Start Date
2015
End Date
2017
Principal Investigator
Rotimi Aluko University of Manitoba
MPSG Financial Support
$91,300
External Funding
Total Project Funding
$91,300
Research Objectives
Optimize the production of indigestible proteins from Manitoba-grown pulse seeds using various food processing methods.
Isolate and determine the structural properties of indigestible proteins that maximize cholesterol binding.
Determine in vitro cholesterol-binding ability of isolated indigestible proteins.
Determine actual blood cholesterol-reducing effect and resistance to colon degradation of the isolated digestion resistant proteins using a rat model
The increasing rate of cardiovascular diseases is due in part to high blood cholesterol levels, which enhance atherosclerotic plaque formation and subsequent blood flow impediment. Some plant proteins, especially those present in legume seeds are resistant to digestion within the gastrointestinal tract and have cholesterol-binding potentials. Such protein products are suitable to formulate blood cholesterol-reducing functional foods and nutraceuticals. The overall goal of the project is to isolate cholesterol-binding proteins from various Manitoba-grown legume seeds and then determine their efficacy using in vitro and in vivo tests.
