Table 4.
Dietary protein quality evaluation using the nitrogen balance method in old rats after 6 weeks of diet.
| Diets | Casein | SMP | F-Pasta | L-Pasta | P-Pasta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FN/NI | 0.11 ± 0.01 c | 0.09 ± 0.01 c | 0.14 ± 0.01 b | 0.21 ± 0.02 a | 0.14 ± 0.01 b |
| UN/NI | 0.67 ± 0.06 a | 0.47 ± 0.04 b | 0.65 ± 0.05 a | 0.47 ± 0.04 b | 0.58 ± 0.05 ab |
| NB (g) | 0.43 ± 0.11 b | 0.79 ± 0.10 a | 0.42 ± 0.08 b | 0.68 ± 0.09 ab | 0.53 ± 0.09 ab |
| AD (%) | 88.83 ± 0.59 a | 91.26 ± 0.70 a | 86.15 ± 0.97 b | 79.19 ± 1.68 c | 86.13 ± 0.67 b |
| TD (%) | 97.61 ± 0.75 a | 98.67 ± 0.74 a | 92.85 ± 0.97 b | 85.44 ± 1.90 c | 93.02 ± 0.84 b |
| NPU (%) | 45.44 ± 5.62 b | 63.21 ± 4.15 a | 39.23 ± 4.24 b | 48.67 ± 4.72 b | 46.16 ± 5.27 b |
| BV (%) | 46.60 ± 5.69 b | 63.92 ± 3.90 a | 42.56 ± 4.99 b | 56.69 ± 4.94 ab | 49.72 ± 5.81 ab |
Results are given as means ± SEM. Means sharing the same letters i.e., a, b or c, within a line are not significantly different (p > 0.05). F-pasta = faba bean-enriched pasta; L-pasta = lentil-enriched pasta; P-pasta = split pea-enriched pasta; SMP = soluble milk proteins; NI = nitrogen intake; FN = fecal nitrogen; UN = urinary nitrogen; NB = nitrogen balance; AD = apparent digestibility; TD = true digestibility; NPU = net protein utilization; BV = biological value.