Effect of the consumption of Andean crops quinoa, cañihua and tarwi on the weight increase and nitrogen retained in Wistar rats

Abstract

Los granos andinos constituyen una importante fuente de macronutrientes, vitaminas, minerales y especialmente de proteinas. El objetivo de la investigacion fue evaluar el efecto del consumo de cultivos andinos quinua ( Chenopodium quinoa Willd), canihua ( Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen) y tarwi ( Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) sobre la ganancia de peso y el nitrogeno retenido en ratas Wistar. Es un estudio experimental, con una muestra de 24 ratas Wistar destetadas machos, se les alimento con galletas durante 42 dias. Se formularon 3 dietas experimentales de galletas a base de harinas: 50% de quinua, canihua, tarwi complementada con 50% de harina de trigo y una dieta control de galleta de harina de trigo al 100 %. Se controlo el peso a partir de los 21 dias de edad para evaluar la ganancia de peso final y se sacrifico a los animales para determinar el nitrogeno retenido a traves de la prueba de Kjeldahl y adicionalmente calcular la utilizacion neta de proteinas. Se encontraron diferencias significativas (p<0.05) en la ganancia de peso entre las ratas alimentadas con las galletas de granos andinos (quinua, canihua y tarwi) en relacion al grupo control (trigo); se encontraron diferencias significativas en el contenido de nitrogeno retenido y en la utilizacion neta de proteinas entre las ratas (p<0.05). Se concluye que el contenido de proteinas y nutrientes de los granos andinos se complementan mejor con la harina de trigo y el consumo de galletas formuladas con estas mezclas podrian tener efecto positivo sobre la ganancia de peso, nitrogeno retenido y utilizacion neta de proteinas. Abstract Andean grains are an important source of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals and especially proteins. The objective of the research was to evaluate the effect of consumption of Andean quinoa crops (Chenopodium quinoa Willd), canihua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen) and tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) on weight gain and nitrogen retained in Wistar rats. It is an experimental study, with a sample of 24 weaned male Wistar rats, they were fed with biscuits for 42 days. Three experimental flour-based cookie diets were formulated: 50% quinoa, canihua, tarwi supplemented with 50% wheat flour and a control diet of 100% wheat flour biscuit. The weight was controlled from 21 days of age to evaluate the final weight gain and the animals were sacrificed to determine the nitrogen retained through the Kjeldahl test and additionally calculate the net utilization of proteins. Significant differences were found (p <0.05) in the weight gain between the rats fed Andean grain cookies (quinoa, canihua and tarwi) in relation to the control group (wheat); Significant differences were found in the content of retained nitrogen and net protein utilization among the rats (p <0.05). It is concluded that the protein and nutrient content of Andean grains are better complemented with wheat flour and the consumption of biscuits formulated with these mixtures could have a positive effect on weight gain, retained nitrogen and net protein utilization. Key words: Andean crops, weight, nitrogen retained, protein, Wistar rats.