Comparative study of phytic acid content,in-vitro protein digestibility and amino acid composition of different types of flat breads

Phytic acid content of eight different types of leavened and unleavened flat breads was determined. It was highest in unleavened and non-fermented whole wheat chapati and lowest in the leavened and fermented white wheat flat bread roghni nan. The effect of baking conditions, bread composition and phytic acid content on in-vitro digestibility of protein was measured using a pepsin multienzyme pH stat technique. The amino acids released were separated by ultrafiltration. The rate of protein digestibility of flat bread and amino acid released depended upon the type of flour used, baking conditions, phytic acid content and other antiproteolytic constituents of breads. Leavening and fermentation of breads resulted in an increase of protein digestibility and availability of amino acids. Addition of soya flour increases the protein digestibility of breads whereas millet flour decreases it.