Postprandial amino acid availability after intake of intact or hydrolyzed meat protein in a mixed meal in healthy elderly subjects: a randomized, single blind crossover trial.

The absorption of dietary proteins affects the anabolic response, among others protein synthesis. For elderly, optimal amino acid absorption is warranted to preserve the amino acid pool of the body, especially skeletal muscle proteins. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize if hydrolyzing meat protein (HMP) would improve the amino acid absorption after ingestion of meat compared to equal amounts of the same meat proteins but present in a different structure; steak or minced meat. With a crossover study design on 12 healthy older adults (> 65 years of age, BMI 18.5-30), the amino acid absorption kinetics were explored by ingesting 0.55 g protein/kg LBM as a mixed meal together with intrinsically [2H5]phenylalanine labeled meat proteins prepared as a STEAK, MINCED meat, or HMP. Plasma [2H5]phenylalanine enrichment as well as AA concentrations were measured by mass spectrometry from blood samples drawn during a 5-h postprandial period. After HMP ingestion, [2H5]phenylalanine was faster absorbed in the initial 2 h compared to STEAK and MINCED. The peak time in AA concentrations was faster in HMP compared to STEAK and MINCED. However, the peak AA concentrations were not different between STEAK, MINCED, and HMP. Although HMP showed to have the fastest initial amino acid appearance in older adults, the peak EAA concentrations were similar after ingesting meal with either STEAK, MINCED, or HMP in the 5-h postprandial period.

Phenylalanine stable isotope tracer labeling of cow milk and meat and human experimental applications to study dietary protein-derived amino acid availability.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Availability of dietary protein-derived amino acids (AA) is an important determinant for their utilization in metabolism and for protein synthesis. Intrinsic labeling of protein is the only method to directly trace availability and utilization. The purpose of the present study was to produce labeled milk and meat proteins and investigate how dietary protein-derived AA availability is affected by the protein-meal matrix. METHODS: Four lactating cows were infused with L-[ring-d5]phenylalanine and one with L-[15N]phenylalanine for 72 h. Milk was collected, and three of the [d5]phenylalanine cows were subsequently slaughtered. Two human studies were performed to explore plasma AA availability properties utilizing the labeled proteins. One study compared the intake of whey protein either alone or together with carbohydrates-fat food-matrix. The other study compared the intake of meat hydrolysate with minced beef. Cow blood, milk, meat and human blood samples were collected and analyzed by mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Whey and caseinate acquired label to 15-20 mol percent excess (MPE), and the meat proteins reached 0.41-0.73 MPE. The [d5]phenylalanine appeared fast in plasma and peaked 30 min after whey protein alone and meat hydrolysate intake, whereas whey protein with a food-matrix and the meat minced beef postponed the [d5]phenylalanine peak until 2 and 1 h, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Phenylalanine stable isotope-labeled milk and meat were produced and proved a valuable tool to investigate AA absorption characteristics. Dietary protein in food-matrices showed delayed postprandial plasma AA availability as compared to whey protein alone and meat hydrolysate.

Exopeptidase treatment combined with Maillard reaction modification of protein hydrolysates derived from porcine muscle and plasma: Structure-taste relationship.

Reduction of bitter taste in protein hydrolysates is a challenging task. The aim of this study was to apply a simple two-step approach to prepare low bitter hydrolysates and investigate the influence of peptide modifications on taste characteristics. Protein hydrolysates were prepared from porcine muscle and plasma through simultaneous hydrolysis using endo- and exo-peptidases combined with peptide glycation by glucosamine (GlcN). Spectroscopic analysis and quantification of major alpha-dicarbonyl compounds (α-DCs) indicated the relatively low extent of Maillard reaction in GlcN-glycated protein hydrolysates. Thermal degradation of high MW peptides (>10 kDa) might play a major role in Maillard reaction, reflected by the formation of more Maillard reacted peptides (1-5 kDa), especially in plasma samples. Sensory evaluation indicated that glycation by GlcN can alter taste profiles of protein hydrolysates, which may be attributed to the formation of Maillard reacted peptides and peptide modifications revealed by LC-MS/MS analysis.

Human Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates after Intake of Hydrolyzed Porcine-Derived and Cows' Milk Whey Proteins-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract: Background: Whey protein has been shown to be one of the best proteins to stimulate muscle protein synthesis rate (MPS), but other high quality proteins, e.g., animal/porcine-derived, could have similar effects. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of hydrolyzed porcine proteins from blood (HPB) and muscle (HPM), in comparison to hydrolyzed whey protein (HW), on MPS after intake of 15 g alone or 30 g protein as part of a mixed meal. We hypothesized that the postprandial MPS would be similar for porcine proteins and whey protein. DESIGN: Eighteen men (mean ± SD age: 24 ± 1 year; BMI: 21.7 ± 0.4 kg/m2) participated in the randomized, double-blind, three-way cross-over study. Subjects consumed the three test products (HPB, HPM and HW) in a random order in two servings at each test day. Serving 1 consisted of a drink with 15 g protein and serving 2 of a drink with 30 g protein together with a mixed meal. A flood-primed continuous infusion of (ring-13C6) phenylalanine was performed and muscle biopsies, blood and urine samples were collected for determination of MPS, muscle free leucine, plasma amino acid concentrations and urea excretion. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between the MPS measured after consuming 15 g protein alone or 30 g with a mixed meal (p = 0.53) of HPB (0.048 ± 0.007 vs. 0.049 ± 0.008%/h, resp.), HPM (0.063 ± 0.011 vs. 0.062 ± 0.011 %/h, resp.) and HW (0.058 ± 0.007 vs. 0.071 ± 0.013%/h, resp.). However, the impact of protein type on MPS reached statistical tendency (HPB vs. HPM (p = 0.093) and HPB vs. HW (p = 0.067)) with no difference between HPM and HW (p = 0.88). Plasma leucine, branched-chain, essential and total amino acids were generally higher for HPB and HW than HPM (p < 0.01), which reflected their content in the proteins. Muscle-free leucine was higher for HPB than HW and HPM (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hydrolyzed porcine proteins from blood and muscle resulted in an MPS similar to that of HW, although with a trend for porcine blood proteins to be inferior to muscle proteins and whey. Consequently, these porcine-derived muscle proteins can be used similarly to whey protein to support maintenance of skeletal muscle as part of supplements and ingredients in foods.

Protein hydrolysates of porcine hemoglobin and blood: Peptide characteristics in relation to taste attributes and formation of volatile compounds.

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of endo- and exo-peptidase treatment on certain structural characteristics of peptides and volatile compounds of porcine hemoglobin and whole blood hydrolysates. Porcine hemoglobin and whole blood were hydrolyzed by endo- and exo-peptidases. The presence of exopeptidases reduced the bitterness and altered the volatile profiles of protein hydrolysates. Exopeptidase treatment can release terminal amino acids from peptides, which in turn may contribute to formation of volatile compounds by Maillard reactions. In contrast, endopeptidases conferred a slightly bitter taste and different volatile profiles. For hemoglobin hydrolysates, principal component analysis revealed that proteases were categorized into three groups based on endo- or exo-peptidase activity. Whole blood is a more complex raw material, yet the proteases were still categorized in a similar fashion. This work contributes to understanding structural characteristics responsible for taste and volatile profiles of protein hydrolysates.

Structural characteristics of low bitter and high umami protein hydrolysates prepared from bovine muscle and porcine plasma.

The aim of this study was to use different enzyme mixtures to investigate the influence of peptide characteristics and taste of protein hydrolysates from bovine muscle and porcine plasma. Minced beef and porcine plasma were hydrolysed using 10 food-grade enzymes, including Protease A, Protease P, ProteAX, Flavourzyme, Alcalase, Papain, Bromelain, Protamex, Neutrase and Sumizyme BNP-L. The relationship between degree of hydrolysis (DH), molecular weight (MW) distribution, enzyme specificity, and sensory characteristics of hydrolysates were investigated. The results demonstrated that Protease A, a mixture of endo- and exo-peptidases, was the optimal protease to generate hydrolysates with low bitterness. Endopeptidases (Papain and Bromelain) elicited bitter taste of protein hydrolysates. A positive correlation was suggested between umami taste and MW distribution (<0.5 kDa), while bitterness was positively correlated with MW distribution (0.5-1 kDa). Overall, hydrolysis with enzyme preparations containing endo- and exo-peptidases was effective to reduce bitterness of hydrolysates.

Development of Volatile Compounds during Hydrolysis of Porcine Hemoglobin with Papain.

There is a growing market for the use of hydrolysates from animal side-streams for production of high-protein supplements. However, there can be issues with development of off-flavors, either due to the raw material in question or due to the hydrolysis process itself. This study examined the development of volatile compounds during hydrolysis of hemoglobin. Briefly, porcine hemoglobin was hydrolyzed by 0.5% papain for up to 5 h, and the development of volatile compounds was analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that there was significant development of a number of volatile compounds with time, e.g., certain Maillard reaction and lipid oxidation products, which are likely candidates for the aroma development during hydrolysis. Furthermore, it was shown that development of a number of the volatiles was due to the hydrolysis process, as these compounds were not found in a control without enzyme.