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Session: Building Blocks of Life: Protein and Amino Acids in Early Development (Focus on Early Career Investigators) (Poster Theater Flash Session 3)

(PTFS03-02-24) Protein Quality of Plant-Based Protein Sources During Pregnancy Are Comparable When Methionine Is First Limiting

Sunday, June 30, 2024
8:04 AM – 8:08 AM CT
Location:  W185A-C
DJPJ

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Kerri Scherbinsky, BSc (she/her/hers)

    PhD Candidate
    University of British Columbia
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MB

    Melissa Braschel

    BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, British Columbia, Canada

  • GC

    Glenda Courtney-Martin, RD

    The Hospital for Sick Children
    Toronto, British Columbia, Canada

  • Rajavel Elango, PhD

    Associate Professor, School of Population and Public Health, Department of Pediatrics
    University of British Columbia
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Objectives: We recently showed that methionine+cysteine requirements increase during late stages of pregnancy, compared to early stages. Methionine is the first limiting indispensable amino acid in legumes such as soybean and pea. With an increased popularity in vegan diets, it is important to investigate the quality of these proteins during pregnancy to ensure they have the ability to meet increased protein demands. The objective of this study was to compare the quality of two different plant-based protein sources (soy and pea) during late stages (31-40 wk) healthy human pregnancy.

Methods: Eight healthy, females (26-35 y) with singleton pregnancies were studied using the stable isotope-based indicator amino acid oxidation technique in a repeated measures design comparing plant-based protein isolates (soy and pea), to egg-patterned crystalline L-amino acids with methionine (positive control) and without methionine (negative control). A total of 20 study days were completed, n=5 per protein source. Test protein sources were provided in eight hourly, isonitrogenous and isocaloric meals on individual study days.

Breath samples were collected at baseline, and isotopic steady state of orally provided 1-13C-Phenylalanine on each study day.  The rate of 13CO2 release from L-[1-13C]-phenylalanine oxidation (F13CO2), an indicator of protein synthesis was compared using linear regression with generalized estimating equations and an exchangeable correlation matrix for repeated measures among participants.

Results: On average, F13CO2 (µmol·kg-1·day-1; mean ± SD) was 2.34 ± 0.32 for negative control, 2.36 ± 0.33 for positive control, 2.40 ± 0.30 for pea isolate and 2.43 ± 0.28 for soy isolate and were non-significant (P >0.05).

Conclusions: Protein quality of the tested protein sources were comparable during late stages of pregnancy, despite differences in methionine and cysteine content. These plant-based protein isolates appear to be able to meet protein synthesis demands during pregnancy.

Funding Sources: Canadian Institutes of Health Research