蛋白质转型时代的蛋白质质量评估与数据建设

The growing global population and the need to operate within planetary boundaries are driving an urgent transition toward more sustainable and nutritionally adequate protein sources. Accurately assessing protein quality—determined by amino acid composition, digestibility, and absorption—is essential. In vitro digestion models, once fully validated, will be promising alternatives to traditional animal-based approaches. Novel protein sources from plants, microbes, fungi, algae, insects, and more offer opportunities for reducing environmental impact but introduce new unknown factors that can influence digestion and bioavailability, in addition to complexities related to processing methods, food matrices, and ingredients. Robust mid-throughput harmonized protocols, including in vivo verification based on efficient human cross-over trials, are therefore required to evaluate protein quality of realistic foods and to support personalized protein recommendations for different population groups. Establishing a comprehensive, standardized protein quality database will be critical for guiding research, supporting the food industry, informing policy, and ensuring nutritious and sustainable diets worldwide.