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Compositional and digestibility changes in sprouted barley and canola seeds
T Y Chung1, E N Nwokolo, J S Sim
1Department of Animal Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
|September 1, 1989
Summary
Sprouting barley and canola seeds reduced some nutrients but improved barley's digestibility and nutritional quality. However, canola's nutritional value was not enhanced by this germination process.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Food Science
Background:
- Seed germination is a crucial stage in plant development.
- Understanding how germination affects seed nutritional profiles is vital for food and feed applications.
- Sprouting can alter macronutrient and micronutrient composition, impacting overall nutritional quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a 5-day sprouting period on the proximate and chemical composition of barley and canola seeds.
- To evaluate the effect of sprouting on the nutrient digestibility and nutritional quality of barley and canola using Wistar rats.
- To compare the changes in nutrient profiles and digestibility between barley and canola following germination.
Main Methods:
- Barley and canola seeds were germinated under controlled laboratory conditions for 5 days.
- Proximate and chemical analyses were performed on oven-dried, milled seeds at various germination stages.
- Digestibility trials were conducted with Wistar rats fed germinated seeds.
Main Results:
- Sprouting led to a depletion of dry matter, gross energy, and triglycerides in both barley and canola.
- Barley showed increased crude fiber and diglyceride content post-sprouting, while canola exhibited lipid loss but increased phytosterol and phospholipid content.
- Digestibility trials indicated enhanced nutrient digestibility in germinated barley, but not in germinated canola.
Conclusions:
- Sprouting significantly altered the nutritional composition of both barley and canola seeds.
- The germination process improved the nutritional quality and nutrient digestibility of barley.
- Sprouting did not enhance, and potentially reduced, the nutritional quality of canola.