Nutritional Evaluation of Milk-, Plant-, and Insect-Based Protein Materials by Protein Digestibility Using the INFOGEST Digestion Method

The INFOGEST method is a valuable tool for understanding and monitoring food digestion as an alternative to in vivo assays. However, few studies have compared animal and alternative protein sources in terms of protein quality using the INFOGEST method. This study aimed to evaluate the protein quality of milk-, plant-, and insect-based protein materials by in vitro protein digestibility and in vitro digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS), following the INFOGEST method. Milk-based protein materials had the highest protein digestibility (86.1-90.8%), followed by soy (85.1%) and wheat (82.3%). These materials had significantly higher protein digestibility compared with zein (65.1%), cricket (63.6%), and mealworm (69.5%). Additionally, the mean values of in vitro DIAAS of milk-based protein materials (105.0-137.5) were higher than those of plant- and insect-based protein materials (1.9-91.0). Milk-based protein materials have higher protein quality than plant- and insect-based protein materials by the nutritional evaluation following the INFOGEST digestion method.