Investigation of the nutritional quality of raw and processed Canadian faba bean (Vicia faba L.) flours in comparison to pea and soy using a human in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model

Faba bean is an ancient legume that is regaining interest due to its environmental and nutritional benefits. Very little is known on the protein quality of the new faba bean varieties. In this study, the digestibility and the Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score (DIAAS) of the protein quality of three Canadian faba bean varieties (Fabelle, Malik and Snowbird) were compared to pea and soy using the harmonized in vitro digestion procedure developed by the International Network of Excellence on the Fate of Food in the Gastrointestinal Tract (INFOGEST). The impact of boiling on the nutritional quality of faba bean flours was also ascertained. Protein content in faba bean (28.7–32.5%) was lower than defatted soy (56.6%) but higher than pea (24.2%). Total phenolics and phytate content were higher (p < 0.05) in faba bean (2.1–2.4 mg/g and 11.5–16.4 mg/g respectively) and soy (2.4 mg/g and 19.8 mg/g respectively) comparatively to pea (1.3 mg/g and 8.9 mg/g). Trypsin inhibitor activity was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in soy (15.4 mg/g) comparatively to pea (0.7 mg/g) and faba bean (0.8–1.1 mg/g). The digestibility of free amino acids of raw faba bean flours ranged from 31 to 39% while the digestibility of total amino acids ranged from 38 to 39%. The in vitro Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score (IV-DIAAS) of raw faba bean flours ranged from 13 to 16 (when calculated based on free amino acid digestibility) to 32–38 (when calculated based on total amino acid digestibility) and was in a similar range to pea (13–31) and soy (11–40). Boiling modified the protein electrophoretic profile and decreased trypsin inhibitor activity (30–86% reduction), while total phenolics and phytate content were unaffected. The IV-DIAAS significantly decreased in all boiled legumes, possibly due to an increased protein aggregation leading into a lower protein digestibility (18–32% reduction). After boiling, the nutritional quality of faba bean was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than soy, but higher than pea. Our results demonstrate that faba bean has a comparable protein quality than other legumes and could be used in similar food applications.