Estimation of Sulphur Containing Amino Acids in Soybean Products in Nigeria

Abstract Five different samples of soybean products (Raw Soybeans Seed (RSS), Local Soybean Powdered Milk (LSPM), Local Soybean Liquid Milk (LSLM), Vita-milk and Chi-soymilk) were used for the analysis of sulphur containing amino acids (methionine and cysteine) contents. Qualitative analysis using thin layer chromatography technique was carried out on the soybean products to detect the presence of sulphur containing amino acids while spectrophotometric method involving methionine and cysteine standards were used to quantitatively estimate the two amino acids in the soybean products ). An increase in both methionine and cysteine concentrations for Chi-soymilk and Vita-milk suggests that these soybean products were enriched with these amino acids during processing, hence can effectively replenish the lost sulphur amino acids in the body due to the action of trypsin inhibitor present in soybeans