Staple food crops from Brazilian Biofortification Program have high protein quality and hypoglycemic action in Wistar rats

Abstract Biofortified staple food crops have become an effective tool by which to address micronutrient deficiencies in many at-risk populations. The effect of these food crops on the micronutrient status has been evaluated, however there is no studies investigating their protein quality, neither by themselves or in a food combination. Thus, this study investigated the effect of combinations of beans and rice, target for biofortification, with high carotenoids content crops (sweet potato and pumpkin) on protein quality, intestinal function and glycemia. Eight groups were evaluated (n=6): 1) rice + Caupi bean (RCB); 2) rice + Pontal bean (RPB); 3) rice + Caupi bean + pumpkin (RCBP); 4) rice + Pontal bean + pumpkin (RPBP); 5) rice + Caupi bean + sweet potato (RCBS); 6) rice + Pontal bean + sweet potato (RPBS); 7) casein (positive control); and 8) nitrogen free (negative control). Tested groups showed high protein quality, and groups containing Caupi bean showed higher true digestibility. Groups containing Pontal bean had a greater reduction of blood glucose compared to casein. Tested groups showed higher fecal excretion of lipids. Combination of food target for biofortification showed high protein quality, and the combinations containing Pontal beans showed hypoglycemic effect.

摘要：生物强化主食作物已成为解决众多高危人群微量营养素缺乏问题的有效手段。尽管已有研究评估了这类作物对微量营养素营养状况的影响，但目前尚无相关研究探讨其自身或搭配食用时的蛋白质品质。因此，本研究针对拟进行生物强化的豆类与稻米组合，搭配高类胡萝卜素作物（甘薯与南瓜），探究其对蛋白质品质、肠道功能及血糖水平的影响。本研究共设置8组受试对象（每组n=6）：1）稻米+考皮豆（Caupi bean）组；2）稻米+蓬塔尔豆（Pontal bean）组；3）稻米+考皮豆+南瓜（RCBP）组；4）稻米+蓬塔尔豆+南瓜（RPBP）组；5）稻米+考皮豆+甘薯（RCBS）组；6）稻米+蓬塔尔豆+甘薯（RPBS）组；7）酪蛋白（casein）阳性对照组；8）无氮阴性对照组。各受试组均表现出优良的蛋白质品质，其中添加考皮豆的组别真消化率更高。相较于酪蛋白阳性对照组，添加蓬塔尔豆的组别血糖降幅更为显著。受试组的粪便脂质排泄量更高。拟进行生物强化的食物组合均表现出优良的蛋白质品质，其中添加蓬塔尔豆的组合具有降血糖功效。