Caracterização e avaliação da qualidade nutricional e biológica das proteínas do soro de leite

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutritional value and functional properties of several bovine whey proteins concentrate (WPC35 and WPC80), hydrolysate (WPH) and isolate (WPI), casein was used as control. Physicochemical (chemical composition, essential and non-essential aminoacids, minerals) and biological assays were performed to assess the biological quality of proteins and their metabolic responses. After determination of essential and non-essential amino acids, it was found that all protein sources meet the recommendations of FAO/WHO (2007), with the exception of WPC35, probably due to its reduced protein content. The determination of macro and microelements revealed that proteins from bovine milk can be considered not only a source of essential and non-essential amino acids, but also minerals (Ca, Mg and K). Iodine concentration was about one order of magnitude greater for whey proteins and sodium was found in large quantities in these proteins, which can reach 70% and 59% of DRIs, respectively. The biological assay allowed the monitoring of weight gain, food consumption, feed efficiency ratio (FER) and protein intake of animals, evaluate the quality and the metabolic response of protein sources, and the integrity of certain organs and the morphology of the small intestine animals. These studies revealed that all protein sources are of high nutritional value (except WPC35), but larger beneficial biological effects were observed for WPC80, WPH and WPI. Because of the bitter taste of WPH, microencapsulation was made by spray-drying, which significantly improved the taste of panel test (Triangular Test). Considering the presented results, it is concluded that the WPH offers favorable characteristics for use with ingredient in foods for special purposes and that the microencapsulation process yields a significant improvement in flavor, expanding the possibilities for development of foods purposes added hydrolysed proteins, such as infant formula. Some commercial formulations for infants were evaluated with respect to mineral content indicating that the amount of Ca, K and Zn found were considered out of standard of Brazilian law, while the Cu, Mn and Zn levels were very different from those described in label.