Metabolic Availability of Lysine From Millet in Adult Men

Protein is the key determinant of growth and bodily functions. The quality of food proteins depend on their amino acid content and the amount of amino acids used by the body to make proteins. Globally Cereal Grains (CG) provide 50% of the calories and protein in the diet and exceed 80% in poorer developing countries. In many of those countries, millet is the major cereal grain in the diet. The protein in millet is low in the essential amino acid lysine. Hence millet protein is of low quality. Low lysine affects protein synthesis in the body. Cooking methods also affect the lysine available from foods to the body.The protein can be complemented by the addition of lentils to augment the low lysine content. However, lentils are prohibitively expensive in some developing countries. As the human population increases, the world faces the continuous challenge of maximizing a limited food supply. Protein quality (PQ) evaluation of millet directly in humans would allow us to bridge the gap in knowledge between what is required and how best to provide.The information gathered from this project will provide the first direct experimental data on PQ of millet protein in humans on which nutrition recommendations can be built.