High Levels Of Plant Protein Research Articles

Terrestrial diet in prehistoric human groups from southern Poland based on human, faunal and botanical stable isotope evidence

We present stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of animal and human bones from south-eastern Poland, dated to the Neolithic and the Bronze Ages. The analyses are discussed against the background of archaeobotanical data from the studied sites from Miechów and Mozgawa. The mean values of δ13C and δ15N obtained from wheat grains from south-eastern Poland were used to model human palaeodiet. Our results show high levels of plant proteins in the diet, taking into account crop grain enriched in heavy nitrogen instead of the δ15N values for plants estimated from herbivore collagen. Dental abrasion analyses suggests the contribution of a highly abrasive food component in the diet (e.g. from plants). As the number of samples was limited and there were no statistically significant differences between chronological and gender groups, we conclude that despite some small differences in carbon isotopic composition between genders, Miechów site societies were egalitarian in this respect. Despite the presence of millet in the studied area in the Bronze Age no evidence of C4 plant consumption was noted in the δ13C of human and animal bones.

Dietary methionine supplementation improves the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) immune status following long-term feeding on fishmeal-free diets

Methionine is a limiting amino acid (AA) in fish diets, particularly in those containing high levels of plant protein (PP), and is key in the immune system. Accordingly, outcome on the fish immune mechanisms of methionine-deficient and methionine-supplemented diets within the context of 0 % fishmeal formulation, after a short and prolonged feeding period, was studied in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). For this, seabass juveniles were fed a (i) fishmeal-free diet, meeting AA requirements, but deficient in methionine (MET0·65); (ii) as control, the MET0·65 supplemented with l-methionine at 0·22 % of feed weight (CTRL); (iii) two diets, identical to MET0·65 but supplemented at 0·63 and 0·88 % of feed weight of l-methionine (MET1·25 and MET1·5, respectively); and (iv) a fishmeal-based diet (FM), as positive control. After 2 and 12 weeks of feeding, blood and plasma were sampled for leucocyte counting and humoral parameter assays and head-kidney collected for gene expression. After 2 weeks of feeding, a fishmeal-free diet supplemented with methionine led to changes in the expression of methionine- and leucocyte-related genes. A methionine immune-enhancer role was more evident after 12 weeks with an increased neutrophil percentage and a decreased expression of apoptotic genes, possibly indicating an enhancement of fish immunity by methionine dietary supplementation. Furthermore, even though CTRL and FM present similar methionine content, CTRL presented a reduced expression of several immune-related genes indicating that in a practical PP-based diet scenario, the requirement level of methionine for an optimal immune status could be higher.

Comparative analysis of plant-based high-protein ingredients and their impact on quality of high-protein bread

The orientation of consumers and industry towards plant-based foods on one hand and high-protein products on the other is persistently increasing. Bread, as a staple food, is a promising matrix for the incorporation of plant-based high-protein ingredients to combine both trends. This study aims to provide a better understanding of techno-functional changes and impacts of plant-proteins during bread production, which could advance the development of high-quality products with high levels of plant-protein. A selection of high-protein ingredients from wheat, maize, potato, carob, pea, lupin and faba bean were subjected to compositional analysis and applied in wheat bread formulations, replacing 15% of wheat flour. Their impact on dough properties (gluten-aggregation, pasting behaviour, rheology) as well as bread quality (volume, crumb structure, crumb hardness) was analysed. The high-protein ingredients were found to affect gluten-aggregation, pasting and bread characteristics. Results indicated a weakened gluten-network in doughs containing potato and pea protein. Also pasting behaviour was mostly affected by the potato protein suggesting a heat induced improvement of its baking performance. Good bread quality, represented by high specific volumes and low crumb hardness, was observed for gluten, zein and carob. Breads with pea, lupin and faba bean showed only slightly inferior quality characteristics.

Taurocholate supplementation attenuates the changes in growth performance, feed utilization, lipid digestion, liver abnormality and sterol metabolism in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) fed high level of plant protein

Inclusion of plant ingredients in carnivorous fish feeds is often associated with decreased lipid digestibility, reduced bile acid levels and hypocholesterolaemia, which may result in lower growth performance and feed utilization. The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of dietary taurocholate supplementation in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) fed high levels of plant protein and gaining further insight into how cholesterol and bile acid metabolism is modulated by taurocholate. A 56day feeding trial was conducted using juvenile turbot (initial weight 8.5g) fed one of three isonitrogenous and isolipid diets: a fish meal diet (FM), a plant protein meal based diet (a mixture of 40% soybean meal and 16% wheat gluten meal, named as PP) and a taurocholate supplemented diet (0.5% supplemented in PP, named as C-tau). Compared with fish fed the FM diet, the fish fed the PP diet had significantly lower growth performance, feed utilization, hepatosomatic index (HSI) and more atrophied hepatocytes. PP diet also induced enteritis in the distal intestine. Lipid digestion and metabolism was depressed as indicated by decreased whole body lipid content, lipid digestibility, pancreatic lipase activity and cholesterol and total bile acids (TBA) levels. Except the distal intestinal histology, all these tested parameters of fish fed the C-tau diet were significantly higher than those of fish fed the PP diet. Furthermore, the HSI, whole body lipid content, lipid digestibility and TBA levels of C-tau fed fish were similar to those of FM fed fish. Regardless of taurocholate, dietary plant protein could significantly increase the expression of HMG-CoA reductase (hmgcr) and decrease the hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (cyp7a1). Compared with the fish fed PP diet, taurocholate supplementation significantly increased the expression of cyp7a1, but had no effect on hmgcr expression. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with taurocholate attenuated the plant protein meal induced negative effects on growth performance, feed utilization and lipid digestion and metabolism. In addition, the cholesterol and TBA-increasing effects of taurocholate could possibly be attributed to an improved digestion and absorption of cholesterol and TBA synthesis due to the up-regulation of cyp7a1 expression. Statement of relevantDietary taurocholate is useful for fish meal sparing

Krill meal enhances performance of feed pellets through concentration-dependent prolongation of consumption by Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, is often grown on feed containing 30–40% soybean meal or other sources of plant protein because of its favorable cost and availability compared to marine animal protein. However, plant material is relatively less attractive and palatable to shrimp compared to animal material. Consequently, the current practice is to include some marine animal meal to enhance the attractability and palatability of feeds containing high levels of plant protein. Our study examined mechanisms underlying krill meal's effects on feed consumption by L. vannamei. The first step required behavioral experiments to quantify in a concentration-dependent manner the effect of krill meal on attractability and palatability of feed using assays of groups of animals. We showed that an aqueous extract of krill meal is highly attractive, causing shrimp to alert, move toward, probe, and grab an airstone releasing it in a concentration-dependent manner and at concentrations as low as 13.3μg/ml. We then showed that krill meal added to feed pellets (with a base diet of 30% soybean meal, 27% poultry protein concentrate, 34% wheat flour, and additional minor components) enhanced the palatability (i.e., consumption) of pellets in a concentration-dependent fashion, with 6% krill meal being significantly effective. The second step required performing two experiments to characterize the mechanisms underlying the enhanced performance of krill-containing pellets. The first experiment tested the hypothesis that krill meal-containing pellets are more attractive than control pellets. Our results did not support this hypothesis for trials simulating short (5-min) feeding trials but did for long (60-min) trials. The second experiment tested the hypothesis that krill meal enhances the shrimps' rate of feeding on pellets, by examining the behavior of individual shrimp in a palatability assay in which individual animals were fed single pellets sequentially until it stopped feeding (defined as not completely consuming a pellet within 60min). This experiment showed that krill meal did not significantly increase the rate of feeding on a pellet, but rather it increased in a concentration-dependent manner the number of pellets eaten and the total time spent eating before shrimp stopped eating. Taken together, our results support the idea that krill meal is a chemostimulant whose major effect when added to feed pellets is to increase the pellets' palatability by prolonging the feeding bout and thus the amount eaten, but not affecting how quickly a shrimp eats each pellet. Our results might have practical implications on the composition and presentation of pellets to cultured shrimp, and they also could be used as a baseline for the development of non-animal based chemostimulatory additives and for the aquaculture of other species of shrimp.Statement of relevancePotential impact on the formulation of pellet feed for shrimp.

Effects of crystalline amino acids, phytase and fish soluble supplements in improving nutritive values of high plant protein based diets for kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus

Abstract Plant proteins are the most important alternatives to fishmeal in shrimp diets. However, there is a general trend of reducing feed intake and shrimp performance with dietary inclusion of high levels of plant proteins. Supplementation of feed additives could overcome the negative effects of high plant protein based diet. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of different feed additives such as crystalline amino acids (CAA), phytase (PT) and fish soluble (FS) in enhancing the utilization of high levels of plant proteins in the diets of kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus . Six isocaloric diets (19 kJ g − 1 ) were formulated where diet 1 was 40% fishmeal based control diet (FM). Diets 2 to 6 were prepared as follows, by replacing 60% fishmeal protein with a plant protein blend (soybean meal and canola meal; 6:4) alone (PP); protein blend and 1.5% CAA (PAA); protein blend and 0.04% phytase (2000 FTU kg − 1 ) (PPT); protein blend and 10% FS (PFS); and protein blend and a mixture of CAA, phytase and FS (PMX) respectively. Triplicate groups of shrimp (1.75 ± 0.40 g; mean initial body weight ± SD) were stocked in 54–l rectangular tanks at a rate of 15 shrimp per tank. The tanks were maintained under natural light/dark regime in a flow-through sea water system. Shrimp were fed the respective test diets at a rate of 8–10% of the body weight daily for 56 days. At the end of the feeding trial, final body weight (g), weight gain (%) and specific growth rate (% day − 1 ) were significantly ( P − 1 ) and protein retention (%) were significantly decreased in PP and PPT groups. Whole body crude protein was significantly lowest in PP group and highest in PMX group. Protease activity (unit mg − 1 protein) in the digestive tract of shrimp was lowest in PP and PAA groups; and the values were comparable among the rest. Overall, the best results for most of the parameters were found in shrimp fed PMX diet. Based on the overall performance of shrimp, it can be concluded that CAA, PT and FS are effective supplements in high plant protein diets for juvenile kuruma shrimp. A mixture of these supplements in appropriate ratio could further reduce the fishmeal levels in shrimp diets.

The effect of supplementation with polysaccharides, nucleotides, acidifiers and Bacillus strains in fish meal and soy bean based diets on growth performance in juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

Abstract The investigation and application of a wide range of dietary supplements, such as probiotics, prebiotic and other additives, are increasingly popular in aquaculture research and practice. To date few studies have attempted to quantify the value of commercially available additives in improving growth performance of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and in compensating potential growth reduction resulting from high levels of plant protein (PP) in carnivorous fish diets. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of different active ingredients in diet additives on turbot. I) Five diets supplemented with (1) yeast b-glucan and mannan oligosaccharides (GM), (2) alginic acid from brown algal extracts (AC), (3) yeast nucleotides and RNA (NR), (4) potassium diformate (PDF) and (5) bacteria strains Bacillus subtilis and B. licheniformis (BS), containing fish meal (FM) as the only protein source, were fed to turbots (initial weight 48.8 g ± 5.2 g) over 112 days. II) Four diets supplemented with (1) GM, (2) AC, (3) NR and (4) BS, containing soy protein concentrate (SPC) and wheat gluten (WG) as a partial replacement of FM, were fed to turbots (initial weight 95.8 g ± 17.7 g) over 84 days. A non-supplemented FM diet (exp. I) and an FM- and PP-based diet (exp. II), respectively, were used as control diets. Diet additives did not promote additional weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), daily feed intake (DFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in turbot fed FM- or PP-based diets (p > 0.05) when compared to isocaloric control diets in both experiments. Growth of turbots fed the high FM content control diet (II) was significantly higher than all other treatments (p 0.05). Results indicate that reported benefits for specific diet additives cannot be assumed to function or applied across species boundaries and age classes. In addition, dietary additive application may not be economically valid for larger animals and/or animals not exposed to specific culture-related stressors. The benefits of popular additives to high value species such as S. maximus remains to be tested under specific immune or physical stress situations and at crucial larval and early juvenile stages.

Effects of plant-based diets on glucose and amino acid metabolism, leptin, ghrelin and GH-IGF system regulation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.)

To investigate effects on glucose and amino acid (AA) metabolism and neuroendocrine regulation of energy homoeostasis and GH-IGF system growth regulation, Atlantic salmon were fed high levels of plant protein (PP) and vegetable oil (VO) for 1 year and compared to fish fed intermediate levels or a control diet based on fish meal and fish oil. All plant-fed groups had reduced liver glucokinase mRNA and increased muscle glycogen compared to the control group. As digestible starch was highest in the control diet, the increased muscle glycogen might be related to other factors such as lower levels of lysine or higher levels of glucogenic AAs. There were minor effects on transcription of genes related to leptin, ghrelin and GH-IGF system. However, muscle growth hormone receptor was elevated in fish fed high PP, probably related to lipolytic action in these fish. Fish fed high levels of both PP and VO simultaneously had elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase and glucose and of pentose phosphate pathway enzymes. Furthermore, this group had elevated concentrations of some free AAs, especially proline. These results support interaction effects when both high levels of PP and VO are used together, which needs to be considered in the formulation of aquafeeds.

The Effect of Mannan Oligosaccharide Supplementation on Atlantic Salmon Smolts (Salmo salar L.) Fed Diets with High Levels of Plant Proteins

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) supplementation on Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) smolts (~ 47 g) reared in sea cages. The first treatment (control) consisted of fish fed the basal diet and the second treatment (MOS) fish were fed the same basal diet supplemented with 0.4% MOS. In the basal diet, 51.8% of the diet protein was derived from fish meal and 48.2% from vegetable protein (e.g. soy and wheat). After 14 weeks feeding on the experimental diets the results demonstrated that MOS supplementation did not affect growth performance, however, body protein composition was significantly increased. Additionally, liver histochemistry revealed that glycogen deposition in liver tissue increased from 1.80 ± 0.73 AU in the control fed fish to 2.58 ± 0.91 AU in the MOS fed fish. Histology of the anterior intestine demonstrated that MOS supplementation produced a significantly higher absorptive surface of 4.63 ± 0.62 AU compared to the control fed fish of 3.65 ±0.49 AU. The microvilli density was also significantly higher in the anterior intestine in the MOS fed fish,12.02 ± 5.95 AU, when compared to the control fed fish 5.90 ± 1.53 AU. Similar results for the absorptive area and microvilli density were observed in the posterior intestinal region.Microvilli length increased in the posterior intestine from 1.10 ± 0.18 μm in the control group to 1.41 ± 0.19 μm in the MOS fed fish. Furthermore, counts of sea lice attached to fish and total number of fish infected by sea lice were significantly lower in the MOS fed fish. The present study shows that 0.4% MOS supplementation was able to improve intestinal morphology, increase carcass protein content and glycogen deposition in the liver.

Do formulated feeds for juvenile Panulirus ornatus lobsters require dietary cholesterol supplementation?

Mortality rates of wild spiny lobster seed Panulirus ornatus are typically high, with losses of 40–60% occurring within 30 days of capture. Mortality appears symptomatic of a micro-nutrient deficiency or captivity related stressors. Cholesterol is a micro-nutrient essential for healthy ecdysis, growth and survival in crustaceans. This paper reports a 7-week study examining the growth, survival and tissue cholesterol responses of juvenile P. ornatus lobsters fed a low cholesterol basal diet that was serially supplemented with cholesterol at 0.75 g kg − 1 increments from 1.25 to 4.25 g kg − 1 dry matter (DM). The basal diet contained 45 g kg − 1 phospholipid (from natural ingredients and supplemented soybean lecithin) and this was fed to all lobsters for 2 weeks prior to commencement of the experiment to reduce cholesterol reserves in the lobsters. A sixth diet comprising equal amounts of green-lipped mussel ( Perna canaliculus) and whiting fillet ( Silago ciliate) was included in the treatment array as a reference diet. One hundred and fifty lobsters were blocked by initial weight into five groups and then from within these groups they were equally distributed to 30 tanks (n = 5 tanks per treatment). There was no significant difference in survival, daily growth coefficient or tissue dry matter cholesterol content between lobsters fed the lowest and highest cholesterol diets: 55%, 349%, 243 mg 100 g − 1 and 70%, 456%, 253 mg 100 g − 1 respectively. However, there was a trend (P = 0.065) for lobster percentage weight gain to increase linearly with dietary cholesterol. There was a significant relationship between the starting weight of the lobsters and subsequent survival, with only 43% of the smallest lobsters (0.2 to 0.5 g block) surviving compared to 90% for the largest lobsters (2.71 to 3.40 g block). No specific dietary cholesterol requirement for small P. ornatus was determined. Feeds which contain practical marine proteins require no supplementary cholesterol, a significant cost saving in feed formulation. Feeds which contain high levels of plant proteins may require supplementary cholesterol to provide at least 4.0 g kg − 1 DM dietary cholesterol.

The inclusion of plant protein in cod diets, its effects on macronutrient digestibility, gut and liver histology and heat shock protein transcription

This paper reports on the use of plant protein in cod diets, and where corn gluten meal, soybean meal, a mixture of these, or a mixture of wheat gluten meal and soy protein concentrate, substituted fish meal in a regression design up to 440 g kg−1 plant ingredients. Feeding lasted for a period of 20 weeks. High growth rates were obtained, and fish were able to maintain growth in all groups by increasing feed intake when plant proteins exerted high amounts of the protein fraction. This was confirmed by increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) values. The apparent digestibility measured by means of faecal stripping, showed high apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) for fat, starch and protein. Small decreases in protein ADC and larger decreases in fat ADC were observed with high levels of plant protein ingredients. No histopathological changes were found, neither in liver nor in the different sections of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, for any of the diet groups. Expression of stress genes (heat shock protein 70 and 90 (HSP70 and HSP90)) in liver showed no response to high levels of plant protein. Invasion of gut-bacteria in the distal part of the GI tract was substantial, but independent of diet level of plant ingredients. Gut evacuation analysis showed that the time for a meal to pass through the stomach and the GI tract was more than 72 h, with no variation dependent on diet plant protein level. The major conclusion is that cod shows a high tolerance to the plant protein sources investigated in this experiment, and consequently that Atlantic cod safely can be fed diets holding up to 440 g kg−1 of the present investigated plant protein ingredients without any adverse effects on intestinal or liver function. There seems to be no gain if feeding frequency exceeds more than one large meal every 24 h at 6–7°C.

Performance of Sunshine Bass Fed Soybean-Meal-Based Diets Supplemented with Different Methionine Compounds

Abstract Practical diets that contain high levels of plant proteins often require supplementation with methionine to satisfy the total sulfur amino acid requirements of animals. The present study was designed to evaluate L-methionine, DL-methionine, N-acetyl-DL-methionine (acetylmethionine), and DL-methionine hydroxy analog (MHA) as supplements in soybean-meal-based diets for sunshine bass, the hybrid of white bass Morone chrysops ♀ × striped bass M. saxatilis ♂. Five practical diets were formulated to contain crude protein at 40% of dry weight, with 75% of the protein provided by soybean meal and 25% provided by menhaden fish meal. The basal diet provided total sulfur amino acids from intact protein at approximately 1.0% of dry diet, and the test diets were supplemented with each of the methionine compounds at 0.3% dry weight on an equal-sulfur basis (except for an additional 25% for MHA). A control diet was formulated to contain 40% crude protein exclusively from menhaden fish meal. All experimental die...

Effects of Dietary Energy: Protein Ratio and Stocking Density on Growth and Survival of the Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentinal1

AbstractAlthough the common snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina is cultured commercially in the United States, little information is available on nutritional and culture requirements. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary energy: protein ratio and stocking density on survival, growth, feed consumption, feed conversion, liposomatic index, dress‐out percentage, and productive protein value of cultured, common snapping turtles. Hatchling turtles were stocked at 29 and 58 animals/m2 and fed one of seven prepared diets. Six diets contained 30, 35, or 40% protein at two digestible energy (DE) levels (7 or 9 kcal DE/g protein); the seventh was a reference diet (66% protein and 5 kcal DE/g protein) formulated to equal or exceed the whole‐body essential amino acid composition of wild, common snapping turtles. Turtles stocked at 58/m2 exhibited greater mortality, lower weight gain, higher feed consumption, less‐efficient feed conversion, lower liposomatic index, and lower productive protein value than turtles stocked at 29/m2 (P < 0.05). The reference diet produced the greatest weight gain (P < 0.001). The superior performance of turtles fed the reference diet suggests that: 1) the protein (amino acid) content and/or energy: protein ratio of the reference diet was superior to that of the other diets tested; 2) improvements in growth parameters can be made with dietary manipulation; and 3) high levels of plant protein can be used in prepared, snapping turtle diets.