Protein content and amino acids profile of pseudocereals

MARIANA SANTOS; ANA SOFIA MATOS; CARLA MOTA ; NORMA SAMMAN; ISABEL CASTANHEIRA; RAUL MAURO; DUARTE TORRES

FOOD CHEMISTRY

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2016 vol. 193 p. 55 - 61

0308-8146

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)represent the main protein source in several diets, although these pseudocereals are not currently presentin the FCDB nutrient profile information. The aim of this work is to characterise the AA profile of thesepseudocereals and compare them with rice. Total protein content revealed to vary from 16.3 g/100 g (quinoaSalta) to 13.1 g/100 g (buckwheat) and lower values were found in rice samples (6.7 g/100 g). Forpseudocereals the most abundant essential AA was leucine. Quinoa-Salta evidences the highest leucinecontent (1013 mg/100 g) and the minor methionine content (199 mg/100 g). Buckwheat was the cerealwith the highest phenylalanine content (862 mg/100 g). Rice (Oryza sativa) presents the lowest contentfor all AA. Results showed pseudocereals as the best source of AA. EuroFIR guidelines where strictly followedand proved to be a crucial tool to guarantee data interchangeability and comparability.