Impact of Chicken Protein Hydrolysate in Complementary Baby Food on Protein Quality, Antioxidant Status, and Gut Microbiota in Wistar Rats

ABSTRACT This study investigates functional advantages of chicken meat protein hydrolysate (CMPH) as novel protein source for complementary baby food (CBF), focusing on its enhanced bioavailability, bioactivity, and gut‐modulating potential. CMPH was produced via Pediococcus pentosaceus fermentation using 45% chicken ( Gallus gallus domesticus) meat with 2% dextrose for 48 h. CMPH exhibited strong antioxidant activity (FRAP:27.98 µM TE/mg; DPPH:31.43µMTE/mg; ABTS:24.01µMTE/mg; Fe 2 + chelation:21.13µMEDTA/mg), indicating its potential to mitigate oxidative stress. CBF formulations were developed using CMPH as sole (CBF‐100) or partial (CBF‐70:70%CMPH+15%soy+15%milk protein) protein substitute and evaluated in weanling Wistar rats, alongside basal diet (BD:nil protein), standard diet (SD), and commercial CBF. CMPH incorporation significantly improved protein quality indices, with CBF‐100 achieving the highest net protein utilization (88.27%), while CBF‐70 demonstrated superior growth performance (FCR:2.82; FER:0.35, and PER:2.35), likely due to bioactive peptides enhancing amino acid absorption. All parameters, including hematological, biochemical, and histopathological analyses, remained within normal limits. However, CBF‐70 rat group showed significantly higher hemoglobin (15.7 g/dL) and liver antioxidant enzyme activities superoxide dismutase:42.95U/mg; catalase:18.17U/mg ( p <0.05). Notably, CBF‐70 enriched beneficial taxa such as Duncaniella spp. and Muribaculaceae, associated with short‐chain fatty acid production and favorable gut‐microbiota composition. Overall, CBF‐70 being most effective, confirming CMPH as safe and bio‐functional protein for advanced complementary nutrition.