Understanding the structural and digestion changes of starch in heat-moisture treated polished rice grains with varying amylose content

Effect of twin-screw extrusion pretreatment on starch structure, rheological properties and 3D printing accuracy of whole potato flour and its application in dysphagia diets

Twin-screw extrusion pretreatment has great potential for the development of three-dimensional (3D) printed food as dysphagia diets. This study aimed to investigate the effect of twin-screw extrusion pretreatment on starch structure, rheological properties and 3D printing accuracy of whole potato flour and its application in dysphagia diets. The results indicated that twin-screw extrusion pretreatment was found to change chain length distributions, short-range ordered structure and relative crystallinity of whole potato flour (WPF), thereby improving its 3D printing performance. With the increasing proportion of long linear chains (DP > 12), the intensity of hydrogen bonds, linear viscoelastic region, storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G″), viscosity and n of whole potato flour paste were increased, enhancing high printing accuracy and shape retention of 3D printed samples with a denser microstructure and smaller pore diameter distribution. The whole potato flour paste extruded with a peristaltic pump speed at 5.25 mL/min (WPF-4) displayed the highest printing accuracy with excellent rheological properties, good water distribution state and dense network structure, which classified as class 5 level dysphagia diets. This research provides an effective guidance for the modification of whole potato flour using twin-screw extrusion pretreatment as 3D printed food inks for dysphagia patients.

Combined physicochemical and transcriptomic analyses reveal the effect of the OsGA20ox1 gene on the starch properties of germinated brown rice

Genes play a pivotal role in regulating the germination of cereal grains; however, there is limited research on the impact of germination genes on the physicochemical properties of germinated cereal starch. We investigated the effects of the OsGA20ox1 gene on the multiscale structural features and adhesion behavior of germinated brown rice starch. Compared to the knockout lines group, the wild type exhibited a decrease in double-helix content (62.74 %), relative crystallinity (47.39 %), and short-range molecular ordering (2.47 %), accompanied by enhanced erosion on the surface of starch granules. The damage to glycosidic bonds at the double-helix level and the heightened structural amorphization (90.95 %) led to reduced entanglement and interaction among starch molecules, ultimately resulting in reduced characteristic viscosity. Further transcriptomic analysis revealed that OsGA20ox1 could regulate the expression of starch-related enzyme genes in the starch metabolism pathway during germination of brown rice. This study contributes to understanding the role of germination genes in promoting the physicochemical properties of starch in germinated grains, thereby opening up new avenues for the improvement of plant-based starch, and paving the way for further research in this field.

Effects of adding proteins from different sources during heat-moisture treatment on corn starch structure, physicochemical and in vitro digestibility

Proteins impact starch digestion, but the specific mechanism under heat-moisture treatment remains unclear. This study examined how proteins from various sources-white kidney bean, soybean, casein, whey-altered corn starch's structure, physicochemical properties, and digestibility during heat-moisture treatment (HMT). HMT and protein addition could significantly reduce starch's digestibility. The kidney bean protein-starch complex under HMT had the highest resistant starch at 19.74 %. Most proteins effectively inhibit α-amylase, with kidney bean being the most significantly (IC50 = 1.712 ± 0.085 mg/mL). HMT makes starch obtain a more rigid structure, limits its swelling ability, and reduces paste viscosity and amylose leaching. At the same time, proteins also improve starch's short-range order, acting as a physical barrier to digestion. Rheological and low-field NMR analyses revealed that protein enhanced the complexes' shear stability and water-binding capacity. These findings enrich the understanding of how proteins from different sources affect starch digestion under HMT, aiding the creation of nutritious, hypoglycemic foods.

Impact of starch chain length distributions on physicochemical properties and digestibility of starches

Changing starch structure at different levels is a promising approach to promote desirable metabolic responses. Chain length distribution (CLD) is among the starch structural characteristics having a potential to determine properties of starch-based products. Therefore, the objective of the current review is to summarize recent findings on CLD and its impact on physicochemical properties and digestion. Investigations undertaken to enhance understanding of starch structure have shown clearly that CLD is a significant determining factor in modulating starch digestibility. Enzymatic modifications and processing treatments alter the CLD of starch, which in turn affects the rate of digestion, but the underlying molecular mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. Even though advances have been made in manipulating CLD using different methods and to correlate the changes with various functional properties, in general the area needs further investigations to open new awareness for enhancing healthiness of starchy foods.

Combined effect of heat moisture and ultrasound treatment on the physicochemical, thermal and structural properties of new variety of purple rice starch

The advantages of physically modifying starch are evident: minimal environmental impact, no by-products, and straightforward control. The impact of dual modification on starch properties is contingent upon modification conditions and starch type. Herein, we subjected purple rice starch (PRS) to heat-moisture treatment (HMT, 110 °C, 4 h) with varying moisture content, ultrasound treatment (UT, 50 Hz, 30 min) with different ultrasonic power, and a combination of HMT and UT. Our findings reveal that UT following HMT dispersed starch granules initially aggregated by HMT and resulted in a rougher granule surface. Rheological analysis showcased a synergistic effect of HMT and UT, enhancing the fluidity of PRS and reinforcing its resistance to deformation in paste form. The absorbance ratio R1047/1015 indicates that increased moisture content during HMT and high ultrasound power for UT reduced the short-range order degree (1.69). However, the combined HMT-UT exhibited an increased R1047/1015 (1.38-1.64) compared to HMT alone (1.29-1.45), likely due to short-chain rearrangement. Notably, the A-type structure of PRS remained unaltered, but overall crystallinity significantly decreased (23.01 %-28.56 %), consistent with DSC results. In summary, physical modifications exerted significant effects on PRS, shedding light on the mechanisms governing the transformation of structural properties during HMT-UT.

Incorporating edible oil during cooking tailors the microstructure and quality features of brown rice following heat moisture treatment

While brown rice (BR) has numerous nutritional properties, the consumption potential of which is seriously restricted since the poor cooking quality and undesirable flavor. Here, edible oils (pork lard and corn oil, 1-5 wt%) were incorporated during the cooking of BR following heat moisture treatment. Incorporating corn oil rather than lard significantly ameliorated the texture properties (e.g. hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness) and sensory properties of cooked BR. Both lard- and corn oil-incorporated cooked BR showed obvious structural changes accompanied by the formation of amylose-lipid complexes during cooking. It was confirmed that the incorporation of lard and corn oil allowed a higher degree of short-range molecular order, more V-type starch crystallites, and elevated nano-structural arrangements. Additionally, a decreased hardness (from 559.04 g to 424.18 g and 385.91 g, respectively) and enriched resistant starch (RS) were also observed, the highest RS content (15.95 % and 16.32 %, respectively) was observed when 1 wt% of lard and corn oil were incorporated.

Effect of different heat-moisture treatment times on the structure, physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of japonica starch

Modified starch was prepared from japonica starch (JS) by heat-moisture treatments (HMT). Under the same moisture content and HMT temperature, the effects of various HMT times on the structural, properties of JS and its in vitro digestibility properties were investigated. The results showed that adhesion occurred between the particles of japonica starch after the HMT, and there were depressions on the surface. The size of the JS particles increased, the short-range ordering and relative crystallinity of the HMT-modified starch increased and gradually decreased, reaching a peak of 36.51 % at 6 h, as the HMT time was extended. The pasting indexes of HMT-modified starch decreased and then increased with the increase of the HMT time; compared with JS, the thermal stability of HMT-modified starch increased while the pasting enthalpy decreased. All the HMT-modified starches were weakly gelatinous systems and pseudoplastic fluids. Following HMT, the amount of resistant starch (RS) and slowly digested starch (SDS) grew initially before declining. The amount of RS in HMT-modified starch peaked at 24.28 % when the HMT time was 6 h. The results of this research can serve as a theoretical foundation for the creation of modified japonica starch and its use in the food industry.

Pulsed light treatment enhances starch hydrolysis and improves starch physicochemical properties of germinated brown rice

BACKGROUND

Recently, germinated brown rice (GBR) has gained substantial attention as a functional food because of its nutritional attributes. Notably, pulsed light technology (PLT) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing rice germination and, consequently, has improved the nutritional and functional qualities of GBR-derived products. However, further research is required to comprehensively understand the impact of PLT on GBR physicochemical properties. The present study aimed to investigate the stimulating effects of PLT on starch hydrolysis, starch structure and functional properties of GBR.

RESULTS

The PLT substantially boosted α-amylase activity during brown rice germination, leading to a 10.9% reduction in total starch content and a 17.3% increase in reducing sugar content, accompanied by elevated free water levels. Structural analysis indicated no changes in starch crystalline types, whereas gelatinization temperature slightly increased. Pasting properties exhibited a significant drop in peak viscosity. Scanning electron microscopy showed surface erosion of starch granules with microstructural changes. Furthermore, correlation analysis established positive links between α-amylase activity, reducing sugar accumulation, starch structure and functional properties in GBR.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates that PLT enhanced the physicochemical properties of GBR starch, significantly improving the stability of GBR products, thereby contributing to expanded applicability of rice starch in the food industry. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Starch ordered structures control starch reassembly behaviors during heat-moisture treatment for modulating its digestibility

This study investigated the effect of starch crystallinity on starch reassembly behaviors during the heat-moisture treatment (HMT) using starches with A-type crystal content of 0.00%-19.03%. The results showed that HMT reduced the native starch crystal content from 19.03% to 15.02% and increased starch thermostability, leading to a decrease in rapidly digestible starch (RDS) content from 86.91% to 76.71%. Moreover, starches containing a crystal content of 2.51%-8.11% exhibited significant reassembly during the HMT, and the resulting modified starches had more crystals and less RDS of 63.43%-69.31%. Interestingly, starches lacked A-type crystals but had some helical structures exhibiting A-type crystalline structures and lower digestibility after HMT. These findings verified that starch could significantly reassemble to form crystalline structures during the HMT. Controlling the crystal content of starch granules, particularly between 2.51% and 8.11%, was a promising approach for promoting starch reassembly during HMT and reducing starch digestibility.

Effects of peanut oligopeptides on the pasting properties of potato starch and digestive characteristics of dry, flat potato starch noodles

In this study, we developed dry, flat potato starch noodles with an ideal taste and low digestibility. Peanut oligopeptide and potato starch were combined to form dry, flat potato starch noodles containing different peanut oligopeptide contents using a steam-slice method. Adding 5 % and 10 % peanut oligopeptides maintained the dry, flat starch noodles' quality. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that dry, flat starch noodles containing peanut oligopeptides had more pores with pore sizes ranging from 0.30 μm to 2.00 μm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that peanut oligopeptide promoted the recrystallization of amylopectin during the retrogradation process after gelatinization, and the crystallinity of noodles ranged from 4.31 % (control noodles) to 18.24 % (noodles containing 10 % peanut oligopeptides). An in vitro simulated digestion test showed that the slowly digestible starch and resistant starch contents of noodles containing 10 % peanut oligopeptides were 18.24 % and 22.03 %-significantly higher than control starch noodles (14.88 % and 9.9 %, respectively). Therefore, when peanut oligopeptides were added to dry, flat starch noodles, it was a promising material for lowering blood sugar levels after meals.

A Study on the Structural and Digestive Properties of Rice Starch-Hydrocolloid Complexes Treated with Heat-Moisture Treatment

Rice starch-hydrophilic colloid complexes (SHCs) were prepared by incorporating xanthan gum and locust bean gum into natural rice starch. Subsequently, they underwent hygrothermal treatment (H-SHC) to investigate their structural and digestive properties with varying colloid types and added amounts of H-SHC. The results demonstrated that heat-moisture treatment (HMT) led to an increase in resistant starch (RS) content in rice starch. This effect was more pronounced after the addition of hydrophilic colloid, causing RS content to surge from 8.42 ± 0.39% to 38.36 ± 3.69%. Notably, the addition of locust bean gum had a more significant impact on enhancing RS content, and the RS content increased with the addition of hydrophilic colloids. Enzyme digestion curves indicated that H-SHC displayed a lower equilibrium concentration (C∞), hydrolysis index (HI), and gluconeogenesis index (eGI). Simultaneously, HMT reduced the solubility and swelling power of starch. However, the addition of hydrophilic colloid led to an increase in the solubility and swelling power of the samples. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that hydrophilic colloid encapsulated the starch granules, affording them protection. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that HMT resulted in the decreased crystallinity of the starch granules, a trend mitigated by the addition of hydrophilic colloid. Infrared (IR) results demonstrated no formation of new covalent bonds but indicated increased short-range ordering in H-SHC. Rapid viscosity analysis and differential scanning calorimetry indicated that HMT substantially decreased peak viscosity and starch breakdown, while it significantly delayed the onset, peak, and conclusion temperatures. This effect was further amplified by the addition of colloids. Rheological results indicated that H-SHC displayed lower values for G', G″, and static rheological parameters compared to natural starch. In summary, this study offers valuable insights into the development of healthy, low-GI functional foods.

Characterization and Evaluation of Heat-Moisture-Modified Black and Red Rice Starch: Physicochemical, Microstructural, and Functional Properties

This study sought to evaluate starch from black and red rice modified by heat-moisture, investigating the extraction yield, starch and amylose content, color, and phenolic compounds. The water and oil absorption capacity, whole milk and zero lactose absorption index, syneresis index, and texture were also analyzed. Microstructural analysis included Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The heat-moisture treatment (HMT) reduced the extraction yield and the starch and amylose content, with native black rice starch having the highest values for these parameters. The modification also affected the color and phenolic compounds of the starch, making it darker and changing its appearance. The modification improved the absorption of water, oil, and milk, reducing syneresis and increasing stability during storage. The starch surface was altered, especially for modified black rice starch, with larger agglomerates. The type of starch also changed from A to Vh, with lower relative crystallinity. The textural properties of modified red rice starch were also significantly altered. The HMT proved to be a viable and economical option to modify the analyzed parameters, influencing the texture and physicochemical properties of pigmented rice starch, expanding its applications, and improving its stability during storage at temperatures above 100 °C.

Effects of milling on texture and in vitro starch digestibility of oat rice

Compared with other oat products, consumers in China prefer oat rice and porridge made from naked oat. However, this oat product usually has poor sensory acceptance, which is directly related to the texture properties. This study aimed to use the milling method to improve the oat rice texture. The nutrient component, microstructure, pasting, and thermal properties of oat treated with different degrees of milling (0 s, 20 s, 40 s, 60 s, and 80 s) were researched. The results showed that milling would damage the bran layer of oat rice, increasing starch, β-glucan, total leached solids content, and the gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH). Meanwhile, oil, protein content, the pasting viscosity, and the pasting temperature were decreased. Milling made oat rice sticky and soft, and the bound water and non-flowing water migrated like flowing water. The cross-section of oat rice showed that milling damaged the surface of oat rice, which was beneficial to water entry and starch dissolution, and increased the viscosity of oat rice. When the milling time was 40 s and 60 s, the appearance, aroma, taste, texture, and overall acceptability of oat porridge were better. Moreover, rapid digestion fraction (k1) and slow digestion fraction (k2) are the lowest and have the effect of low blood glucose rise rate.

Effects of biochar coupled with chemical and organic fertilizer application on physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) starch

Common buckwheat starch, a functional ingredient, has wide food and non-food applications. Excessive chemical fertilizer application during grain cultivation decreases quality. This study examined the effects of different combinations of chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and biochar treatment on the physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of starch. The amendment of both organic fertilizer and biochar was observed to have a greater impact on the physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of common buckwheat starch in comparison to organic fertilizer amendment solely. The combined application of biochar, chemical, and organic nitrogen in an 80:10:10 ratio significantly increased the amylose content, light transmittance, solubility, resistant starch content, and swelling power of the starch. Simultaneously, the application reduced the proportion of amylopectin short chains. Additionally, this combination decreased the size of starch granules, weight-average molecular weight, polydispersity index, relative crystallinity, pasting temperature, and gelatinization enthalpy of the starch compared to the utilization of chemical fertilizer alone. The correlation between physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility was analyzed. Four principal components were obtained, which accounted for 81.18 % of the total variance. These findings indicated that the combined application of chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and biochar would improve common buckwheat grain quality.

Study on physicochemical, structural, and functional properties of Zhengdan958 and Xianyu335 cornstarch from newly harvested corn under postharvest ripening conditions at ambient temperature

The importance of starch in nutrition and industry is unquestionable. This study investigated the changes in physicochemical, structural, and functional properties of cornstarch from newly harvested Zhengdan958 (Zd958) and Xianyu335 (Xy335) corn during for 0, 20, 40, and 60 d at ambient temperature. The results showed no significant changes in the proximate components and apparent structure of Zd958 and Xy335 cornstarch under postharvest ripening conditions. Compared with 0 d, the molecular weight distribution and mass fraction of Zd958 and Xy335 cornstarch have changed significantly, the relative crystallinity (RC) has significantly increased from 26.4% to 26.5%-28.8% and 28.4%, and R1045/1022 has significantly increased from 0.828 to 0.826 to 0.843 and 0.883, respectively. The changes in structure indicated that the synthesis and rearrangement of cornstarch molecules formed highly ordered crystalline structures, and the ordered structures of long-range and short-range molecules increased. Moreover, the changes in structure affected the pasting characteristics and texture profiles of cornstarch, therefore, affecting the final food quality.

Removing starch granule-associated surface lipids affects structure of heat-moisture treated hull-less barley starch

The effects of starch granule-associated surface lipids removal on hull-less barley starch structure formed by heat-moisture treatment were investigated. Removing surface lipids made the peak at 2θ of 13^° disappear and resulted in higher lamellar peak intensity after harsh treatment and a lower reduction in mass fractal dimension (from 2.49 to 2.43) and radius of gyration (from 24.3 to 24.0) when temperature increased from 100 to 120 °C at 20 % moisture. Treatment at 25 % moisture and 120 °C decreased relative crystallinity (from 15.73 % to 7.43 %) and Gaussian peak area (from 646.7 to 137.7) of native starch, and decreased relative crystallinity (from 14.24 % to 12.56 %) and Gaussian peak area (from 604.1 to 539.6) for starch without surface lipids. Different trends of change in lamellar thickness, linear crystallinity, peak temperatures, and enthalpy of gelatinization were observed among modified starches with increasing temperature and/or moisture content. These results demonstrate that removing surface lipids changes structure of heat-moisture treated starch.

Effects of Heat-Moisture Treatment on the Digestibility and Physicochemical Properties of Waxy and Normal Potato Starches

Heat-moisture treatment (HMT) is a safe, environmentally friendly starch modification method that reduces the digestibility of starch and changes its physicochemical properties while maintaining its granular state. Normal potato starch (NPS) and waxy potato starch (WPS) were subjected to HMT at different temperatures. Due to erosion by high-temperature water vapor, both starches developed indentations and cracks after HMT. Changes were not evident in the amylose content since the interaction between the starch molecules affected the complexation of amylose and iodine. HMT increased pasting temperature of NPS from 64.37 °C to 91.25 °C and WPS from 68.06 °C to 74.44 °C. The peak viscosity of NPS decreased from 504 BU to 105 BU and WPS decreased from 384 BU to 334 BU. The crystallinity of NPS decreased from 33.0% to 24.6% and WPS decreased from 35.4% to 29.5%. While the enthalpy values of the NPS declined from 15.74 (J/g) to 6.75 (J/g) and WPS declined from 14.68 (J/g) to 8.31 (J/g) at 120 °C. The solubility and swelling power of NPS decreased while that of WPS increased at 95 °C. Due to the lack of amylose in WPS, at the same HMT processing temperature, the reduction in peak viscosity of treated WPS compared to that of native starch was smaller than that of NPS. The resistant starch (RS) content of NPS after HMT at 120 °C was 73.0%. The slowly digestible starch (SDS) content of WPS after HMT at 110 °C was 37.6%.

A review on application of molecular simulation technology in food molecules interaction

Molecular simulation is a new technology to analyze the interaction between molecules. This review mainly summarizes the application of molecular simulation technology in the food industry. This technology has been employed to assess structural changes of biomolecules, the interaction between components, and the mechanism of physical and chemical property alterations. These conclusions provide a deeper understanding of the molecular interaction mechanism in foods, break through the limitations of scientific experiments and avoid blind and time-consuming scientific research. In this paper, the advantages and development trends of molecular simulation technology in the food research field are described. This methodology can be used to contribute to further studies of the mechanism of molecular interactions in food, confirm experimental results and provide new ideas for research in the field of food sciences.

Effects of Corn and Broken Rice Extrusion on the Feed Intake, Nutrient Digestibility, and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Piglets

Simple Summary

Extruded cereals are largely used in newly weaned piglet diets to increase nutrient digestibility and palatability. Our findings showed that corn and broken rice extrusion diets generated negative effects on average daily feed intake (−63.5 g/day, p = 0.054) and average daily gain (−60.6 g/d, p = 0.015) in weaned piglets. Decreased feed intake was associated with increased plasma levels of the gut-derived hormones, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), which may have been attributed to increased microbiota pathogen abundance, including Sarcina, Clostridium_sensu_strictio_1, and Terrisporobacter, and decreased short-chain fatty acid-producing microbiota, such as Lactobaillaceae and Bifidobateriaceae. Our results showed that extruded cereals should be used cautiously when formulating diets for newly weaned piglets.

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of corn and rice extrusion diets on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and gut microbiota in weaned piglets. Animals were divided into four dietary groups and fed a controlled diet containing (1) 62.17% corn (CORN), 15% soybean, 10% extruded full-fat soybean, and 6% fishmeal (2) half the corn replaced by extruded corn (ECORN), (3) broken rice (RICE), and (4) extruded broken rice (ERICE) for 28 days. Rice supplementation increased dry matter total tract digestibility and gross energy. Extruded cereals generated a lower average daily feed intake (ADFI) at 15–28 and 1–28 days, decreased average daily growth (ADG) at 15–28 and 1–28 days, and a lowered body weight (BW) on day 28, regardless of cereal type. Dietary extruded cereals increased the appetite-regulating hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY). Piglets fed extruded cereals displayed low short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in plasma and low Lactobaillaceae and Bifidobateriaceae levels in feces, whereas a higher abundance of the potential pathogens Sarcina, Clostridium_sensu_strictio_1 and Terrisporobacter was observed. Piglets fed extruded cereals displayed significantly lower gas and SCFA levels during in vitro fermentation. Combined, 50% corn substituted with extruded corn or broken rice decreased piglet growth performance, possibly by altering their microbiota.

Rheological Properties of Wheat Flour Modified by Plasma-Activated Water and Heat Moisture Treatment and in vitro Digestibility of Steamed Bread

The study investigated the effects of plasma-activated water (PAW) and heat moisture treatment (HMT) on the rheological properties of wheat flour and the in vitro digestibility of steamed bread partially replaced by the modified wheat flour. After HMT, the gelatinization temperature of wheat flour increased and the gelatinization enthalpy reduced. The solubility and swelling power of wheat flour increased after the heat-moisture treatment. The solubility of modified flour after PAW-HMT treatment was lower than that of distilled water (DW)-HMT at the same temperature. The wheat flour with HMT had higher storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G"), and had better ductility and deformability. Common wheat flour was partially replaced by modified flour to make steamed bread. The results indicated that the volume, height, diameter and specific volume of steamed bread were significantly decreased with the addition of HMT flour. However, the hardness, viscosity and chewiness increased significantly. The resistant starch content of steamed bread with the modified wheat flour increased. The results provide new insights for the development of new functional steamed bread.

A review of wheat starch analyses: Methods, techniques, structure and function

Wheat starch has received much attention as an important source of dietary energy for humans, an interesting carbohydrate and a polymeric material. The understanding of the structure and function of wheat starch has always been accompanied by newer technological tools. On the one hand, the general knowledge of wheat starch is constantly being enriched. On the other hand, an increasing number of studies are trying to add new insights to what is already known from two frontier perspectives, namely, wheat starch supramolecular structures and wheat starch fine structures (CLDs). This review describes the structure and function of wheat starch from the perspective of wheat starch analysis techniques (instruments).

Effect of Heat-Moisture Treatments on Digestibility and Physicochemical Property of Whole Quinoa Flour

The starch digestion processing of whole grain foods is associated with its health benefits in improving insulin resistance. This study modified the digestibility of whole quinoa flour (WQ) via heat-moisture treatment (HMT), HMT combined with pullulanase (HMT+P), HMT combined with microwave (HMT+M), and HMT combined with citric acids (HMT+A), respectively. Results showed that all the treatments significantly increased (p < 0.05) the total dietary fiber (TDF) content, amylose content, and resistant starch (RS) content, however, significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the amylopectin content and rapidly digestible starch (RDS) content of WQ. HMT+P brought the highest TDF content (15.3%), amylose content (31.24%), and RS content (15.71%), and the lowest amylopecyin content (30.02%) and RDS content (23.65%). HMT+M brought the highest slowly digestible starch (SDS) content (25.09%). The estimated glycemic index (eGI) was respectively reduced from 74.36 to 70.59, 65.87, 69.79, and 69.12 by HMT, HMT+P, HMT+M, and HMT+A. Moreover, a significant and consistent reduction in the heat enthalpy (ΔH) of WQ was observed (p < 0.05), after four treatments. All these effects were caused by changes in the starch structure, as evidenced by the observed conjunction of protein and starch by a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), the decrease in relative crystallinity, and transformation of starch crystal.

Heat-Moisture Treatment Further Reduces In Vitro Digestibility and Enhances Resistant Starch Content of a High-Resistant Starch and Low-Glutelin Rice

A novel rice germplasm sbeIIb/Lgc1 producing grains rich in resistant starch (RS) but low in glutelin has been developed through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis for its potential benefits to patients with diabetes and kidney diseases. In this study, a hydrothermal approach known as heat-moisture treatment (HMT) was identified as a simple and effective method in reinforcing the nutritional benefits of sbeIIb/Lgc1 rice. As a result of HMT treatment at 120 °C for 2 h, significant reductions in in vitro digestibility and enhancements in RS content were observed in sbeIIb/Lgc1 rice flour when the rice flour mass fraction was 80% and 90%. The low-glutelin feature of sbeIIb/Lgc1 rice was not compromised by HMT. The potential impacts of HMT on a range of physicochemical properties of sbeIIb/Lgc1 rice flour have also been analyzed. HMT resulted in a darker color of rice flour, alteration in the semi-crystalline structure, an increase in gelatinization temperatures, and reductions in the pasting viscosities as the moisture content increased. This study provides vital data for the food industry to facilitate the application of this dual-functional rice flour as a health food ingredient.

Synergistic effect of lotus seed resistant starch and short-chain fatty acids on mice fecal microbiota in vitro

This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of lotus seed resistant starch (LRS) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) on mice fecal bacterial flora and the contents of SCFAs in vitro. Following 24 h of fermentation, 16S rRNA analysis revealed several differences in the fecal microbiota community structure among primal bacteria (PB), LRS and different SCFAs combined with LRS groups (SCFAs-LRS). The LRS group increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Allobaculum, Clostridium, Bacteroides and Prevotella. Among the SCFAs-LRS group, AA-LRS increased the relative abundance of Prevotella, and Bacillus. PA-LRS increased abundance of Sphingomonas and the BA-LRS group significantly increased the relative abundance of Rhizobiales, Brucellaceae and Ochrobactrum. Meanwhile, propionic acid and BA productions significantly increased in the BA-LRS group. The SCFAs-LRS group elicited a beneficial effect on the fecal microbiota by increasing production of SCFAs. We highlight the fact that the combination of LRS and SCFA can increase the contents of SCFAs produced by mice fecal microbiota. In short, the combination of LRS and SCFA can influence intestinal flora by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and can serve as new prebiotics for promoting health and disease management.

New insights into how starch structure synergistically affects the starch digestibility, texture, and flavor quality of rice noodles

The functionalities of gluten-free rice noodles are significantly affected by starch hierarchical structures. Identifying the structures that synergistically determine noodle integrated functionalities is vital to designing health-promoting starchy foods with desirable consumer sensory and nutritional qualities. This study reports on the changes in starch structures and functionalities (starch digestibility, texture, and flavor) of rice noodles during household cooking processes (steaming, boiling, and stir-frying), and describes an underlying structure-functionality relationship. Results show that all the cooking processes examined increased starch reassembled ordered structures, especially short-range ordered structures, helical and crystalline structures, and ordered aggregate structures. Steaming and boiling led to a decrease in rapidly digestible starch (RDS) and an increase in slowly digestible starch, while stir-frying yielded a reduction in RDS content and an increase in resistant starch in rice noodles. Steaming and boiling decreased while stir-frying increased the flavor variety of noodles. All cooking processes examined altered noodle textures, with a significant increase in hardness, gumminess, and chewiness. Structure-functionality relationships suggested short-range ordered structures, crystalline structures, and the ordered molecular and aggregate structures of noodles synergistically determined starch digestion, texture, and flavor. By structuring such key structures, the digestion, texture, and flavor of rice noodles can thus be reasonably controlled.

Protease Hydrolysates Ameliorates Inflammation and Intestinal Flora Imbalance in DSS-Induced Colitis Mice

Wheat germ and fish skin usually has not been completely utilized and sometimes may be discarded, thus causing a lot of waste. Here, we aim at exploring the therapeutic anti-inflammatory effects of protease hydrolysates of wheat germ and fish skin on the ulcerative colitis (UC) mice. In the current study, wheat germ protein hydrolysates (WGPH) and fish skin gelatin hydrolysates (FSGH) treated mice had a longer colon than the DSS-induced mice. Moreover, protease hydrolysates reversed DSS-induced gut dysbiosis. Protease hydrolysates were likely to shift the balance of the intestinal flora on inflammation. In summary, these findings suggested that protease hydrolysates might serve as a latent therapy for UC treatment.

Effects of thermal properties and behavior of wheat starch and gluten on their interaction: A review

Starch and gluten, the most important macromolecules in wheat flour, vary in thermal properties. The thermal behavior of starch, gluten and their complexes during the manufacture and quality control of flour products need to be accurately understood. However, the high complexity of starch-gluten systems impedes the accurate description of their interactions. When heated within varying temperature ranges and when water molecules are involved, the behaviors of amylose and amylopectin change, and the properties of the starch are modified. Moreover, important indicators of starch granules such as gelatinization temperature, peak viscosity, and so on, which are encapsulated by the gluten matrix, are altered. Meanwhile, the high-temperature environment induces the opening of the intrachain disulfide bonds of gliadin, leading to an increase in the probability of interchain disulfide bond formation in the gluten network system. These behaviors are notable and may provide insights into this complex interaction. In this review, the relationship between the thermal behavior of wheat starch and gluten and the quality of flour products is analyzed. Several methods used to investigate the thermal characteristics of wheat and its flour products are summarized, and some thermal interaction models of starch and gluten are proposed.

Synergistic stabilization of oil in water emulsion with chitin particles and tannic acid

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of CP and TA on stability of oil in water emulsion stabilized by the two components, so as to fabricate the most efficient chitin based emulsifying agents. It was found that there was synergistic effect for CP and TA in stabilizing emulsion, specifically, the complex of chitin particles (CP) (3 g/L) with tannic acid (TA) (2 g/L) produced the most physically and oxidatively stable oil-in-water emulsion compared with other groups in this study. This is because CP-TA (3/5) complex had the lowest zeta potential, the lowest the oil water interfacial tension, the highest viscosity and the highest content of TA with excellent antioxidant activity. Furthermore, this is because there was intense interaction between CP and TA in CP-TA complex from results of FTIR, XRD and ITC, which then result in the formation of large CP-TA particles.

Recent advances in heat-moisture modified cereal starch: Structure, functionality and its applications in starchy food systems

Cereals, one of the starch sources, have a tremendous and steady production worldwide. Starchy foods constitute the major part of daily calorie intake for humans. As a simple and green modification approach, heat-moisture treatment (HMT) could change the granular surface characteristics and size, crystalline and helical structure, as well as molecular organization of cereal starch. The changing degree is contingent on HMT parameters and botanical origin. Based on the hierarchical structure, this paper reviews functionalities of heat-moisture modified cereal starch (HMCS) reported in latest years. The functionality of HMCS could be affected by co-existing non-starch ingredients through non-covalent/covalent interactions, depolymerization or simply attachment/encapsulation. Besides, it summarizes the modulation of HMCS in dough rheology and final food products' quality. Selecting proper HMT conditions is crucial for achieving nutritious products with desirable sensory and storage quality. This review gives a systematic understanding about HMCS for the better utilization in food industry.