Digestibility of Fermotein™

Mycoprotein is a protein source derived from fungi produced for human consumption. It is high in protein, high in fiber, low in saturated fat and contains no cholesterol. Their functional properties and nutrient content make them ideal to use as an ingredient for meat alternatives. Fermotein™ is such a mycoprotein type novel food source. The digestion characteristics of Fermotein™ are not known, but essential to evaluate their future potential as a sustainable protein source. Also, information on the degree of digestibility would strengthen a novel food dossier that is being constructed for this product.

The primary objective is to assess the degree of digestibility of 3 different Fermotein™ products and compare this to a reference commercially available Mycoprotein (Quorn). Secondary objectives are to assess the effects on blood glucose and insulin levels.

The study has a randomized, cross-over, double blind, controlled design. Four different treatments, all representing a 20g protein load, will be evaluated with a washout period of minimum one week between the test days. On test days, research subjects will receive a product e.g. Fermotein™ dry, Fermotein™ wet, modified Fermotein™ wet and a reference Mycoprotein (Quorn), in the form of a porridge, in randomized order. Blood will be collected via a catheter before and up-to five hours after protein consumption. Wellbeing, health complaints or other adverse effects will be collected via short questionnaires during each test day. After each test day gastrointestinal complaints are collected via an online questionnaire.

Inclusion criteria

• Apparently healthy men and women;
• Age between 18 and 70 years;
• Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2 ;
• Having veins suitable for blood sampling via a catheter (judged by study nurse/ medical doctor).

Exclusion criteria

• Any metabolic, gastrointestinal, inflammatory or chronic disease (such as diabetes, anaemia, hepatitis, cardiovascular disease),or having a condition or disease that may lead to an impaired immune system
• History of gastrointestinal surgery or having (serious) gastrointestinal complaints;
• History of liver dysfunction (cirrhosis, hepatitis) or liver surgery;
• Kidney dysfunction (self-reported);
• Any use of medication that may suppress the immune system, this will be judged by the medical supervisor;
• Use of medication that may influence the study results, such as gastric acid inhibitors, laxatives, stomach protectors and drugs that can affect intestinal motility, this will be judged by the medical supervisor;
• Anaemia (Hb values <7.5 mmol/L for women and <8.5 mmol/L for men);
• Reported slimming, medically prescribed or other extreme diets;
• Not willing to give up blood donation during the study;
• Current smokers;
• Alcohol intake ≥4 glasses of alcoholic beverages per day;
• Pregnant, lactating or wishing to become pregnant in the period of the study (self-reported);
• Abuse of hard drugs;
• Having food allergies;
• Not having a general practitioner;
• Participation in another clinical trial at the same time;
• Being an employee of the department Food, Health & Consumer Research of Wageningen Food & Biobased Research.