; different levels of JPI to replace the casein at concentrations of 20%, 40% and 60% on crude protein basis). Feed intake and protein intake showed no difference among the rats fed JPI20, JPI40 and CAS diets (P > 0.05). However, these parameters were lower in the rats fed JPI60 than in rats fed CAS (P < 0.05). The rats fed diets containing JPI had lower body weight gain, protein efficiency ratio and net protein retention than those fed CAS diet (P < 0.05). When the level of JPI used to replace the casein was lower than 40%, protein efficiency ratio (PER) was close to or higher than 2.0, which suggests that JPI could be viewed as a high-quality protein. Inclusion of JPI in the diet decreased alkaline phosphatase activity. The values were significantly lower in rats fed JPI20 and JPI40 than in rats fed CAS (P < 0.05). No histopathological changes were observed in livers and kidneys in the rats fed JPI diets. The results demonstrate that JPI could be used as an efficient protein source at a level of no more than 40% of dietary protein source.