title: Rat bioassay of the protein nutritional quality of soy-fortified sorghum biscuits for supplementary feeding of school-age children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) remains a major deficiency disease among children in developing countries. The protein nutritional quality of soy-fortified sorghum biscuits was evaluated with respect to their potential as a protein-rich supplementary food. Three isonitrogenous diets based on 50:50 ratio decorticated sorghum:defatted soy flour biscuits, 100% sorghum biscuits, casein, and a protein-free diet were fed to male Sprague Dawley weanling rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Protein efficiency ratio (PER) for the sorghum-soy biscuit diet was equivalent to the reference casein diet, and zero for the 100% sorghum diet. Faecal bulk for 100% sorghum diet was 1.5 times higher than sorghum-soy and casein diets. True protein digestibility of the three diets was high-88-95%-agreeing with previous rat studies with sorghum. Biological value and net protein utilization of the sorghum-soy biscuit diet were similar to the casein diet, but lower than the 100% sorghum biscuit diet
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Notwithstanding limitations of rat bioassay for assessing sorghum food protein quality, the high PER of defatted soy flour-fortified sorghum biscuits (sorghum:soy 50:50 ratio) indicates they have considerable potential as a supplementary food to young children to alleviate PEM.
authors: Department of Food Science, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa.
authors: Charlotte A
authors: CA
authors: Serrem
authors: Henriëtte L
authors: HL
authors: de Kock
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Oelofse
authors: John R N
authors: JR
authors: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001939:Bread; D002364:Caseins / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003672:Defecation; D003906:Developing Countries; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004063:Digestion; D005243:Feces; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009753:Nutritive Value; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D045868:Sorghum; D030262:Soybean Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D030262:Soybean Proteins