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The in vivo and in vitro protein quality of three hemp protein sources
Matthew G Nosworthy1,2, Adam Franczyk1, Jason Neufeld1
1Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada.
Insights
This study assessed hemp protein quality using rodent bioassays and amino acid analysis. In vitro methods correlated well with in vivo protein digestibility-corrected amino acid scores, indicating their potential for evaluating hemp protein nutritional value.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Food Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Hemp seeds are a valuable source of plant-based protein.
- Assessing protein quality is crucial for understanding nutritional value.
- Standardized methods are needed for reliable protein quality evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the protein quality of defatted hemp hearts and protein-enriched hemp fractions.
- To compare in vivo and in vitro methods for assessing protein digestibility and quality.
- To evaluate the amino acid composition of hemp protein sources.
Main Methods:
- Rodent bioassay for growth and protein digestibility (in vivo).
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for amino acid analysis.
- In vitro protein digestibility assay to generate an in vitro protein quality score.
Main Results:
- Hemp protein 2 showed significantly lower true protein digestibility than defatted hemp hearts or hemp protein 1.
- No significant relationship was found between in vivo and in vitro protein digestibility measurements.
- A strong correlation was observed between in vivo and in vitro protein digestibility-corrected amino acid scores (PDCAAS).
- Hemp protein 1 had a significantly lower protein efficiency ratio compared to defatted hemp hearts and hemp protein 2.
Conclusions:
- Hemp protein sources possess significant nutritional capacity.
- In vitro methods show promise for accurately predicting in vivo protein digestibility-corrected amino acid scores.
- Further research can refine in vitro assays for reliable hemp protein quality assessment.
Abstract:
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.
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