An evaluation of broad bean, Vicia faba, and whole wheat combinations for growth, development, and maintenance of rats

The purpose of this study was to compare growth, development, and maintenance of young and adult rats fed whole-wheat and broad-bean protein combinations. Criteria used to evaluate the nutritive value of the protein combinations for young animals included weight gain, protein efficiency ratio (PER), hemoglobin level, and liver copper and iron deposition. The length of the experimental period with the young rats was four weeks. Weight gain and apparent nitrogen retention were used to evaluate the test protein diets for adult animals over a one-week experimental period. Weight gains of young rats fed whole wheat as the only protein source were markedly lower than the weight gains of rats fed broad beans or whole-wheat and broadbean combinations