Considerations for improvising fortified extruded rice products

Expanded porous-starch matrix as an alternative to porous starch granule: Present status, challenges, and future prospects

Exposing the hydrated-soft-starch matrix of intact grain or reconstituted flour dough to a high-temperature-short-time (HTST) leads to rapid vapor generation that facilitates high-pressure build-up in its elastic matrix linked to large deformation and expansion. The expanded starch matrix at high temperatures dries up quickly by flash vaporization of water, which causes loss of its structural flexibility and imparts a porous and rigid structure of the expanded porous starch matrix (EPSM). EPSM, with abundant pores in its construction, offers adsorptive effectiveness, solubility, swelling ability, mechanical strength, and thermal stability. It can be a sustainable and easy-to-construct alternative to porous starch (PS) in food and pharmaceutical applications. This review is a comparative study of PS and EPSM on their preparation methods, structure, and physicochemical properties, finding compatibility and addressing challenges in recommending EPSM as an alternative to PS in adsorbing, dispersing, stabilizing, and delivering active ingredients in a controlled and efficient way.

Enhancing micronutrient absorption through simultaneous fortification and phytic acid degradation

Phytic acid (PA), an endogenous antinutrient in cereals and legumes, hinders mineral absorption by forming less bioavailable, stable PA-mineral complexes. For individual micronutrients, the PA-to-mineral molar ratio below the critical level ensures better bioavailability and is achieved by adding minerals or removing PA from cereals and pulses. Although several PA reduction and fortification strategies are available, the inability to completely eradicate or degrade PA using available techniques always subdues fortification's impact by hindering fortified micronutrient absorption. The bioavailability of micronutrients could be increased through simultaneous PA degradation and fortification. Following primary PA reduction of the raw material, the fortification step should also incorporate additional essential control stages to further PA inactivation, improving micronutrient absorption. In this review, the chemistry of PA interaction with metal ions, associated controlling parameters, and its impact on PA reduction during fortification is also evaluated, and further suggestions were made for the fortification's success.