Table 4.
Amino acid content comparison (mg/g protein) among various edible protein sources including insects, beef, and fish (on dry weight, mg/g protein).
| Source | Lys * | His ** | Arg ** | Asp | Thr * | Ser | Glu | Pro | Gly | Ala | Met * | Cys | Val * | Ile * | Leu * | Phe * | Tyr ** | Trp * | AAS *** (%) | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zonocerus variegatus | 48.4 | 39.2 | 60.6 | 81.9 | 30.7 | 46.7 | 133.7 | 43.0 | 44.9 | 36.6 | 18.9 | 6.5 | 35.4 | 36.7 | 50.6 | 30.5 | 25.3 | - | 66.4 | [43] |
| Periplaneta americana L.a | 40.0 | 20.0 | 51.0 | - | 36.0 | 45.0 | 130 | 65.0 | 71.0 | 61.0 | 36.0 | 20.0 | 65.0 | 31.0 | 56.0 | 31.0 | 69.0 | 6.0 | 76.3 | [44] |
| Rhynchophoris phoenicis (larvae) | 45.0 | 38.9 | 79.2 | 30.6 | 39.0 | 156.0 | 50.1 | 47.2 | 52.5 | 19.7 | 20.2 | 35.0 | 39 | 54.2 | 47.5 | 29.0 | - | 71.9 | [45] | |
| Sciphophorus acupunctatus (larvae) | 53.5 | 14.7 | 44.0 | - | 40.4 | - | - | - | - | - | 20.2 | 26.7 | 62.0 | 48.2 | 78.2 | 46.1 | 63.5 | 8.1 | 83.4 | [46,47] |
| Ephydra hians (larvae) | 55.0 | 10.0 | - | 49.0 | - | - | - | - | - | 19.0 | - | 61.0 | 40.0 | 74.0 | 54.0 | 51.0 | 7.1 | 74.3 | [48] | |
| Hoplophorion monograma | 55.0 | 15.0 | - | 45.0 | - | - | - | - | - | 19.0 | - | 74.0 | 41.0 | 77.0 | 47.0 | 90.0 | 9.6 | 84.1 | [48] | |
| Atta mexicanah | 49.0 | 25.0 | - | 43.0 | - | - | - | - | - | 34.0 | - | 64.0 | 53.0 | 80.0 | 88.0 | 47.0 | 6.0 | 89.3 | [48] | |
| Liometopum apiculatumd | 58.0 | 29 | 50.0 | 42.0 | - | - | - | - | - | 18.0 | 14.0 | 60.0 | 49.0 | 76.0 | 39.0 | 68.0 | 8.0 | 88.0 | [48] | |
| Macrotermes bellicosus | 54.2 | 51.4 | 69.4 | 27.5 | - | - | - | - | - | 7.5 | 18.7 | 73.3 | 51.1 | 78.3 | 43.8 | 30.2 | 14.3 | 97.3 | [46] | |
| Bombyx mori (larvae) | 47.3 | 25.8 | 41.9 | - | 31.2 | 36.6 | 100.0 | 34.4 | 60.2 | 45.2 | 14.0 | 8.6 | 40.9 | 32.3 | 52.7 | 29.0 | 31.2 | 7.5 | 64.8 | [49] |
| Acheta domesticus (adults) | 53.7 | 23.4 | 61.0 | - | 36.1 | 49.8 | 104.9 | 56.1 | 50.7 | 87.8 | 14.6 | 8.3 | 52.2 | 45.9 | 100.0 | 31.7 | 48.8 | 6.3 | 78.2 | [49] |
| Boopedon flaviventrish | 55.0 | 24.0 | - | 44.0 | - | - | - | - | - | 18.0 | - | 57.0 | 47.0 | 88.0 | 41.0 | 74.0 | 6.0 | 83.1 | ||
| Fish (Clarias anguillaris) | 50.2 | 11.8 | 47.8 | 70.4 | 20.8 | 19.2 | 118 | 24.5 | 31.1 | 24.8 | 23.4 | 7.3 | 28.0 | 25.8 | 64.7 | 38.7 | 24.6 | - | - | [50] |
| Beef | 45 | 20 | 33 | 52 | 25 | 27 | 90 | 28 | 24 | 30 | 16 | 5.9 | 20 | 16 | 42 | 24 | 22 | - | - | [51] |
* Denotes essential amino acids. ** Denotes semi-essential amino acids. *** Average Amino acid Score based on the egg’s amino acids as reference.