Bioaccessible Iron and Zinc in Native and Fortified Enzyme Hydrolyzed Casein and Soya Protein Matrices

ABSTRACT

Casein and soybean are superior quality proteins; however, these are known to inhibit mineral absorption. These investigations were aimed at enzymatic modification of these proteins and to study their effect on mineral bioaccessibility. Casein and soybean proteins were hydrolyzed with alcalase and trypsin individually under optimum conditions. The protein hydrolysates, prepared with different degrees of hydrolysis, were freeze dried, fortified with either iron or zinc and analyzed for bioaccessible minerals in vitro. Proteolytic hydrolysis enhanced the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc in proportion to the degree of hydrolysis. Tryptic hydrolysis enhanced the bioaccessible iron from 1–4% in casein and from 1.3–3.3% in soybean. Alcalase hydrolysis showed a comparatively higher enhancement with both the proteins. Tryptic hydrolysis enhanced zinc bioaccessibity by 3-fold in casein and alcalase hydrolysis enhanced by 2- to 2.5-fold. In soybean, dephytinization showed a synergistic effect. In conclusion, enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins looks promising for enhancing bioaccessibility of minerals in protein matrices.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcalase hydrolysate
• trypsin hydrolysate
• soya
• casein
• iron bioaccessibility
• zinc bioaccessibility

Funding

The authors are thankful for the Planning Commission of India, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for providing financial assistance for the work done.