Protein quality of selected edible animal and plant protein sources using rat bio-assay

Protein efficiency ratio (PER) and protein digestibility are important parameters used in protein quality determination. Protein nutritive values of selected protein sources: buffalo meat, casein, soy protein isolate, and tempeh, with sodium caseinate as a reference formulation, were evaluated. Determination of proximate analysis, protein quality and protein digestibility were monitored. Procedures for evaluation of protein quality and digestibility included PER using the rat bioassay and in vivo Apparent Protein Digestibility (APD). The rats fed with buffalo meat had the highest mean increase in body weight (102.73g±8.95) while rats fed with tempeh had the lowest mean for increase in body weight (16.34g±9.11). Although the mean for body weight gained showed significant differences between all treatments (P 0.05), there was no significant difference (P 0.05) found between casein and soy protein isolate for total food intake. For the PER value, buffalo meat had the highest value (2.99), followed by sodium caseinate (2.41), casein (1.93), soy protein isolate (1.52) and tempeh (1.10). The PER value for buffalo meat (2.99) was higher than sodium caseinate (2.41) while the rest of the treatment were comparatively lower than sodium caseinate. For the in vivo apparent protein digestibility, tempeh had the highest value (91.41%±3.76), followed by casein (91.34%±3.15), buffalo meat (90.79%±1.44), soy protein isolate (89.52%±2.96) and sodium caseinate (89.47%±2.31).