New test method: Simulating in vitro what happens with proteins in vivo
Take protein - for instance, in the form of skimmed-milk powder - and put a pinch of it in a test tube. To determine how efficiently this dietary protein is converted into endogenous protein, follow the recipe described in the online science step-by-step in the laboratory. And voilą, the value of the protein, i.e. its benefit for humans, is revealed. An international team of scientists has successfully developed a harmonised method for the in vitro digestion of proteins. At the helm of the 15-nation research team are Ireland, Spain, and Switzerland, represented by Agroscope. Proteins, peptides and free amino acids are the three stages of protein digestion. After food is broken down into smaller pieces in the mouth by chewing, these digestive steps in both humans and pigs take place chiefly in the stomach and small intestine.
