Protein Concentrate from Chickpea: Nutritive Value of a Protein Concentrate from Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Obtained by Ultrafiltration and Its Potential Use in an Infant Formula

A protein concentrate from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) obtained by ultrafiltration for special infant formulas was evaluated for nutritive value with and without methionine supplementation. An infant formula prepared with the concentrate was also evaluated. The Adjusted Protein Efficiency Ratio (A-PER) (official method) values, were 1.86 and 2.14 for the concentrate and concentrate plus methionine, respectively (p < 0.05). Relative Net Protein Ratio (R-NPR) values were 77.4% for the concentrate, and 81.3% of ANRC-casein for the supplemented concentrate. Apparent protein digestibility values were significantly higher concentrates with respect to raw chickpea (p < 0.05). An infant formula based on the concentrate had a R-NPR value of 83.6% that of ANRC-casein, compared to 81.3% in the concentrate, indicating no apparent change in protein quality during processing. The infant formula met Codex Alimentarius Commission Standards (FAO/WHO).