Amino acid contents of infant foods.
The protein quality of three milk-cereal-based infant foods (paps) was evaluated by determining their amino acid contents and calculating the amino acid score. Proteins were subjected to acid hydrolysis, prior to which cysteine and methionine were oxidized with performic acid. Amino acids were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection with a prior derivatization with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate. Tryptophan was determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection after basic hydrolysis. Glutamic acid, proline and leucine were the most abundant amino acids, whereas tryptophan and cysteine had the lowest contents. Tryptophan was the limiting amino acid in the analyzed infant foods. A pap serving (250 ml) contributes significantly to fulfillment of the recommended dietary allowances of essential and semi-essential amino acids for infants (7-12 months old) and young children (1-3 years old).
Bosch
Lourdes
L
Nutrition and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
Alegría
Amparo
A
Farré
Rosaura
R
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003545:Cysteine / Q000032:analysis; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007930:Leucine / Q000032:analysis; D011392:Proline / Q000032:analysis; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000032:analysis
D000596:Amino Acids; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan; D011392:Proline; D007930:Leucine; D003545:Cysteine