A reappraisal of the nutritional utilization of legumes

A survey of the physiological, biochemical and immunological changes found in growing mice, rats and chickens fed on raw legumes as the main source of protein from our experimental research is reported. Evidence is summarized about the fact that the inclusion of these vegetable proteins on animal diets brings about a number of undesirable effects such as stunting of growth, reduced protein deposition, altered digestibility and absorption of nutrients and impairment of the immune response, which have been attributed to the occurrence of various antinutritional factors and to a poor sulphur amino acid content. The possible role of tannins and phytates on some of those alterations is reviewed.