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。目前已有研究评估了这类作物对微量营养素营养状况的影响，但尚未有研究探讨其单独存在时的蛋白质品质，亦未涉及它们与其他食物组合后的蛋白质品质表现。据此，本研究针对拟开展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），探讨其对蛋白质品质、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，RCB）；2）稻米+蓬塔尔豆（Pontal bean，RPB）；3）稻米+考皮豆+南瓜（RCBP）；4）稻米+蓬塔尔豆+南瓜（RPBP）；5）稻米+考皮豆+甘薯（RCBS）；6）稻米+蓬塔尔豆+甘薯（RPBS）；7）酪蛋白（casein，阳性对照组）；8）无氮组（nitrogen free，阴性对照组）。各受试组均表现出优异的蛋白质品质，其中添加考皮豆的组别真消化率更高。添加蓬塔尔豆的组别相较酪蛋白组，血糖降幅更为显著。受试组的粪便脂质排泄量更高。拟生物强化的食物组合均具备优异的蛋白质品质，其中添加蓬塔尔豆的组合展现出降血糖功效。