Check out this answer from Consensus:
The protein content in chicken breast can vary depending on several factors, including diet, breed, and environmental conditions. Based on the reviewed studies, the protein content in chicken breast generally ranges from 25% to 26%. Increasing dietary protein levels can enhance breast meat yield and protein content, although the effects may be influenced by other factors such as environmental temperature.
Chicken breast is a popular source of lean protein, widely consumed by individuals aiming to increase their protein intake for muscle building, weight loss, or general health. Understanding the protein content in chicken breast is essential for dietary planning and nutritional assessments. This article reviews the protein content in chicken breast based on various research studies.
Protein Content in Chicken Breast
Several studies have investigated the protein content in chicken breast, providing a range of values depending on various factors such as diet, breed, and environmental conditions.
Study on Native Chicken Breast Meat
A study aimed to determine the protein content in the breast meat of native chickens fed with different levels of apu-apu flour (Pistia stratiotes) found that the protein content varied slightly across different treatments. The protein content in the breast meat ranged from 25.21% to 26.03%, with the highest protein content observed in chickens fed with 5% Pistia stratiotes flour2.
Effects of Dietary Protein Levels
Another study evaluated the effects of dietary protein levels on the breast meat yield of broiler chicks. The study found that increasing dietary protein content improved breast meat yield, with a significant increase in protein content observed in broilers fed diets with lower energy-to-protein (E:P) ratios. The optimal E:P ratio for maximal breast meat yield was found to be below the NRC (1994) recommendations, indicating that a moderate excess of dietary protein can enhance breast meat protein content3.
Impact of Environmental Temperature
Research on the impact of environmental temperature and dietary protein content on broiler chickens revealed that higher dietary protein levels (28% and 33% CP) slightly improved growth performance and breast muscle proportion, even under heat stress conditions. However, the improvement was not substantial enough to counteract the negative effects of high ambient temperatures on growth and feed efficiency4.