PHYSIOLOGICAL-EFFECTS OF A PEA PROTEIN ISOLATE IN GNOTOBIOTIC-RATS - COMPARISON WITH A SOYBEAN ISOLATE AND MEAT

Pea proteins have been considered for the introduction into the human diet only recently, This protein source was tested on nutritional and digestive parameters in heteroxenic male Fischer rats inoculated with a human faecal microflora from a methane producer. Compared to soybean proteins, pea proteins have similar effects on the rat's endogenous a nd bacterial digestive patterns, Compared to the pea proteins, a diet containing a standard meat meal enhanced the pH and the production of ammonia, while a lyophilized beef meat enhanced that of urea, The diet containing the standard meat decreases short-chain fatty acids and mo difies the ratio of caecal short-chain fatty acids, Both animal diets decreased the specific activities of pancreatic proteases such as chym otrypsin (EC 3.4.21.1), trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4), and carboxypeptidase A (EC 3.4.17.1) when compared to the diet containing the pea isolate. In conclusion, the whole composition of the diet, more Meat proteins tha n the origin of the dietary protein, influences the rat's Plant protei ns digestive pattern.