Amino acids release from enriched bread with edible insect or pea protein during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the amino acid (AA) release from breads enrichment with edible insects, Alphitobius diaperinus and Tenebrio molitor or pea protein during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Bread was enriched at 5 and 10% with insect flour or pea protein. Enriched and control breads were subjected to standardised static in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The free AAs of breads before and after each phase of digestion (gastric, intestinal and at the end of digestion) were determined by HPLC. During digestion, the highest AA release from breads occurred in the intestinal phase. Using pea protein, Alphitobius diaperinus, and Tenebrio molitor powder at any level assayed presented a significantly higher value of total free AA than the control, accessible for body absorption. There is an effect of enrichment ingredient concentration (10 > 5%) in bread on total AA release after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Higher protein enrichment induced higher realease of AA during the digestion.