Assessment of the Dietary and Biological Value of a Plant-based Milk Analogue from Fenugreek Seeds

Abstract

The biological and dietary value of the plant-based milk analogue from fenugreek seeds is investigated. The amino acid composition is determined by liquid-column ion exchange chromatography. The completion of protein is tested by its comparison with the amino acid composition of the reference protein, determined by the recommendations of the FAO/WHO expert committee. The amino acid score and the biological value is determined by the computation method. It is found that the plant-based milk analogue from fenugreek seeds contains a significant quantity of essential amino acids, with the largest share of leucine and valine. Glutamic acid, aspartic acid and arginine occupy the largest share among the non-essential amino acids in the plant-based milk analogue from fenugreek seeds. The biological value of proteins in the milk analogue from fenugreek seeds makes 96%, having the high compliance with the biological value of a soya drink (96.4%). This is positive, because soy is considered to be the closest in protein content and amino acid composition to traditional milk proteins. Therefore, the derived data confirm that fenugreek seeds are applicable as a plant-based source of protein for the expansion of the assortment of food products made of fenugreek seeds, both in the mass-scale consumption and for persons with special needs (in particular the patients with sugar diabetes and intolerance of milk protein).