Effects of pectin and emulsifiers on the physical and nutritional qualities and consumer acceptability of wheat composite dough and bread

A New Dietary Fiber Can Enhance Satiety and Reduce Postprandial Blood Glucose in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial

BACKGROUND

Dietary fiber plays a potential role in regulating energy intake and stabilizing postprandial blood glucose levels. Soluble dietary fiber has become an important entry point for nutritional research on the regulation of satiety.

METHODS

this was a double-blind, randomized cross-over trial enrolling 12 healthy subjects to compare the effects of RPG (R+PolyGly) dietary fiber products (bread, powder, and capsule) and pectin administered with a standard meal on satiety, blood glucose, and serum insulin level.

RESULTS

Adding 3.8% RPG dietary fiber to bread significantly increased the volume, water content, hardness, and chewiness of bread compared to 3.8% pectin bread and white bread and significantly improved the sensory quality of bread. RPG bread had better appetite suppression effects at some time points than the other two groups and the best postprandial blood glucose lowering effects among the three groups. Administration of RPG capsules containing 5.6 g of RPG dietary fiber with meals improved satiety and reduced hunger compared to 6 g of RPG powder and 6 g of pectin, which had the greatest effect on suppressing appetite and reducing prospective food consumption. The peak level of serum glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in the RPG capsule group (578.17 ± 19.93 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that in other groups at 0 min and 30 min after eating. RPG powder had the best effect in reducing postprandial blood glucose and increasing serum insulin levels; the total area under the curve (AUC) of serum insulin with RPG powder was higher than other groups (5960 ± 252.46 μU min/mL).

CONCLUSION

RPG dietary fiber products can improve the sensory properties of food, reduce postprandial blood glucose, and enhance satiety, especially in capsule and powder forms. Further research on the physiological effects of RPG dietary fiber is required to facilitate its use as a functional ingredient in food products.

Potential application of bioemulsifier RAG-1 as an anti-staling agent in flat bread quality

Bread undergoes physicochemical processes known as 'staling', which limits shelf life and quality. Despite the fact that several chemical emulsifiers have been employed to combat this issue, they may offer risks to human health. In this investigation, the effects of bioemulsan, a natural bioemulsifier (BE), on bread quality and staleness were examined. The yield of emulsan generated by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 was 1.49 g/L. The presence of clear zones around colonies, high emulsification value of 100%, and remaining surface tension below 40 mN/m after heating (at 250 °C for 15-20 min) verified emulsan thermal stability. BE-supplemented bread had a greater moisture percentage than the control, resulting in reduced crumb hardening and improved bread quality during storage as measured by moisture content. The first day after adding 0.5% emulsan, the hardness rose from 90.45 N (for the control) to 150.45 N. Texture analysis showed that although the hardness increased during storage, adding emulsan allowed obtaining bread with clearly softer crumb after 2 and 3 days of baking, especially at 0.5% level (from 215.6 N for the control to 150.5 N for 0.5% BE-enriched bread after 2 days, and from 425.7 to 210.25 N after 3 days). Based on the sensory evaluation results, emulsan did not lead to any unpleasant changes on bread organoleptic parameters. Therefore, using bioemulsifier RAG-1 as a green emulsifier and anti-staling agent found to be more promising.

Optimisation of the techno-functional and thermal properties of heat moisture treated Bambara groundnut starch using response surface methodology

This work optimised the techno-functional and thermal properties of heat moisture treated Bambara groundnut starch (BGS). A central composite rotatable design (Design-Expert software v8.0.1.0) comprising two independent factors of temperature and time was used. Extracted BGS were subjected to heat-moisture treatment (HMT) at 80-120 °C for 30-90 min at different moisture levels of 15% (HMT 15-BGS), 25% (HMT 25-BGS) and 35% (HMT 35-BGS). The optimum HMT conditions for BGS were found to be 80 °C for 30 min (HMT 15), 105.74 °C for 30 min (HMT 25), and 113.16 °C for 30 min (HMT 35). The desirability values of the obtained optimum conditions were 0.63 (HMT 15) and 1.00 (HMT 25 and 35). In HMT 35-BGS, water absorption capacity was significantly affected by the quadratic effect of temperature and time. In contrast, solubility was significantly affected by the linear effect of time and the quadratic effect of temperature. Temperature and treatment time had no significant effect (p ≥ 0.05) on the differential scanning calorimetry thermal properties of HMT 15, 25 and 35-BGS. Scanning electron micrographs of optimised BGS showed round and oval-shaped starch granules ranging from 4.2 to 4.7 mm (width) and 10 μm for length. Unmodified and optimised HMT-BGS showed characteristic FTIR bands linked with common starches. All BGS samples displayed multiple vibrations in the region below 1000 cm^-1 due to the skeletal vibrations of the glucose pyranose ring.

Effect of hydrocolloids on gluten proteins, dough, and flour products: A review

Hydrocolloids are among the most common components in the food industry, which are used for thickening, gel formation, emulsification, and stabilization. Previous studies have also found that hydrocolloids can affect the structures and properties of gluten proteins, dough, and flour products. In this review, hydrocolloids were separated into three categories: anionic, nonionic, and other hydrocolloids, and reviewed the effects of common hydrocolloids on gluten proteins, dough, and flour products. Hydrocolloids can affect the structures and properties of gluten proteins through gluten-hydrocolloids interaction, secondary structures, disulfide bonds, environment of aromatic amino acids, and chemical bonds. The properties of dough are affected by rheological, fermentation, and thermomechanical properties. Hydrocolloids are widely used in bread, Chinese steamed bread, noodles, yellow layer cake, and so on, which mainly affect their appearance, texture, and aging speed. This comprehensive review provides a scientific guide for the development and utilization of hydrocolloids and their applications in flour products, and provides a theoretical basis for improving the processing characteristics of products.

Current Advancements in Pectin: Extraction, Properties and Multifunctional Applications

Pectin is a heterogeneous hydrocolloid present in the primary cell wall and middle lamella in all dicotyledonous plants, more commonly in the outer fruit coat or peel as compared to the inner matrix. Presently, citrus fruits and apple fruits are the main sources for commercial extraction of pectin, but ongoing research on pectin extraction from alternate fruit sources and fruit wastes from processing industries will be of great help in waste product reduction and enhancing the production of pectin. Pectin shows multifunctional applications including in the food industry, the health and pharmaceutical sector, and in packaging regimes. Pectin is commonly utilized in the food industry as an additive in foods such as jams, jellies, low calorie foods, stabilizing acidified milk products, thickener and emulsifier. Pectin is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for the preparation of medicines that reduce blood cholesterol level and cure gastrointestinal disorders, as well as in cancer treatment. Pectin also finds use in numerous other industries, such as in the preparation of edible films and coatings, paper substitutes and foams. Due to these varied uses of pectin in different applications, there is a great necessity to explore other non-conventional sources or modify existing sources to obtain pectin with desired quality attributes to some extent by rational modifications of pectin with chemical and enzymatic treatments.

Swallowing and Liking of Vegetable-Enriched Bread Compared With Commercial Breads as Evaluated by Older Adults

Characteristics of food that influence liking and ease-of-chewing and swallowing are not well-understood. Reformulation of bread to improve nutrient density may improve liking, ease-of-chewing and swallowing which could improve dietary intake particularly with aging. The study aimed to compare objectively and subjectively four breads of increasing nutrient density: $1 white (WB) and wheatmeal (WMB) commercial breads and two in-house formulations of vegetable-enriched breads (VB75 or VB100) which incorporated drum-dried pumpkin and sweet corn flours for physical, sensory and ease-of-chewing and swallowing properties. Each bread underwent instrumental texture analysis. The commercial and vegetable-enriched breads were not different by hardness or springiness but the vegetable breads were up to 25% less cohesive, less gummy and less chewy than the commercial breads. Questionnaires and Likert scale (150 mm) responses were completed by 50 physically active volunteers aged 50+ years. Overall liking of the VB75 and VB100 was rated 40% higher than the white and wheatmeal breads. Vegetable-enriched breads were rated as almost 50% easier to chew (mean ± SD; WB 70.53 ± 39.46 mm, WMB 77.68 ± 33.13 mm, VB75 104.78 ± 30.69 mm, VB100 107.58 ± 24.90 mm) and swallow (WB 70.29 ± 37.98 mm, WMB 77.53 ± 34.88 mm, VB75 104.63 ± 28.25 mm, VB100 104.90 ± 25.54 mm). Vegetable-enriched breads compared to white and wheatmeal breads were instrumentally and subjectively less gummy, cohesive and chewy than commercial breads and have the potential to both improve nutrition and "ease of swallowing" in older people. New areas of research should explore other underutilized vegetables for bread enrichment and their ability to aid swallowing and improve nutrition status.

Bambara Groundnut: An Underutilized Leguminous Crop for Global Food Security and Nutrition

Rapid population growth, climate change, intensive monoculture farming, and resource depletion are among the challenges that threaten the increasingly vulnerable global agri-food system. Heavy reliance on a few major crops is also linked to a monotonous diet, poor dietary habits, and micronutrient deficiencies, which are often associated with diet-related diseases. Diversification-of both agricultural production systems and diet-is a practical and sustainable approach to address these challenges and to improve global food and nutritional security. This strategy is aligned with the recommendations from the EAT-Lancet report, which highlighted the urgent need for increased consumption of plant-based foods to sustain population and planetary health. Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.), an underutilized African legume, has the potential to contribute to improved food and nutrition security, while providing solutions for environmental sustainability and equity in food availability and affordability. This paper discusses the potential role of Bambara groundnut in diversifying agri-food systems and contributing to enhanced dietary and planetary sustainability, with emphasis on areas that span the value chain: from genetics, agroecology, nutrition, processing, and utilization, through to its socioeconomic potential. Bambara groundnut is a sustainable, low-cost source of complex carbohydrates, plant-based protein, unsaturated fatty acids, and essential minerals (magnesium, iron, zinc, and potassium), especially for those living in arid and semi-arid regions. As a legume, Bambara groundnut fixes atmospheric nitrogen to improve soil fertility. It is resilient to adverse environmental conditions and can yield on poor soil. Despite its impressive nutritional and agroecological profile, the potential of Bambara groundnut in improving the global food system is undermined by several factors, including resource limitation, knowledge gap, social stigma, and lack of policy incentives. Multiple research efforts to address these hurdles have led to a more promising outlook for Bambara groundnut; however, there is an urgent need to continue research to realize its full potential.

Using Pulses in Baked Products: Lights, Shadows, and Potential Solutions

Nowadays, consumers are more conscious of the environmental and nutritional benefits of foods. Pulses-thanks to both nutritional and health-promoting features, together with their low environmental impact-satisfy the demand for high-protein/high-fiber products. However, their consumption is still somewhat limited in Western countries, due to the presence of antinutrient compounds including phytic acid, trypsin inhibitors, and some undigested oligosaccharides, which are responsible for digestive discomfort. Another limitation of eating pulses regularly is their relatively long preparation time. One way to increase the consumption of pulses is to use them as an ingredient in food formulations, such as bread and other baked products. However, some sensory and technological issues limit the use of pulses on an industrial scale; consequently, they require special attention when combined with cereal-based products. Developing formulations and/or processes to improve pulse quality is necessary to enhance their incorporation into baked products. In this context, this study provides an overview of strengths and weaknesses of pulse-enriched baked products focusing on the various strategies-such as the choice of suitable ingredients or (bio)-technological approaches-that counteract the negative effects of including pulses in baked goods.