Effect of different physical pre-treatments on physicochemical and techno-functional properties, and on the antinutritional factors of lentils (Lens culinaris spp)

Lentils have a valuable physicochemical profile, which can be affected by the presence of antinutrients that may impair the benefits arising from their consumption. Different treatments can be used to reduce these undesirable compounds, although they can also affect the general composition and behaviour of the lentils. Thus, the effect of different processing methods on the physicochemical and techno-functional properties, as well as on the antinutritional factors of different lentil varieties was studied. Phytic acid was eliminated during germination, while tannins and trypsin inhibitors are mostly affected by cooking. Functional properties were also altered by processing, these being dependent on the concentration of different nutrients in lentils. All the studied treatments affected the physicochemical profile of lentils and their functional properties. Cooking and germination appear to be the most effective in reducing antinutritional factors and improving the physicochemical profile of the lentils, meeting the current nutritional demands of today's society.