[Nutritional quality of the protein of the false lentil (Vicia sativa ssp. abovata (Ser) Gaudin].

The common vetch (Vicia sativa) is a legume that grows spontaneously in the central zone of Chile. It is consumed by the rural population, as lentil, and frequently it is utilized in animal feeding. The objective of the present work was to study the biological quality of its protein and protein digestibility, as well as its dietary fiber pattern. The samples studied were provided by the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), where in its chemical composition, dietary fiber, biological protein quality (PER) and apparent and true protein digestibility, were determined. Results showed a high protein concentration (23.5%), higher than (in the legumes commonly consumed. Total dietary fiber and its fractions, insoluble and soluble fiber, attained values of 14.2%, 13.2% and 1.0% respectively. The PER in the raw material was 1.30 +/- 0.44 and 1.32 +/- 0.37 in the cooked one; supplementation with 0.15% DL-methionine caused a rise to 2.43 +/- 0.32, the casein value being 3.02 +/- 0.36. True digestibility was 76.2 +/- 2.0 in the raw material, and 73.8 +/- 2.2 in the cooked one. These findings suggest that common vetch has no termolabile toxics, which are normally present in legumes. However, the literature mentions that it contains a neurotoxic, the B-ciano-L-alanine. The present study suggests that common vetch is a promisory food resource; thus, it is highly desirable that studies be undertaken oriented to determine the toxicity in this food.