Many components of human diet which have not received much attention before, nowadays play an important role in the prevention and treatment of the advancing civilisation diseases in the world. Particularly important in this respect is food of plant origin that contains numerous compounds with health-promoting properties. Current research indicates possible use of oilseed rape seeds in the food industry, e.g. for the production of sprouts, protein concentrates, and preparations classified as health food, rich in minerals, fibre, and compounds with anti-neoplastic properties. The present study was conducted to evaluate seeds of fifteen oilseed winter rape cultivars (experimental cultivations at the COBORU Cultivar Testing Research Station in Głębokie) in terms of their content of protein and minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu). The analyses revealed that the seeds of the analysed winter rape cultivars contained protein in amounts of about 177 to 233 g kg-1 DM, and nutritionally significant levels of minerals – Na: 43.7, K: 7052, Ca: 765, Mg: 2761, Zn: 33.2, Fe: 69.0, Mn: 50.6, Cu: 3.9 mg kg-1 DM. Compared to raw materials traditionally used so far, such as seeds of legumes – soybean, pea, lupine, broad bean, as well as seeds of certain cereal species - wheat, triticale, rye, oat or barley, the values of the content of the analysed compounds in seeds of oilseed rape suggest that oilseed rape seeds can be  a valuable source of protein and minerals for various branches of the food processing industry.

25.2.2020