Changes in carbohydrates during germination of lentils

Abstract

The effect of germination on soluble carbohydrates, total and digestible starch, and components of dietary fiber (neutral detergent fiber, cellulose and hemicellulose) in two varieties of lentils (Lens culinaris medicus var. vulgaris and variabilis) were investigated. In germinated lentils the amount of total soluble sugars decreased (from 4.3% to 2.0% and from 5.3% to 2.2%, respectively); glucose, not present in raw seeds, was relatively high (0.6% and 0.7%), fructose increased slightly, and sucrose decreased slightly. The oligosaccharides of the raffinose family disappeared from germinated seeds. Total starch decreased considerably in germinated lentils (from 60.3% to 41.4% and from 57.4% to 36.4%), but the digestibility of the starch was greatly improved. In germinated lentils, the content of neutral detergent fiber and hemicellulose were lower but that of cellulose and lignin were higher than in raw lentils. Thus, the nutritive value of both varieties of lentils may increase with germination processes.