Tailored Peptides: A Key to Better Health
Nofima researchers have investigated which parts of chicken and Calanus finmarchicus by-products contain components that may offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition. The answer lies in peptides.
The process researchers use to transform by-products into health-promoting ingredients is called enzymatic protein hydrolysis. This method breaks down protein-rich by-products into smaller components. The result is a mixture of proteins, peptides, amino acids, and minerals, containing substances beneficial to our health. In the TailoTides project, researchers are working to identify precisely which parts of this mixture may have positive health effects.
“The smallest peptides can offer the greatest health benefits. We have identified peptides that may contribute to stable blood sugar or blood pressure, and peptides that strengthen muscles. These can be added to food or used as dietary supplements,” explains Sileshi Wubshet, Senior Researcher at Nofima and project leader for TailoTides.
Molecular Precision
To determine the chemical properties of various peptides, Sileshi and his colleagues compared peptides isolated from chicken and turkey bone by-products with synthetic molecules known to have the desired properties, finding them to be identical.
Among the molecules from chicken hydrolysate are various peptides with properties that can stabilise blood pressure and blood sugar. Peptides in Calanus finmarchicus also have diverse properties; while some show positive effect on muscle growth, others ensure steady blood sugar levels.
Tailored Hydrolysis Process
A key to success has been optimising the hydrolysis process – the method used to break down proteins into peptides. Through over 60 laboratory experiments on each raw material, researchers have found the ideal combination of hydrolysis time, temperature, and enzymes.
“We can now tailor the hydrolysis process and increase the yield of specific bioactive peptides,” says Sileshi Wubshet.
From Laboratory to Industry
Nofima is currently exploring possibilities for scale-up of the promising results from laboratory to pilot production.
“This research is very interesting for us. We see great potential in using hydrolysate from Bioco in products developed for healthy ageing, a healthy lifestyle, or in sports nutrition,” says Heidi Alvestrand, Head of Business Development at Norilia.
Future Prospects
Although the results are promising, there is still work to be done. Scaling up and further testing of health-promoting effects are necessary. Nevertheless, the research represents an exciting step towards more sustainable utilisation of by-products from food production for health-promoting ingredients.
About the Components in the Protein Part of Hydrolysate
- Peptides are short chains of amino acids. They can be bioactive, meaning they can activate processes in the body, such as stabilising blood sugar or strengthening muscles.
- Proteins: Larger molecules built from long chains of amino acids. They have complex structures and perform many important functions in the body.
- Amino acids: Building blocks for proteins and peptides. There are 20 different amino acids that the body uses.
- Minerals: Inorganic substances that the body needs in small amounts to function optimally. Examples include calcium, iron, and magnesium.
What is Hydrolysis?
Hydrolysis comes from the Latin words “hydro” (water) and “lysis” (splitting), meaning “splitting by water”. In food science, hydrolysis refers to a process where larger molecules are broken down into smaller units by adding water. Enzymatic hydrolysis, used in this research, is a form of hydrolysis where enzymes are used along with water to split proteins.
Enzymatic hydrolysis also occurs naturally in the human digestive system. For example, the digestive enzyme pepsin, found in gastric juice, can also be used in industrial hydrolysis processes.
In this project, researchers have fine-tuned the hydrolysis process by optimising the combination of enzymes, time, and temperature to maximise the proportion of bioactive peptides from hydrolysate of chicken and turkey by-products and Calanus finmarchicus.
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Highlights of enzymatic protein hydrolysis
Enzymatic protein hydrolysis can significantly increase the value and usage of residual biomass from the food industry.
Worth knowing
Enzymatic protein hydrolysis is the process of splitting proteins into smaller components using enzymes and water, making it possible to extract high-quality proteins which are otherwise difficult to obtain from sources such as fish, vegetables or chicken carcasses.
Residual biomass from food production is what remains after the main resources from the animal, fish or plant have been removed. In order to improve the utilization of the residual biomass and get a better price, new methods for processing, analyses and preparation of these raw materials are required.
With new technology and new methods, there is an enormous potential in utilizing residual raw materials from food production. One such new method is called enzymatic protein hydrolysis.
Glossary
But first, let’s discuss the chemical concepts of enzymatic protein hydrolysis in a kind of ascending order:
Enzymes
Enzymes are substances, mainly proteins, that are able to accelerate or initiate – catalyze in technical terms – the chemical processes in living organisms. Enzymes are made up of smaller constituents called amino acids, and accelerate the relevant chemical processes without being consumed.
Amino acids
Amino acids are organic molecules that serve as the building blocks in all living cells. Proteins are made up of 22 different amino acids that can be combined in countless ways and in different lengths.
Peptides
Peptides are a chain of amino acids that are bound together, and can consist of anything from two to several hundred amino acids. When peptides contain more than 50 amino acids, they are usually called proteins.
Proteins
Proteins are the most diverse group of chemical compounds in the body. The average adult contains around eleven kilograms of protein. They are the building blocks of the body, and it is therefore important to get a steady supply. Animal products such as fish, meat, milk and eggs are particularly good sources of high-quality protein, and legumes such as peas and beans are also a good source of protein.
Peptek
Peptide technology for the future’s protein production
With the use of modern, research-based process technology and expertise, unused or under utilized biomass of marine or terrestrial origin can be used for new, marketable products. We coordinate, develop and increase Nofima’s total expertise related to the future of sustainable protein production. Peptek is a strategic research initiative focused on sustainability, total utilization, food safety and future food security.
Enzymatic protein hydrolysis
Proteins can be extracted from residual biomass in a number of ways. One well-known method is boiling broth from bones. Other options include using acids or bases to break down and release the protein. When we opt to use enzymes to do this job, it’s because enzymes act as “scissors” that cut the proteins into smaller and more water-soluble peptides.
Different enzymes also have different “preferences” for where they want to make these cuts, so by choosing a particular enzyme for a particular task, it is – at least in principle – possible to tailor exactly what kind of peptides you want to make.
In an enzymatic hydrolysis process, the protein in the residual biomass is separated into different products, or “phases”:
Water phase
The water phase consists of proteins, peptides and water-soluble compounds. From the water phase, it is possible to make peptide concentrates (called protein hydrolysates) and extract antioxidants, water-soluble vitamins and other fine chemicals from the raw materials. These can be sold to various markets, such as the food industry, feed industry, health foods, cosmetics, manufacturing and medicine.
Fatty phase
The fatty phase consists of oils and fat-soluble compounds. Some of the fat-soluble compounds in the fatty phase are discarded, while others, such as fat-soluble vitamins, are valuable and can be used. Marine oils contain high-quality polyunsaturated fatty acids, and there is a huge market for such oils.
Solid phase
The solid phase consists of solids, such as bones and shells, which have not been dissolved or removed by the process. These solids can be used to make products such as bone meal, shell meal and the valuable components gelatin and collagen.
Valuable products
In addition to the high utility value of the fats and bone meal from this process, protein hydrolysates have many different possible uses, including as:
- Feed and pet food
- Protein enhancers in mince products, dry soups, baby foods, bread and more
- Flavour enhancers
- Sports and recovery drinks
- Bioactive ingredients in health food products / medicines
- Cosmetics
- Functional ingredients (gelatin) in food and other products
- Growth media for cells, bacteria and moulds for the production of new products
Biotep
In our flexible mini-factory high technology companies can test and optimize their processes to extract all desired components from marine- and plant-based biomass.
Facts About the Research
The research was conducted in the TailoTides project, funded by the Research Council of Norway. Nofima has led the project, which started in 2021 and concludes in 2024. Other partners include Norilia, Zooca (formerly Calanus), and Aquateam COWI AS.