The Effect of a Newly Developed Oat-Banana Fermented Beverage with a Beta-glucan Additive on ldhL Gene Expression in Streptococcus thermophilus TKM3 KKP 2030p

Using dietary fiber as stabilizer in dairy products: β-glucan and inulin-type fructans

β-glucan and inulin-type fructans, considering their beneficial effects on health, are the favorite dietary fibers in recent years. This review firstly gives information on the health-promoting effects of these two fibers, and then, using them in dairy products. They can be used in different dairy products, depending on their properties. However, their effect levels and forms may be different. Especially in probiotic products, these fibers can be used as a multi-functional additive because of their satisfactory stability in dairy products. The stabilizer effect can change in dairy products (e.g., ice cream, beverage) with variable composition/formulation. β-glucan and inulin-type fructans develop textural or rheological properties of dairy products that have relatively more standard composition (such as yogurt, cheese), at varying degrees depending on the proportion. Since the additives used to increase the stability of foods or to extend their shelf life are compounds that are beneficial for health, their usage areas should be increased, and their different potential effects should be known. For this reason, in this review, current information about health effects and usage areas of these components discussed in detail. Consequently, the texture improver effect of these two dietary fibers on dairy products is crucial and has no effect (positive/negative) on physicochemical or flavor properties. Although individual studies have reported a reduction in the amount of acetaldehyde in yogurt or effects that may cause undesirable functional properties in mozzarella cheese, most studies have proven that fiber addition does not have an adverse effect on the properties other than texture.

Fermented Oats as a Novel Functional Food

Fermented oats are gaining popularity due to their nutritional value and the increasing consumer demand for health-conscious foods. These oats are believed to offer enhanced phytochemical and nutritional profiles compared to unfermented oats. The increased nutritional content of fermented oats is associated with various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which could potentially reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the nutritional benefits of fermented oats in human nutrition. This mini review provides a comprehensive overview of fermented oat products available on the market and the various production methods employed for fermenting oats. Furthermore, this review investigates how fermentation affects the chemical composition and biological functions of oats. Additionally, this manuscript presents some future perspectives on fermented oat products by discussing potential research directions and opportunities for further development. The findings presented in this review contribute to the expanding body of knowledge on fermented oats as a promising functional food, paving the way for future studies and applications in the field of nutrition and health.

Nutritional and Phytochemical Composition and Associated Health Benefits of Oat (Avena sativa) Grains and Oat-Based Fermented Food Products

Oats (Avena sativa L.) are a popular functional cereal grain due to their numerous health benefits. This review article summarized the information on the chemical composition and phytonutrients of oats grown in different countries. It also reviewed recently developed fermented oat products to highlight their potential for human health. Oats have an interesting nutritional profile that includes high-quality protein, unsaturated fats, soluble fiber, polyphenolic compounds, and micronutrients. Oat grain has a unique protein composition, with globulins serving as the primary storage protein, in contrast to other cereals, where prolamins are the main storage proteins. Oats have the highest fat content of any cereal, with low saturated fatty acids and high essential unsaturated fatty acid content, which can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Oats are a good source of soluble dietary fiber, particularly β-glucan, which has outstanding functional properties and is extremely important in human nutrition. β-Glucan has been shown to lower blood cholesterol and glucose absorption in the intestine, thereby preventing diseases such as cardiovascular injury, dyslipidemia, hypertension, inflammatory state, and type 2 diabetes. Oats also contain high concentration of antioxidant compounds. Avenanthramides, which are unique to oats, are powerful antioxidants with high antioxidative activity in humans. Recognizing the nutritional benefits of oats, oat-based fermented food products are gaining popularity as functional foods with high probiotic potential.

Interaction of beta-glucans with gut microbiota: Dietary origins, structures, degradation, metabolism, and beneficial function

Beta-glucan (BG), a polysaccharide comprised of interfacing glucose monomers joined via beta-glycosidic linkages, can be defined as a type of dietary fiber with high specificity based on its interaction with the gut microbiota. It can induce similar interindividual microbiota responses, thereby having beneficial effects on the human body. In this paper, we review the four main sources of BG (cereals, fungi, algae, and bacteria) and their differences in structure and content. The interaction of BG with gut microbiota and the resulting health effects have been highlighted, including immune enhancement, regulation of serum cholesterol and insulin levels, alleviation of obesity and improvement of cognitive disorders. Finally, the application of BG in food products and its beneficial effects on the gut microbiota of consumers were discussed. Although some of the mechanisms of action remain unclear, revealing the beneficial functions of BG from the perspective of gut microbiota can help provide theoretical support for the development of diets that target the regulation of microbiota.

Applicable Strains, Processing Techniques and Health Benefits of Fermented Oat Beverages: A Review

Based on the high nutrients of oat and the demand of health-conscious consumers for value-added and functional foods, fermented oat beverages have great market prospects. This review summarizes the applicable strains, processing techniques and health benefits of fermented oat beverages. Firstly, the fermentation characteristics and conditions of the applicable strains are systematically described. Secondly, the advantages of pre-treatment processes such as enzymatic hydrolysis, germination, milling and drying are summarized. Furthermore, fermented oat beverages can increase the nutrient content and reduce the content of anti-nutritional factors, thereby reducing some risk factors related to many diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. This paper discusses the current research status of fermented oat beverages, which has academic significance for researchers interested in the application potential of oat. Future studies on fermenting oat beverages can focus on the development of special compound fermentation agents and the richness of their taste.

Effects of Five Different Lactic Acid Bacteria on Bioactive Components and Volatile Compounds of Oat

In this research, oats were fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus for 48 h at 37 °C. The purpose of this work was to compare the growth capacities of the five lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the oat matrix and the effects of fermentation on the contents of the bioactive components of oat, such as β-glucan, polyphenols, flavonoids and volatile compounds at different time (0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h). After 48 h of fermentation, the number of living L. acidophilus in oat reached 7.05 × 10⁹ cfu/mL, much higher than that of other strains. S. thermophilus retained the greatest β-glucan content, and L. casei had increased total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents. The proportion of free and bound polyphenols and flavonoids in all samples was changed by microbial action, indicating that forms of polyphenols and flavonoids can be transformed during the fermentation process, and the changes varied with different strains. The samples with L. plantarum, L. acidophilus, and L. casei fermentation contained more alcohols, whereas those with S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus fermentation had more aldehydes, which revealed that the composition of volatile components was related to strains. The results indicate that oat substrate is a good medium for LAB growth. This study provides a reference for the use of different strains to achieve different fermentation purposes and a theoretical basis for the further processing of oat and fermented oat beverages.

Consumer's acceptability and health consciousness of probiotic and prebiotic of non-dairy products

Human gut microbiota is a protective agent of intestinal and systemic health, and its modulation is of great interest for human wellbeing. In the world of biotics, besides probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, also appears the denomination of "postbiotics" and "psychobiotics". Fermented dairy products are, traditionally, the major source of probiotics. Nevertheless, due to the increasing number of lactose-intolerant individuals and strict vegetarians, there is a need for innovative non-dairy products. Non-dairy biotics are being included in the normal diet and due to technological advances, many products are created using non-conventional food matrices like kombucha tea, herbal tea, baking mix, and cereal-based products. The microorganisms most used as probiotics in many of the non-dairy products are strains belonging to the genera Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, and Bacillus, and some yeast strains namely Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii. Recently, several other yeasts have been described as having probiotic properties. This review describes gut-derived effects in humans of possible microorganisms, such as yeasts, and bacteria, isolated from non-dairy fermented and non-fermented foods and beverages. The microorganisms responsible for the processing of these non-dairy fermented products, together with the prebiotics, form a class of nutrients that have been proven to be beneficial for our gut health.

The Extraction, Functionalities and Applications of Plant Polysaccharides in Fermented Foods: A Review

Plant polysaccharides, as prebiotics, fat substitutes, stabilizers, thickeners, gelling agents, thickeners and emulsifiers, have been immensely studied for improving the texture, taste and stability of fermented foods. However, their biological activities in fermented foods are not yet properly addressed in the literature. This review summarizes the classification, chemical structure, extraction and purification methods of plant polysaccharides, investigates their functionalities in fermented foods, especially the biological activities and health benefits. This review may provide references for the development of innovative fermented foods containing plant polysaccharides that are beneficial to health.

Wine and Non-Dairy Fermented Beverages: A Novel Source of Pro- and Prebiotics

Probiotics and prebiotics are microbiota-management instruments for improving human health once they may be beneficial for maintaining a healthy community of gut microbiota and bowel function. Probiotic’s main target is the gut, via the gastrointestinal tract, although direct application to other body zones such as the vaginal tract, the oral cavity, and skin have been studied. The major source of probiotics is fermented dairy products, however, currently, there is a need for novel and non-dairy probiotics, due to the increasing number of lactose-intolerant persons in the world population, tied with the adverse effect of cholesterol contained in fermented dairy foods as well as the increasing number of strict vegetarians. In this review, we describe gut-derived effects in humans of possible microorganisms isolated from wine, such as Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeasts and bacteria, and other non-dairy fermented beverages. Those microorganisms can be grown and consumed as recommended probiotics, moreover, wine, and other beverages may also be a source of prebiotics such as polyphenols.

Oats as a matrix of choice for developing fermented functional beverages

Development of oat-based fermented beverages started in Europe in the past 30 years with the rise of the functional foods market. It is based on the increasing consumer demand for health drinks and value added foods and on the scientific insights on the nutrition composition of oats. The main health effects of oats are attributed to their high β-glucan content, which is proved to lower blood cholesterol and the intestinal absorption of glucose thus preventing diseases like cardiovascular injury, dyslipidemia, hypertension, inflammatory state and diabetes type 2. Another important role of β- glucan is its prebiotic function in the gastrointestinal tract, supporting the growth of beneficial microbial groups. The slowly digestible fraction of oat starch has a functional role as it moderates the glycaemic response. Oats are also a valuable source of highquality proteins, unsaturated lipids and antioxidants. In addition, oats are appropriate for people suffering from celiac disease because they do not contain gluten. Oat grain processing involves several steps, including thermal processes aiming to prevent oat products from rapid enzymatic deterioration and ensure storage stability. Oat drinks are formulated through processing oat with a liquid ingredient. Further, this matrix is inoculated with lactic acid bacteria to produce a fermented beverage. In some, drinks, probiotic lactic acid bacteria were used to increase product functional value. Thus, the ancient concept of cereal-based fermented foods is implemented into development of new functional oat-based fermented beverages and several products are already marketed in Europe as healthy, fast and convenient supplementary foods.