Effects of wheat and rye bread structure on mastication process and bolus properties

Quantitative saccharide release of hydrothermally treated flours by validated salivary/pancreatic on-surface amylolysis (nanoGIT) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography

The susceptibility of hydrothermally treated flour products to amylolysis was studied. The human salivary α-amylase and porcine pancreatin enzyme mixture containing α-amylase were used on-surface to investigate the release of glucose, maltose, and maltotriose. On the same adsorbent surface (all-in-one), their high-performance thin-layer chromatography separation and detection via selective chemical derivatization was performed. For the first time, the all-in-one nanoGIT system was studied quantitatively and validated for the simulated static oral and intestinal on-surface amylolysis of ten different hydrothermally treated flours and soluble starch. Differences were detected in the digestibility of refined and whole flours from wheat, spelt, and rye as well as from einkorn, amaranth, emmer, and oat. Amaranth released the lowest amount of saccharides and spelt the highest in both oral and intestinal digestion systems. The results suggest that consumption of whole grain products may be beneficial because of their lower saccharide release, with particular attention to rye.

Effect of salivary fluid characteristics on the physical features of in vitro bread bolus: From the absence of saliva to artificially simulated hypersalivation

Saliva facilitates food oral processing, bolus formation, swallowing, and sensory perception, in addition to contributing to oral health and phonation. Ageing, health affections, and polymedication are among many causes altering salivary production, modifying the mastication process, the food impregnation ratio, and in turn altering the characteristics of the bolus, swallowing, and digestion. In this in vitro work, using the AM2 masticator apparatus, which replicates the mechanical actions taking place while chewing solid foods and produces realistic food bolus in various oral conditions, we investigated the effect of salivary fluid characteristics, i.e., composition, quantity (from absence to hypersalivation), temperature, and enzymatic action, on the physical characteristics (i.e., particle size distribution (PSD), bolus mass, salivary fluid content) of in vitro boluses of Traditional French baguette. A ready-to-swallow bolus of baguette displayed on average a d50 value (median particle size by mass) of 4.1 ± 0.4 mm, with saliva fluid constituting ∼ 35 % of the final bolus mass. The absence of saliva in mouth led to a deficient oral processing, forming bread boluses constituted by extremely big particles (ca. 80 % of particles had a size > 7.1 mm) that likely cannot be swallowed safely. On the contrary, an excess of saliva favoured an excessive breaking down of bread, leading to bread boluses constituted by smaller particles than those formed under healthy salivary conditions (d50 decreased from 4.1 mm to 3.1 mm), having a higher salivary fluid content (+10 %). On the other hand, the salivary fluid temperature did not affect PSD, d50, bolus mass, or salivary fluid content of in vitro bread boluses, however, the addition of human salivary α-amylase did, favouring particle size reduction (d50 decreased to 2.6 mm). Therefore, beyond the correlation between bolus hydration by saliva and food properties such as hardness and moisture content, our findings indicate that the quantity of salivary fluid present in the oral cavity and the enzymatic activity of salivary α-amylase during bread mastication significantly influence both the particle size distribution and the fluid content of bread boluses, ultimately determining the physical properties of the bolus and, therefore, potentially impacting the subsequent swallowing process.

Oral and gastrointestinal nutrient bioaccessibility of gluten-free bread is slightly affected by deficient mastication in the elderly

The main goal of this work was to investigate the impact of impaired mastication on nutrient bioaccessibility of gluten-free bread in the elderly. In vitro boluses were produced with the AM² masticator by using two types of programming: normal mastication (NM) and deficient mastication (DM). Static in vitro gastrointestinal digestion was performed with the digestive physiology conditions of the elderly. Subsequently, the granulometric properties of the in vitro boluses produced, their starch and protein digestibility, and lipid peroxidation after in vitro oral and gastrointestinal digestion were evaluated. DM boluses presented higher proportions of large particles, resulting in insufficiently fragmented boluses. A delay in oral starch digestion was observed in DM boluses, probably due to the presence of larger particles that limited the bolus-saliva exchanges. Furthermore, DM boluses exhibited a lower degree of protein hydrolysis at the end of gastric digestion, whereas no differences were observed for protein hydrolysis, sugar release, and lipid peroxidation at the end of digestion (intestinal phase). The results of this study show that impaired mastication somewhat delays the nutrient bioaccessibility of the gluten-free bread tested. Such understanding of the effect of oral decline on the nutrient bioaccessibility of foods is crucial when designing food commodities with enhanced functionalities for the elderly.

Enrichment of Wholemeal Rye Bread with Plant Sterols: Rheological Analysis, Optimization of the Production, Nutritional Profile and Starch Digestibility

Bread is one of the staple foods of many countries, and its enrichment with bioactive compounds is trending. This phenomenon is focused on breads with a good nutritional profile, such as wholemeal rye bread (WRB), in which enrichment with plant sterols (PSs) is allowed in accordance with European regulations. The objective of the present study was to optimize the production of a WRB enriched with PS (PS-WRB) and to evaluate the proximate composition and starch digestibility as an indicator of nutritional quality. The rheological analysis showed that the bread dough presents satisfactory farinographic properties (dough development time 6 min; stability 4 min; degree of softening 100 Brabender units) but high water absorption (67%). The PS-WRB is high in dietary fiber and low in protein (20.4 and 7.7% w/w, dry basis, respectively) compared with other cereals reported in the scientific literature. In turn, a low starch proportion was hydrolyzed during the simulated digestion (59.9% of total starch), being also slowly hydrolyzed, as deduced from the rapidly digestible starch value (56.5% of total starch). In conclusion, WRB is a suitable matrix for PS enrichment, which allows for obtaining a product with a good nutritional profile and potential health benefits.

Guiding the formulation of soft cereal foods for the elderly population through food oral processing: Challenges and opportunities

As the elderly population is growing steadily, more age-friendly food products that allow them to cover their nutritional needs and are enjoyable need to be designed. Since their oral physiology is considerably altered, the study of Food Oral Processing has become an essential discipline in food development, as it takes into consideration the complex interactions between food structure, oral processing, physiology and perception. Cereals are staple foods in many countries, and their consumption as bakery products is popular among the elderly population. In addition, when fortified with pulse proteins, they can help meet the protein needs of seniors and help fight against sarcopenia. For these reasons, this chapter presents an overview of the various aspects involved in the oral processing and formulation of soft cereal foods, translating them into challenges and opportunities that are of relevance to the design of realistic soft cereal foods targeted for the elderly that are nutritious and sensory appealing. This review focuses on the healthy elderly population and does not intend to cover the needs of the dependent elderly suffering from chronical diseases.

Starch structure and nutritional functionality - Past revelations and future prospects

Starch exists naturally as insoluble semi-crystalline granules assembled by amylose and amylopectin. Acknowledging the pioneers, we have reviewed the major accomplishments in the area of starch structure from the early 18th century and further established the relation of starch structure to nutritional functionality. Although a huge array of work is reported in the area, the review identified that some features of starch are still not fully understood and needs further elucidation. With the rise of diet-related diseases, it has never been more important to understand starch structure and use that knowledge to improve the nutritional value of the world's principal energy source.

The Bioaccessibility of Folate in Breads and the Stability of Folate Vitamers during in vitro Digestion

Both the liberation and stability of endogenous folate are relevant to the bioaccessibility of folate. Since folates are unstable, in addition to studying the natural folate content in foods, bioaccessibility...

The particle size of rice flour greatly affects the structural, textural and masticatory properties of steamed rice cake (Baekseolgi)

In this study, steamed rice cakes prepared with different particle sized flour were used to investigate how the structures of rice cakes affected masticatory properties and bolus starch hydrolysis. Decreasing the particle size increased the surface areas requiring hydration, resulting in a loose structure and fluffy starch network during gelatinization. Increasing the particle size led to a tight and firm network, but was easily melted in the oral cavity. The chewing cycle and time differed among the samples. The conditions of inter-individual salivary flow rate and salivary α-amylase were diverse. The oral carbohydrate hydrolysis in the bolus before swallowing showed no significant differences in reducing sugar levels among particle sizes. However, salivary concentration was related to initial starch hydrolysis in the oral cavity, indicating the food structures affected mastication factors and physiological conditions. This study provides food structure and physiological factor information that could help design customized foods in industry.

Bread breakdown pathways during mastication: impact of wheat bran fortification

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of wheat bran fortification on the mastication process of bread. White wheat bread (WB) and bran-fortified wheat bread (BB) were consumed by eighteen panellists. The bolus was collected at four different mastication stages and characterized by properties of hydration, particle size, and texture. The results showed that there was no difference between the two bread samples in terms of swallowable bolus moisture. BB with a harder and denser texture produced more small particles and had a slightly shorter chewing time than WB during mastication. Moreover, bolus heterogeneity (D₇₅/D₂₅) indicated a distinct difference among mastication stages and revealed different disintegration pathways between the two samples: BB bolus exhibited a monotonous particle size reduction during mastication with reducing D₅₀ and D₇₅/D₂₅; whereas, WB displayed a combination pattern of disintegration and agglomeration featuring relatively steady D₅₀ and fluctuating D₇₅/D₂₅. It was concluded that bran fortification changed the bread breakdown pathways in terms of bread disintegration and bolus formation during the mastication process. This information offers new guidelines for fortifying innovative materials to manufacture foods specifically targeted for health.

Pasta Structure Affects Mastication, Bolus Properties, and Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Metabolism in Healthy Adults

Background

Structure and protein–starch interactions in pasta products can be responsible for lower postprandial glycemic responses compared with other cereal foods.

Objectives

We tested the effect on postprandial glucose metabolism induced by 2 pasta products, couscous, and bread, through their structural changes during mastication and simulated gastric digestion.

Methods

Two randomized controlled trials (n = 30/trial) in healthy, normal-weight adults (mean BMI of 23.9 kg/m² (study 1) and 23.0 kg/m² (study 2)) evaluated postprandial glucose metabolism modulation to portions of durum wheat semolina spaghetti, penne, couscous, and bread each containing 50 g available carbohydrate. A mastication trial involving 26 normal-weight adults was conducted to investigate mastication processes and changes in particle size distribution and microstructure (light microscopy) of boluses after mastication and in vitro gastric digestion.

Results

Both pasta products resulted in lower areas under the 2-h curve for blood glucose (−40% for spaghetti and −22% for penne compared with couscous; −41% for spaghetti and −30% for penne compared with bread), compared with the other grain products (P < 0.05). Pasta products required more chews (spaghetti: 34 ± 18; penne: 38 ± 20; bread: 27 ± 13; couscous: 24 ± 17) and longer oral processing (spaghetti: 21 ± 13 s; penne: 23 ± 14 s; bread: 18 ± 9 s; couscous: 14 ± 10 s) compared with bread or couscous (P < 0.01). Pastas contained more large particles (46–67% of total particle area) compared with bread (0–30%) and couscous (1%) after mastication and in vitro gastric digestion. After in vitro gastric digestion, pasta samples still contained large areas of nonhydrolyzed starch embedded within the protein network; the protein in bread and couscous was almost entirely digested, and the starch was hydrolyzed.

Conclusions

Preservation of the pasta structure during mastication and gastric digestion explains slower starch hydrolysis and, consequently, lower postprandial glycemia compared with bread or couscous prepared from the same durum wheat semolina flour in healthy adults.

The postprandial in vivo trials were registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03098017 and NCT03104686.

Mastication of crisp bread: Role of bread texture and structure on texture perception

Texture and structure of breads have been related to oral processing (FOP) performance and sensory perceptions, but moisture content might play a significant role. To evaluate the real impact of breads texture and structure, eliminating the possible role of moisture content, different toasted breads were investigated. Four commercial toasted sliced breads (white bread -WHB-, whole wheat bread -WWB-, non-added sugar bread -NSU-, non-added salt bread -NSA-) with similar ingredients but different texture and structure were selected. Texture and structure were instrumentally and sensory evaluated, besides FOP (total chewing time, number of chews until swallowing, chewing frequency, and mouthful) and bolus properties (moisture, saliva to bread ratio, hardness, adhesiveness, and cohesiveness). Toasted breads showed significant differences in hardness, cutting strength, and porosity, but panelists did not discriminate among them. FOP results indicated that harder samples (NSU) required longer mastication and a number of chews, and open crumb structures (WWB, WHB) with higher cell areas required less mastication. Also, bolus characteristics were affected by bread types, and bread with lower crumb hardness (WHB) produced more cohesive bolus. Having toasted breads allowed to eliminate possible influence of moisture content differences on sensory perception, mouthful and bolus water incorporation during mastication.

Destructuring and restructuring of foods during gastric digestion

All foods harbor unique length scale-dependent structural features that can influence the release, transport, and utilization of macro- or micronutrients in the human gastrointestinal tract. In this regard, food destructuring and restructuring processes during gastric passage significantly influence downstream nutrient assimilation and feelings of satiety. This review begins with a synopsis of the effects of oral processing on food structure. Then, stomach-centric factors that contribute to the efficacy of gastric digestion are discussed, and exemplified by comparing the intragastric de- and restructuring of a number of common foods. The mechanisms of how intragastric structuring influences gastric emptying and its relationship to human satiety are then discussed. Finally, recently developed, non-destructive instrumental approaches used to quantitively and qualitatively characterize food behavior during gastric destructuring and restructuring are described.

Evaluation of texture of cheese by-products incorporated bread

Abstract This work aimed to develop new breads incorporating whey residue, “sorelho”, obtained from ewe’s milk after the production of Serra da Estrela Cheese. For this, we baked three types of bread: wheat bread (control sample), bread incorporating sorelho, and another version containing additional nutritional elements. The texture was evaluated with a texturometer, using compression and perforation tests. Results showed that sorelho can be successfully incorporated in bread. The best product was the bread with sorelho plus improved nutrition, which presented good textural characteristics during a period of 24 hours. This trend was observed for all properties evaluated: hardness, chewiness, resilience, cohesiveness, springiness (compression test) and external firmness, inner firmness, stickiness, adhesiveness (perforation test). Finally, factor analysis showed: FACTOR 1 – compression textural properties; FACTOR 2 – perforation firmness properties and FACTOR 3 – perforation adhering properties, which in total explained approximately 81% of total variance.

The effect of structure and texture on the breakdown pattern during mastication and impacts on in vitro starch digestibility of high fibre rye extrudates

The snack product category is lacking palatable, high dietary fiber containing products. This study explored how the addition of native or fermented rye bran influences the texture and sensory properties of endosperm rye flour based extrudates. In addition, mastication and bolus properties (n = 26), and in vitro starch digestibility were assessed. Three high fiber extrudates based on endosperm rye flour (EF) were produced with addition of either 40% native rye bran (NBE) or 40% fermented rye bran (FBE), and with no added bran (EFE) to achieve two pairs of extrudates to compare. EFE and FBE had different composition but resembled each other regarding macrostructure and the second pair (NBE vs. FBE) had similar core composition but different structure due to bran fermentation. The fermentation of bran was performed using exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing strain Weissella confusa, which led to 3% (3 g per 100 g bran; dry weight) in situ dextran production. The compositionally similar extrudates (NBE vs. FBE) varied in both structure and instrumental texture: FBE were less dense, less hard and crispier than NBE. The extrudates with different composition (EFE vs. FBE) varied regarding instrumental texture: FBE were less hard and crispier than EFE. There were also subtle structural differences FBE being somewhat denser than EFE. NBE and FBE differed regarding sensory texture while textures of EFE and FBE were perceived similar. Mastication properties of the different products did not exhibit remarkable differences. There was a large number of smaller particles in both NBE and FBE bolus samples. The fragile structure of FBE, and its lower bolus viscosity, led to high in vitro starch digestibility. The results demonstrate that the structural attributes of the extrudates, rather than the core composition, dictate the breakdown pattern during mastication and in vitro starch digestibility. The extrudates with similar composition may be digested at different rates depending on their structural attributes. Although FBE had higher in vitro starch digestibility, its high DF content, palatable texture and improved sensory properties were important determinants underlying eating quality and therefore it could be a promising product to snack food category.

Potential Impact of Oat Ingredient Type on Oral Fragmentation of Biscuits and Oro-Digestibility of Starch-An In Vitro Approach

The aim of the present study was to determine how variation in the biscuit matrix affects both the degree of in vitro fragmentation and the starch hydrolysis that occurs during the oral phase of digestion. Using three different oat ingredient types (oat flour, small flakes, and big flakes) and baking powder (or none), six biscuits with different matrices were obtained. The instrumental texture (force and sound measurements) of the biscuits was analyzed. The samples were then subjected to in vitro fragmentation. The particle size distribution and in vitro oral starch hydrolysis over time of the fragmented samples were evaluated. The results showed that the samples presented different fragmentation patterns, mainly depending on the oat ingredient type, which could be related to their differences in texture. The biscuits made with oat flour were harder, had a more compact matrix and showed more irregular fragmentation and a higher percentage area of small particles than those made with big oat flakes, which were more fragile and crumbly. The highest degree of starch hydrolysis corresponded to the biscuits made with flour. Conclusions: Differences in the mechanical properties of the biscuit matrix, in this case due to differences in the oat ingredient, play a role in the in vitro fragmentation pattern of biscuits and in the oral phase of starch hydrolysis.

In vitro digestion of bread: How is it influenced by the bolus characteristics?

This study aimed to understand the impact of in vitro oral processing methods on bolus formation and the kinetics of starch hydrolysis of refined white bread during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Four in vitro oral processing methods (i.e., cut, cut-and-pestle, blend, and grind) were performed at two levels of disintegration (less and more intensive) and compared with human mastication. Boluses prepared using the in vitro methods had a larger particle size (20-69 mm² vs. 14 mm² ), a higher moisture content (64-68% vs. 47%), a softer texture (1.3-2.3 N vs. 6.3 N) and a less adhesive surface (0.3-1.0 vs. 1.6 N•s) as compared to the in vivo masticated ones. Moreover, in vitro prepared blouses were digested more rapidly than in vivo masticated ones during the stimulated intestinal digestion from 150 min onward, with a higher hydrolysis rate (0.011-0.012 mg/mL • min vs. 0.010 mg/mL • min) and a higher equilibrium concentration of reducing sugar (5.5-6.3 mg/mL vs. 4.9 mg/mL). Among all the in vitro methods, the blending and grinding methods produced boluses that most closely resemble the in vivo masticated ones in terms of their physical characteristics. The blending method also produced boluses having the highest amount of reducing sugar released (6.32 mg/mL). The amount of reducing sugar present in the PBS buffer outside the dialysis tube might be controlled by the diffusion efficiency at the beginning of the digestion (≤120 min) and then be largely influenced by the particle size of the bolus in the latter stage of the digestion. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Studying the in vitro starch amyloysis is valuable for predicting the postprandial glycemic potential of starchy food. This work provides novel insights on the role of in vitro oral processing in the prediction of the glycemic potential of carbohydrate-rich staple food. Blending method is recommended because of its ability to produce boluses with similar physical characteristics as the in vivo masticated boluses. But the excessive structural breakdown occurred during blending also resulted in a higher enzymatic accessibility and a higher rate of starch digestion. Further study is needed to propose a new in vitro method that stimulates multiple actions occurred during mastication (cutting, grinding, and shearing), in order to match both physical properties and digestion profiles. Moreover, the amount of artificial saliva added should be adjusted according to the specific type of food.

Effects of structural and textural properties of brittle cereal foams on mechanisms of oral breakdown and in vitro starch digestibility

Structural and textural properties as well as the dietary fibre content of solid cereal foams influence the oral breakdown of structure, bolus formation and digestibility. The aim of this study was to investigate how structural differences of solid cereal foams (puffs vs. flakes) affect in vivo chewing and in vitro starch digestion. Four extruded puffs and flakes were produced from endosperm rye flour by extrusion processing without or with 10% rye bran (RB) addition. Extruded puffs and flakes were masticated by fifteen healthy females and the process was monitored using electromyography. Extruded puffs were more porous than flakes (97% vs 35%). The two products were also significantly different (p<0.05) in their structural and textural properties such as expansion, hardness, density and crispiness. A negative correlation was observed between hardness and crispiness index (p<0.05, r=-0.950) and density and porosity (p<0.05, r=-0.964). Addition of 10% RB had a significant effect on structural, textural and mastication properties both for puffs and flakes. Mastication of puffs required less total work than flakes (204 vs. 456%) and they were degraded to smaller particles than flakes during mastication. Irrespectively of the considerable differences in structure, texture and oral disintegration process, no significant (p<0.05) differences were observed between puffs and flakes (86.4 vs. 85.1) in terms of starch hydrolysis index. RB addition increased the hydrolysis index of puffs and flakes to 89.7 and 94.5, respectively, which was probably attributable to the increased number of particles in the bolus.

Chewing bread: impact on alpha-amylase secretion and oral digestion

During chewing, saliva helps in preparing the food bolus by agglomerating the formed particles, and it initiates enzymatic food breakdown. However, limited information is actually available on the adaptation of saliva composition during the oral processing of complex foods, especially for foods that are sensitive to salivary enzymes. We addressed this question in the context of starch-based products and salivary alpha-amylase. The objectives were two-fold: (1) to determine if salivary alpha-amylase secretion can be modulated by the bread type and (2) to evaluate the contribution of the oral phase in bread enzymatic breakdown. Mouthfuls of three different wheat breads (industrial, artisan and whole-meal breads) were chewed by twelve subjects. Saliva samples were collected at rest and at different times corresponding to 33, 66 and 100% of the individual's chewing sequence. Alpha-amylase activity and total protein content were determined for all saliva samples that were collected. Additionally, the salivary maltose concentration was measured as a marker of bread enzymatic digestion. Boluses were collected at the swallowing time to evaluate the saliva uptake. Chewing industrial bread induced higher saliva uptake than the other breads despite a similar chewing duration. The evolution of salivary amylase activity tended to depend on the type of bread and was highly influenced by a large degree of inter- and intra-subject variability. The protein and maltose concentration steadily increased during chewing as a result of bread breakdown. The salivary protein concentration was mainly affected by the release of the water-soluble proteins of the bread. The salivary maltose concentration was found to be significantly lower for the whole-meal bread. When considering the weight of the mouthful, enzymatic breakdown was found to be most efficient for the breads ranking from industrial > artisan > whole-meal.

Impact of food processing on rye product properties and their in vitro digestion

Purpose

Rye products have been reported to elicit postprandial insulin and glucose responses which may be beneficial for prevention of type-2 diabetes. However, mechanisms underlying variations in responses related to processing techniques are not fully understood.

Methods

Five differently processed rye products (sourdough-fermented bread, fermented and unfermented crispbread, extrusion-cooked rye, and porridge) and refined wheat bread were characterised. Two in vitro methods, a dynamic method simulating digestion in the stomach and small intestine and a static method, simulating conditions in the stomach were used to determine viscosity development, structural changes and release of glucose during digestion.

Results

Structural and compositional differences induced by processing influenced product digestion. Gastric disintegration and digesta particle size were related to characteristics of the starch/protein matrix, while digesta viscosity was reduced due to fibre degradation during fermentation. More cohesive boluses were associated with slower glucose release. Sourdough fermentation increased amylose leakage and appeared to inhibit starch hydrolysis despite low digesta viscosity and rapid disintegration.

Conclusions

The net release of glucose during digestion of foods is determined by several factors which may vary in their importance depending on product specific properties.

Relationships of Image Texture Properties with Chewing Activity and Mechanical Properties during Mastication of Bread

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships of image texture properties with chewing behaviors, and mechanical properties during mastication of bread. Gray-level gradient co-occurrence matrix (GGCM) was used to process the images of boluses. The chewing behaviors were recorded by electromyography (EMG), and the mechanical properties were measured by texture analyzer. The results showed that among the texture features, the inverse difference moment (IDMGGCM) was selected as the main parameter to describe the decomposition of boluses. IDMGGCM was positively related to the weight gain (r = 0.865, p < 0.01), negatively correlated with hardness (r = –0.835, p <0.01) and EMG activity per cycle (r = –0.767, p < 0.01). GGCM is an effective texture analysis method that could correctly identify 70.1–80.8 % of food bolus images to the corresponding chewing cycles. This study provided a new clue for texture analysis of bread bolus images and offered data revealing the bolus property changes during the mastication of bread.

Kinetics of bread crumb hydration as related to porous microstructure

An in vitro approach enabled to investigate the relationship between bread crumb porous micro structure and kinetics of hydration.