Thinking Ahead - An ongoing conversation about soybeans and sustainability

Soybeans are higher in protein than other legumes. About 35 to 38 percent of the calories in soybeans are derived from protein, compared to 20 to 30 percent in most other beans.¹ The standard method for evaluating protein quality is called The Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS.) This is the official method used by the World Health Organization, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture to measure protein quality based on amino acid requirements in humans.^1,2 The PDCAAS method of determining protein quality takes the following parameters into consideration:

1. the food protein’s essential amino acid profile;
2. that the appropriate correction is made for digestibility;
3. and the food protein’s ability to supply the amino acid requirements for two- to five-year-olds (the stage in life with the greatest protein demand.)³

The PDCAAS’ values show that soy protein isolate and other common soy proteins achieve the maximum value of 1.0 and are considered a nutritionally complete protein, comparable to milk, meat and eggs.⁴

Soy protein is a high-quality protein that can help fulfill daily protein requirements for young children, adults and people with special diets, such as vegetarians or those with dairy sensitivities.  Has your company found innovative ways to add soy protein to your products to enhance its protein quality? Click below to discuss.

¹ http://www.soyconnection.com/health_nutrition/technical_info/protein_content.php

²http://www.solae.com/Soy-Nutrition-Health/Soy-Health-Benefits/Soy-Protein.aspx

³Reeds P, Schaafsma G, Tome D, Young V (2000). Criteria and significance of dietary protein sources in humans; summary of the workshop with recommendations. J Nutr, 130:1874S-6S. (Per http://www.solae.com/Soy-Nutrition-Health/Soy-Health-Benefits/Soy-Protein/References-for-Soy-A-Complete-Protein.aspx)

⁴FAO/WHO (1991). Protein Quality Evaluation; FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 51, Rome, Italy. (Per http://www.solae.com/Soy-Nutrition-Health/Soy-Health-Benefits/Soy-Protein/References-for-Soy-A-Complete-Protein.aspx)