According to studies recently performed by French researchers, rapeseed protein (from Brassica napus), might have potential nutritional value in foods for people. Currently, rapeseed protein is used primarily in animal feed. The results of this research were published in the March 2007 issue of The Journal of Nutrition (see http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/137/3/594).
The researchers investigated the nutritional quality of rapeseed by measuring its digestibility and protein utilization in humans. Subjects ate a mixed meal containing 27.3 grams of rapeseed protein, and the scientists then analyzed the results.
Analysis showed that despite the fact that rapeseed protein had a low digestibility compared to other plant proteins, it has a high biological value for humans—as high as milk protein, as noted by the researchers. Therefore, they concluded that rapeseed protein has high nutritional potential for human nutrition.
