Heating Has No Effect on the Net Protein Utilisation from Egg Whites in Rats

ScientificWorldJournal. 2017:2017:6817196. doi: 10.1155/2017/6817196. Epub 2017 Feb 26.

Abstract

Egg whites (EW) are a good source of protein; however, they are typically heated prior to consumption. Therefore, we investigated the effects of different heating conditions on the protein utilisation rate of EW. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 36, 198 ± 1 g) were divided into six groups and fed American Institute of Nutrition-76 chow containing unheated EW, soft-boiled EW, boiled EW, milk whey protein, soybean protein, or no protein over a 10-day period using pair-feeding. Urine and faeces were sampled daily beginning on day 5 to measure nitrogen content and the net protein utilisation (NPU) rate. The soybean protein group had a significantly lower level of food intake and was thus excluded from subsequent analyses. The NPU value was similar among the unheated, soft-boiled, and boiled EW groups (97.5 ± 0.4, 96.5 ± 0.1, and 96.5 ± 0.7, resp.). The EW group values were significantly higher than the whey group values (90.5 ± 1.0). These results show that EW serve as a good source of protein, irrespective of heating.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dietary Proteins / metabolism*
  • Egg White / chemistry*
  • Hot Temperature*
  • Male
  • Milk Proteins / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Soybean Proteins / metabolism
  • Whey Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Dietary Proteins
  • Milk Proteins
  • Soybean Proteins
  • Whey Proteins