Rape can substitute soy as a protein source

Nutritionists at the University of Jena publish study on rape as a source of protein for human consumption

Today worldwide via 500 million people suffer from protein deficiency. Serious diseases such as kwashiorkor may result. The protein supply is thus a limiting factor for adequate nutrition of the world population, which increases annually by about 80 million people. "More and more questionable therefore appears the practice to supply valuable vegetable protein to animals," says Prof. Dr. Gerhard Jahreis from the University of Jena. By feeding to animals and the conversion into animal protein lost about two-thirds of the protein, so the nutritionists. "Vegetable protein, however, can be used to 100 percent." Given decreasing amount of land for growing food cite a reduction in meat consumption probably no way around, Prof. Jahreis is convinced.

In addition, additional sources of protein would have to be made available for human consumption. Rapeseed plants could play an important role in this, according to the Jena nutritionist. Jahreis and his team have now examined the rapeseed plant as a whole for its potential for human nutrition. You carried out the world's first study on the utilization of rapeseed protein in humans, the results of which have been published in a renowned international journal (Clinical Nutrition) ( ).

“Every year, 80 million tons of rapeseed protein are harvested and fed exclusively to animals. We are very interested in developing this valuable source of protein directly for human nutrition," says Jahreis. The nutritionist adds that rapeseed oil has already gained a firm place in human nutrition as a valuable omega-3 oil. "We were able to determine that there are no differences in the bioavailability between the two protein sources soy and rapeseed." This means that the soy that is used in a variety of ways in the production of food and is mostly grown in South America can be completely replaced by domestic rapeseed protein or is also available as an equivalent protein protein source available.

For their study, the Jena nutritionists first obtained cold-pressed rapeseed oil under gentle conditions. In cooperation with a Canadian company, a protein isolate was extracted from the resulting pressing residue. The 28 study participants consumed the rapeseed and soy protein for comparison. After the protein meal, eight blood samples were taken from each study participant and blood amino acid overload was analyzed. The results were the same, so it makes no difference whether the proteins are ingested from soy or canola.

Prof. Jahreis says that the extraction process is a bit more complex than with soy, but companies in Germany that are able to isolate rapeseed protein are already in the starting blocks. However, legislation in Europe still prevents the use of rapeseed protein in human nutrition. It needs to be recognized as a “novel food” by the European Union. Ireland has already approved the deployment. The study results now available from the University of Jena represent an important step in the approval of rapeseed protein for human nutrition.

Original publication:

Manja Fleddermann, Anita Fechner, Andrea Rößler, Melanie Bähr, Anja Pastor, Frank Liebert, Gerhard Jahris (2013): Nutritional evaluation of rapeseed protein compared to soy protein for quality, plasma amino acids, and nitrogen balance - a randomized cross-over intervention study in humans. clinical nutrition,

Source: Jena [ Friedrich Schiller University ]