Teff: Complete Amino Acid Profile

Teff ‐ Amino Acids List

Amino Acids Found in Teff

Teff is a nutritious ancient grain that has been used as a primary source of nutrition for hundreds of years throughout Ethiopia, India and other parts of the world. It is an incredibly versatile ingredient with various uses in baking, brewing beer and making fermentable products. Teff contains a diverse range of nutrients including protein, carbohydrates, fat, Vitamin A, B vitamins and essential minerals such as calcium, iron and magnesium. More specifically, the presence of important amino acids found in Teff further enhance its’ nutritional profile and make it an ideal alternative to traditional grains.

The amino acid content in Teff can vary significantly depending on the diet and environment surrounding it during growth. However, almost all forms of Teff have some amount of at least nine essential amino acids. These are collectively known as ‘essential’ because our bodies cannot produce them independently and must obtain them from food sources. Specifically, lysine, methionine+cystine, leucine, threonine, tryptophan, histidine, isoleucine and valine are all considered essential for human health. Lysine and Threonine are especially abundant in Teff compared to many other common cereal grains (1). This means of those present in Teff, lysine and threonine provide significant amounts of dietary proteins horses require, along with the other seven essential amino acids.

In addition to the essential amino acids, Teff also contains non-essential amino acids which are not always required by humans but play beneficial roles in bodily functions nonetheless. These include alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, serine, tyrosine and others. Together, these 12 additional non-essential amino acids help complete the full amino acid profile of Teff. Although the specific percentages may differ among teff cultivars, concentrations remain relatively consistent overall when comparing to most other cereals and grains.

Furthermore, several studies have heavily evaluated the nutritive value of Teff and concluded that it contains more than double the protein contents of conventional wheat breads (2). The high quality, easily digested proteins derived from Teff thanks to its high embryo/germ ratio are responsible for its superior biologic value - enhancing tissue maintenance and repair, contributing to lean body weight maintenance, improved muscle strength and reduced metabolic needs compared to other grains (3)

Overall, the varied collection of essential and non-essential amino acids found in Teff are largely responsible for why this ancient grain has become renowned by cultures spanning multiple continents and widely accepted as a form healthy sustenance. Ease of digestion, sustainable production methods, favorable nutrient composition coupled with the presence of essential building blocks like amino acids creates the perfect appetite-pleasing nutritional mix. All in all, considering the comprehensive amino acid content of Tef ensure that you get everything you need nutritionally while being simultaneously satisfying and delicious.

References

(1) Gebremedhin, K., Pestka, J., Yimoto, C., Gebremeskel, M., & Egli, I. (2009). Essential Amino Acids in Common Cereal Grains: Variability among Genera and Species and within Species. The Journal of nutrition, 139(6), 1181–1188. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.108.095115

(2) Ibikunle, O. (2013). Nutritive Value Of Teff In Comparison with Other Common Seed Ingredient Seeds Used As Raw Materials For Food Supplementation. British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, 6(7), 1361–1367. Retrieved from http://srcpublications.com/journals.php?eid=38&jid=18

(3) Broadwater, S., Byerley, L., Smith, S., Hansen, R.L., Fahey Jr.,G., & Garleb,K.(1998). Effect of amino acid supplementation on performanceand select physiological indices of yearling Thoroughbred mares fed diets containing low levels of roughage and concentrates. Anim Feed Sci Technol 73, 25–37..