Acceptability of supplementary foods based on popped cereals and legumes suitable for rural mothers and children

Eight types of supplementary foods based on popped cereals (wheat, ragi, bajra and sorghum) blended with legumes (soy and bengalgram) and fortified with essential vitamins and minerals were developed on a pilot plant scale. Four of the supplements were prepared with cereals, soy flour (SF) and bengal gram (BG) dhal and the other four were prepared with combinations of cereals and SF. These blends were mixed with jaggery (obtained by boiling juice out of sugarcane) syrup and pressed into compact form. One hundred gram portions of these foods provided 370 ± 20 kilocalories and 11 ± 1 g protein. Moisture, crude protein, total carbohydrates, total lipids, ash, dietary fiber and energy contents, of all the developed supplements were within the ranges prescribed by the Indian Standards Institute for processed weaning foods and could satisfactorily meet one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of these nutrients per day for preschool children. Organoleptic evaluation and feeding trials revealed that the foods were well accepted by rural mothers and children.     

The nutritive value of all-vegetable protein diets based on legume,cereal and tuber in weanling rats

Thirty albino weanling male rats (45–55 g) were divided into five groups of six rats each on the basis of body weight and fed combinations of dehulled brown beans (DBB); parboiled rice (R); and cassava meal (G) which provided 10% protein for 35 days. Casein served as the reference protein. Combinations of DBB (50–80%); with R (18–48%); and G (2%) produced varied effects on body weight, nitrogen (N) intake, N digestibility and retention, BV, liver weight and plasma albumin (P<0.05).The DBB:R:G (70:28:2) blend induced decreases in all the parameters tested except for the BV and PER values. The control group produced digested and retained N, protein efficiency ratio (PER), weight gain and liver weight that were significantly higher than for those of the test diets (P<0.05). These results appear to suggest that starchy foods when blended with legumes at low levels produced good quality protein comparable to casein.     

Biological evaluation for protein quality of supplementary foodsbased on popped cereals and legumes suitable for feeding rural mothers andchildren in India

Eight different formulations of supplementary foods (FS) based on poppedcereals (wheat, ragi, bajra and sorghum) and legumes (soy and bengalgram)were prepared. Four of the FS were produced with cereals, soy flour (SF)and bengalgram (BG) dhal and the other four were prepared with combinationsof cereals and SF. These blends were evaluated for food efficiency ratio(FER), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and net protein utilization (NPU)using growing albino rats. Skim milk powder (SMP, standard reference protein)was used in the control diet. In general the FER (0.28 to 0.34), PER (2.7to 2.9) and NPU (62 to 68) results of the FS were not significantly (p>0.05)different among the FS groups or compared with FER (0.36), PER (3.0) and NPU(73.5) of the control SMP. It is evident from the results that all eight FSwere nutritionally and biologically as good as SMP with regard to proximatecomposition, PER and NPU.     

Protein quality of some Nigerian traditional diets based on the African yambean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)

The protein quality of Nigerian traditional diets based on the African yambean (AYB) and pigeon pea (PP) were performed by in vivo and in vitro bioassays. The individual foods were processed, cooked, dried and mixed to resemble the traditional diets. Weanling male Wistar rats (45–55 g) were used for the bioassay. The rats were fed ad libitum for 35 days of which 28 days were for growth and 7 days for N-balance. All the eleven diets including casein (control) provided 1.6 g N/100 g diet. The parameters tested include PER, growth, N-balance, BV, NPU and apparent digestibility (AD). The rats fed the AYB diets, except AYB: Agidi (Ag), showed superiority in most of the parameters tested. There were significant positive correlations between PER and NPU (r=0.925;p<0.001); PER and AD (r=0.908;p<0.001); PER and body weight gain (r=0.969;p<0.001). The in vitro protein digestibility of the diets was significantly correlated (r=0.80;p<0.01) with the in vivo apparent digestibility. These parameters were used to rank the various diets. Crayfish protein was a better supplement to legume/cereal or legume starchy staple mixtures than leguminous oil seed. However, supplementation of PP: steamed corn (SC) diet with crayfish did not prove beneficial. The result showed that diets based on the African yambean, an under-exploited legume, are nutritious. The need for its reintroduction into the fare of the populace through increased production and appropriate processing technology is stressed. The results of this study can form a base for the standardization of Nigerian diets based on these legumes.     

Protein quality of diets based on tuber,legume, and cereal in weanling rats

Weanling male rats (45–55 g) were studied to evaluate the protein quality of diets based on combinations of yam (YA); dehulled brown bean (DBB), dehulled white bean (DWB); and corn flour (PA) that provided 1.6 g N/100 g of diet. Casein served as the reference protein. Rats fed combinations of PA, DBB, and DWB had increases in food intake, weight gain, N intake, digested and retained N, and liver N compared to those of the casein control group and the other test groups (P < 0.05). Supplementation of YA with DBB or DWB reduced weight gain, protein efficiency ratio (PER), N intake, digested and retained N, NPU and liver N values of the animals when compared with those fed the casein and the other diets containing YA. Combinations of DBB or DWB with PA appear to be the best mixtures as shown by food and N intakes, digested and retained N, liver N, and weight gain. These mixtures may possibly be economic sources of N for weaning children where these are staples in the diet.     

Nutritional quality of sunflower seed protein fraction extracted with isopropanol

This study investigated the nutritional effect of sunflower seed proteinfraction (SSPF) extracted with isopropanol on growth, plasma and tissuelipid profile, protein content and erythrocyte membrane lipid profile ofrats. Dehulled sunflower seeds were extracted with isopropanol at 50±1 ^°C resulting in a protein fraction (71.5%) with low residualchlorogenic acid (0.07%) and fiber (3.3%) contents. Rats fed thesunflower seed protein fraction had a similar body weight gain and foodefficiency ratios in comparison to those fed casein. Rats fed SSPF incontrast had a significantly higher growth and food efficiency ratio thanthe rats fed sunflower meal (SM), extracted with hexane. However,dietary proteins exerted a separate effect on plasma total cholesterol,low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein to highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C/HDL-C) ratio and triglyceridecontent. Sunflower seed protein fraction resulted in a significantdecrease in plasma cholesterol (p < 0.05) and LDL-cholesterol (p <0.02) levels compared to the casein fed rats. Membrane phospholipidprofile also showed a marked variation with the type of dietary protein.Rats fed SSPF and SM did not show much variation in plasma lipids, plasmaproteins, liver and brain lipids and membrane phospholipid concentrations.Protein content, liver and brain lipid profile of the groups fed SSPF andcasein were comparable, suggesting that the nutritional value of SSPF isbetter than SM and equivalent to that of casein.     

Effects of Untreated and Thermally Treated Lupin Protein on Plasma and Liver Lipids of Rats Fed a Hypercholesterolemic High Fat or High Carbohydrate Diet

Lupin protein is capable of reducing plasma lipids in hypercholesterolemic man and animals. Whether lipid-lowering properties of lupin protein will be influenced by thermal treatment or by other nutrients has not been elucidated. In a two-factorial study, rats were fed hypercholesterolemic diets based on high amounts of carbohydrates (HC) or fat (HF), which contained either (20.4% of energy) untreated or thermally treated lupin protein (steam: 120 °C, 30 min) or casein as control protein. Lupin protein lowered plasma lipid concentrations in rats fed the HF diet but not in those fed the HC diet (P < 0.05). Among rats fed the HF diet, plasma and VLDL triglyceride concentrations were lower in rats fed thermally treated (−46% and −44%, P < 0.05) and untreated lupin protein (−47% and −46%, P < 0.05) than in those fed casein; whereas liver triglycerides were reduced only in rats fed untreated lupin protein (P < 0.05). Compared to casein, untreated lupin protein had slightly stronger cholesterol-lowering effects in plasma, LDL and HDL (−34%, −37%, −35%; P < 0.05) than thermally treated lupin protein (−23%, −29%, −31%, P < 0.10). In conclusion, the lipid-lowering effect of lupin protein strongly depends on composition of the basal diet, and thermal treatment is accompanied by a slight reduction of its hypocholesterolemic properties.     

Growth rate,muscle protein composition,intestinal absorption of D-galactose and L-leucine and nitrogen balance in rats fed the raw legumeChamaecytisus proliferus L.

Growth rate, nitrogen balance, skeletal muscle nitrogen fractions and in vivo intestinal absorption of D-galactose (2 mM) and L-leucine (20 mM) have been measured in male growing rats (90–100 g initial body weight) fed 12% protein diets containing either casein (control) or the raw leafy legumeChamaecytisus proliferus L. (Western Canary Islands). As compared to control casein-fed rats, those fed the raw legume diet exhibited a significant reduction (P<0.01) in the rate of growth, nitrogen balance parameters, sarcoplasmic nitrogenous fraction of skeletal musculature and in vivo intestinal absorption of galactose and leucine; however, the non-protein nitrogenous fraction has been found significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of control animals, whereas the myofibrillar nitrogenous fraction remained unchanged. The possible nature of these findings is discussed.     

Long-term consumption of beef extended with soy protein by men,women and children: I. Study design,nutrient intakes,and serum zinc levels

The effect of long-term consumption, under practical conditions, of beef extended with soy protein on serum zinc levels of men, women and children was studied. Fifty-two families were randomly assigned to consume for 180 days 1 of 7 beef products: all beef, beef extended with either soy isolate, soy concentrate or soy flour (20% reconstituted soy product, 80% beef), or beef extended with each of the 3 soy products fortified with 60 mg Fe and 25 mg Zn/100g protein. The beef product was consumed by the subjects as their principal source of protein for 1 meal a day (children 1–8 yrs) or 1–2 meals a day (11 per week) for adult men and women. A control group consumed their usual self-selected diet. Diet records (4-day) of all foods and beverages consumed by the subjects were obtained pre-study and 63±7 and 126±7 days for calculation of nutrient intakes. No deleterious effects were found on the serum zinc levels when subjects consumed beef extended with soy protein for 180 days.Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.     

Effect of coprophagy on bioavailability of iron from plant foods fed to anemic rats

Effects of coprophagy and coprophagy preventing device on iron bioavailability were evaluated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, rats were fed diets with FeSO₄, spinach, bran cereal or cornmeal as the iron source. The rats in each diet group were fitted with collars, sham-collars or not fitted with collars (control). In Experiment 2, rats were fed diets with FeSo₄ or green peas as the iron source and were fitted with collars, tail cups, sham-collars or not fitted with any device (control). Preventing coprophagy reduced hemoglobin regeneration efficiency (HRE) of rats fed bran cereal, green peas, spinach or cornmeal diets by 26 (P<.05), 24(P<.05), 22(P<.05) and 11% (not significant), respectively. Preventing coprophagy in rats fed FeSO₄ diet did not significantly reduce HRE. Sham-collaring reduced (P<.05) HRE of rats fed the FeSO₄ diet by 12 and 13% but did not significantly affect HRE in rats fed food iron sources. It was more convenient and effective to prevent coprophagy with collars than with tail cups. Differences in bioavailability between food and FeSO₄ iron due to coprophagy may be explained based on two gastrointestinal nonheme iron pools, complexed and highly soluble.     

Protein and energy utilization of brown,undermilled and milled rices by preschool children

The protein and energy utilization of brown, undermilled and milled rices (variety IR32) were studied in 5–6 preschool children through diets in which 2/3 of N was from rice and 1/3 from casein or milk powder at 200 or 250 mg N/kg body weight. Brown rice was not significantly inferior to milled rice in terms of nitrogen absorption and retention by the children. Its energy and fat contents were, however, less utilized than those of milled rice. Children on the control casein or milk diets showed better apparent nitrogen absorption than those on the rice-based diets but nitrogen retention of all the diets was similar in all three experiments.     

Effects of Soybean Fortification on Protein Quality of Tortilla-Based Diets Produced from Regular and Quality Protein Maize

The physiological development of laboratory rats fed with a typical indigenous tortilla diet was studied for two generations. The experiment compared casein control diet and five different types of diets: (1) a diet of tortillas obtained from fresh masa (FM); (2) regular tortillas produced from enriched dry masa flour containing vitamins B₁, B₂, niacin, folic acid, and the microminerals iron and zinc (REDMF); (3) tortillas produced from enriched dry masa flour fortified with 6% defatted soybean meal (FEDMF); (4) tortillas produced from enriched quality protein maize flour (EQPM); and (5) and, tortillas produced from enriched quality protein maize flour fortified with 3% defatted soybean meal (FEQPM). The growth of rats fed FEDMF and FEQPM diets was significantly higher (P<0.05) in both generations than their counterparts fed EQPM, REDMF, or FM diet. Animals fed quality protein maize (QPM) tortilla had the highest protein digestibility, but the FEQPM and FEDMF diets had the highest biological value (BV), net protein utilization (NPU), and protein-digestibility-corrected EAA scores (PDCEAAS). The difference among treatments was more evident in the second-generation rats. The pregnancy rate, number of newborns/litter, litter weight, and newborn survival rate was also higher for rats fed FEDMF, EQPM, and FEQPM diets than their counterparts fed REDMF and FM.     

Influence of tryptophan supplementation of soy-based infant formulas on protein quality and on blood and brain tryptophan and brain serotonin in the rat model

A 2-wk feeding study with weanling rats was conducted to investigate theeffects of tryptophan supplementation of soy-based infant formulas on proteinquality and on the levels of blood and brain tryptophan and brain serotoninand 5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid), a metabolite of serotonin. Thepowder and liquid concentrate forms of soy-based infant formulas obtainedfrom four manufacturers were tested. The tryptophan contents of the testsoy-based formulas (10.0–12.3 mg/g protein) were considerably lower comparedto those of human milk (17–19 mg/g protein). The infant formulas were fedas the sole source of protein in diets containing 8% protein, 20% fat, 5%cellulose and adequate amounts of minerals and vitamins. In general, supplementation of the diets containing test formulas with graded levels ofL-tryptophan (0.1 or 0.2%) had no effect on protein quality indices basedon rat growth such as PER (protein efficiency ratio), NPR (net protein ratio)and relative NPR (RNPR), but resulted in significant (p<;0.05) increases inthe concentrations of tryptophan in the plasma and brain, and serotonin and5-HIAA in brain of rats. The increased concentrations of brain tryptophan and5-hydroxyindoles (serotonin + 5-HIAA) in rats fed tryptophan-supplementedformulas compared to those fed unsupplemented formulas support the need forfurther research to investigate the influence of tryptophan supplementationof soy-based infant formulas on tryptophan metabolites and their potentialrelated effects on sleep latency and neurobehavioral developments in infants.     

Organic and Genetically Modified Soybean Diets: Consequences in Growth and in Hematological Indicators of Aged Rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protein quality of organic and genetically modified soy by feeding specific diets to rats. Three groups of Wistar rats (n = 10) were used, and each group was named according to the food that they ate. There was an organic soy group (OG), a genetically modified soy group (GG), and a control group (CG). All animals received water and diet ad libitum for 455 days. At the end of this period, the weight of the GG group was the same as that of the OG, and both were higher than CG. Protein intake was similar for the OG and GG, which were significantly lower (p < 0.0005) than the CG. The growth rate (GR) of the rats, albumin levels, and total levels of serum protein were comparable for all groups. Hematocrit (p < 0.04) and hemoglobin (p < 0.03) for the OG and GG were less than the CG. Although the OG and GG demonstrated reduced hematocrit and hemoglobin, both types of soy were utilized in a way similar to casein. This result suggests that the protein quality of soy is parallel to the standard protein casein in terms of growth promotion but not hematological indicators.     

Growth,liver composition,and calcium balance of rats fed sorghum supplemented with two levels of beans

A 35-day experimental study consisting of 28-day growth and 7-day calcium (Ca) balance periods was conducted to assess the effects of fibre and N ratios on growth and Ca balance of rats. Growth and Ca balance of rats (45–80 g) fed mixtures of cooked (CS) and uncooked (RS) sorghum and dehulled (DB) and undehulled (UB) bean were studied. The diets contained 10% protein. Casein served as the control protein. The control group ate more food except for the group fed the CS:DU (60:40) diets (P<0.05) had higher values for all parameters tested than the test groups. There were increases in food and Ca intakes, fecal Ca, weight gain, protein efficiency ration (PER), liver weight and composition except for the low moisture value for the CS:DS (60:40) group when N ratios were changed from 80:20 to 60:40. These results appear to indicate that fiber and N ratio had significant effects on growth liver composition and calcium balance of the rats.     

Effect of feeding some plant foods as source of dietary fibre on biological utilisation of diet in rats

Isoproteinous diets containing 1% cholesterol and 10% fibre derived from plant foods namely,peepalbanti (Ficus religiosa),barbanti (Ficus bengalensis),gullar (Ficus glomerata),teent (Capparis decidua) andkhejri beans (Prsopsis cineria) or pure cellulose, were fed to rats for 40 days. Effect of incorporation of these whole plant parts on feed intake, weight gain, feed efficiency ratio (FER), dry matter digestibility (DMD) and true protein digestibility (TPD) in weanling rats was studied. Their inclusion did not affect the weight gain significantly whereas all other parameters were influenced to a varying extent. Foods rich in lignin had relatively lower FER, DMD and TPD whereas cellulose and pectin rich foods had higher DMD and TPD.     

Cassava-soy weaning food: Biological evaluation and effects on rat organs

Weaning food was formulated using a cassava product, `Tapioca' (TAP), supplemented with roasted – sproutedsoybeans (SS), with and without additional (10%)malted sorghum flour (MS). Biological evaluation wascarried out on the formulations using 4–5 week oldweanling albino rats, with Cerelac (a commercialmaize-milk weaning food) as the control diet. Therewere increases in growth rate of rats fed with boththe test and control diets. There were no significant(p > 0.05) differences between the test diets andcontrol diet in true digestibility values. Thebiological value (BV) and net protein utilization(NPU) values for the formulated diets were above therecommended minimum values. The weight of organs(small intestine, pancreas, liver and heart) of ratsfed TAP + SS and TAP + SS + MS based diets were nothigher than those of organs of rats fed Cerelac. Itwas concluded that cassava products could potentiallybe employed successfully in the preparation of weaningfoods of comparable quality to available commercialbrands.     

Growth,hormonal status and protein turnover in rats fed on a diet containing peas (Pisum sativum L.) as the source of protein

The inclusion of peas (Pisum sativum L.) as the source of protein in the diet of growing rats brings about a reduction in growth rate as well as the impairment in the liver, muscle and spleen weights as compared with casein fed controls. Also, a fall in plasma glucose, triglycerides and protein was observed in the legume fed animals, while no changes in cholesterol levels were found. Furthermore, the rats fed on the diet containing peas showed lower levels of plasma insulin, corticosterone, IGF-I and T₄ as compared with casein controls. Liver and muscle total protein (mg) and total DNA (mg) were markedly decreased in the legume fed animals, but DNA/g, protein/DNA and RNA/protein ratios were similar in both dietary groups. Likewise, liver and muscle fractional synthesis rates were similar in the casein and legume groups, while the whole body protein synthesis is assumed to be lower in the legume fed animals due to differences in body weights. It is concluded that animals fed on a diet containing peas (Pisum sativum L.) as the only source of protein showed less adverse effects than those found with other legumes such asVicia faba L. orPhaseolus vulgaris L., in which protein quality, antinutritional factors and nutrient availability could be involved.     

Certain functional properties of defatted pumpkin seed flour

Defatted pumpkin (C. pepo andC. maxima) seed flour has potential food uses because of its high protein content, 61.4±2.56%. The functional and electrophoretic properties of the defatted flour were investigated. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electrofocusing indicated 14 bands of water-soluble protein subunits with isoelectric points between 3.81–8.08 and apparent molecular weights between 19,200 and 97,000 daltons. Minimum nitrogen solubility was observed at pH values between 3.0–7.0 and exceeded 90% at pH above 9.0. Solubility was a function of ionic strength. It appeared that, even at the pH of minimum solubility, the pumpkin seed proteins could be dissolved up to high concentrations by increasing NaCl molarity. The viscosity of flour-water dispersion was affected by flour and salt concentrations, and temperature. The least gelation concentration was 8% (w/v) and the water and oil absorption 24.8±2.03 and 84.4±4.05 g/100 g respectively. Sorption isotherms, BET monolayer moisture and binding energy of sorption were also calculated. Both foam capacity and stability were pH dependent.     

Growth,blood chemistry and histology of rats fed zincsupplemented rapeseed protein concentrates

Two rapeseed protein concentrates (RPC) supplemented with zinc oxide were fed to male and female rats at two levels providing approximately half or all of the protein in a purified basal diet containing 20% protein (N×6.25). Control groups were given either a purified basal diet with casein or a laboratory chow diet. After 16 weeks, there were no significant (P<0.05) differences in body weight except the male rats fed the casein control diet had higher body weights than did other male rats. No significant differences were observed in organ weights including thyroids, hematology, bone marrow differential counts, serum glucose, urea nitrogen, total protein, albumin/globulin ratio, cholesterol, transaminases or alkaline phosphatase. The levels of serum vitamins A and E of females fed some of the RPC diets were less than in those fed the caseincontrol diet, but equal to those in females fed laboratory chow diet. Females fed either RPC or casein in the semi-purified diets, which contained zinc oxide, exhibited kidney calcification.Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, No. 112; Food Research Institute, No. 420.