Addition of Anionic Polysaccharide Stabilizers Modulates In Vitro Digestive Proteolysis of a Chocolate Milk Drink in Adults and Children

Development of a Whey Protein Recovery Process Using Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) Extracts

Whey is the largest waste product of the cheese-making industry and the current methods of extracting the nutrients from it are costly and inefficient. This study assessed the feasibility of using crude polysaccharides to flocculate proteins from liquid whey waste. The flocculants used were a sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) extract, as well as commercial seaweed polysaccharides, alginate and k-carrageenan, to recover proteins from the liquid whey waste. Physicochemical and functional parameters including protein content, protein recovery efficiency, mineral content, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity, color, water- and oil-holding capacity, gelling capacity, foaming activity and stability, and emulsifying activity and stability were tested on the resulting flocculates. The yield of the dried flocculates by use of alginate, the sugar kelp polysaccharide extract (SKPE), and carrageenan were 1.66, 0.98, and 1.22 g/100 g of liquid whey with protein contents of 27.4%, 45.5%, and 37.5%, respectively. The protein recovery efficiency from the whey was 57.5%, 56.2%, and 57.9% using alginate, SKPE, and carrageenan, respectively. The alginate flocculate had the highest oil-holding capacity and foaming abilities while the carrageenan flocculate had the best gelling ability and the highest emulsifying activity and stability. TPC and antioxidant activity were highest in the SKPE flocculate. All three flocculates presented slightly different compositional and functional qualities, which could be used for a variety of products. This study showed that seaweed polysaccharides present a simple and effective way to extract protein from liquid whey waste while creating a functional and high-protein ingredient.

Carrageenan impact on digestive proteolysis of meat proteins in meatballs or soluble hydrolyzed collagen

In a health-conscious age, vivid discussion has been made on the healthfulness of processed foods and food additives. This study focuses on carrageenan (CGN), an approved but debated family of sulphated galactans from algae used as gelling, thickening and stabilizing agents but with indications of possible adverse effects, including as an inhibitor of digestive proteolysis. To challenge this inhibitory hypothesis, food-grade kappa-, iota and lambda-CGN preparations were used to produce beef meatballs whose proteolysis was studied using an in vitro digestion model coupled to various proteomic analyses. Results show that CGN anti-nutritional effects are abolished in beef meatballs. Specifically, proteomic analysis of gastric digesta of myosin light chain 1 (MYL1), alpha skeletal muscle (ACTA1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (ALDOA) reveal no appreciable differences in the profiles of bioaccessible peptides. Separate digestions of a soluble collagen hydrolysate show CGN does inhibit proteolysis of soluble collagen, therefore supporting the notion that the meat matrix confers a shielding effect that eliminates CGN ability to interfere with digestive proteolysis. Thus, this work shows that CGN ability to hinder digestive proteolysis may not apply to all foods and contributes evidence important to the discussions on CGN uses, indications and regulatory status.

Food biopolymer behaviors in the digestive tract: implications for nutrient delivery

Biopolymers are prevalent in both natural and processed foods, serving as thickeners, emulsifiers, and stabilizers. Although specific biopolymers are known to affect digestion, the mechanisms behind their influence on the nutrient absorption and bioavailability in processed foods are not yet fully understood. The aim of this review is to elucidate the complex interplay between biopolymers and their behavior in vivo, and to provide insights into the possible physiological consequences of their consumption. The colloidization process of biopolymer in various phases of digestion was analyzed and its impact on nutrition absorption and gastrointestinal tract was summarized. Furthermore, the review discusses the methodologies used to assess colloidization and emphasizes the need for more realistic models to overcome challenges in practical applications. By controlling macronutrient bioavailability using biopolymers, it is possible to enhance health benefits, such as improving gut health, aiding in weight management, and regulating blood sugar levels. The physiological effect of extracted biopolymers utilized in modern food structuring technology cannot be predicted solely based on their inherent functionality. It is essential to account for factors such as their initial consuming state and interactions with other food components to better understand the potential health benefits of biopolymers.

In vitro digestion models for the design of safe and nutritious foods

Responsible development of future foods requires in depth understanding of food digestion in the human body based on robust research models, ranging from in vitro models to randomized controlled human trials. This chapter overviews fundamental aspects of food digestion, namely bioaccessibility and bioavailability, and models mirroring gastric, intestinal, and colonic conditions. Second, the chapter demonstrates the potential of in vitro digestion models to help screen adverse effects of food additives, such as Titanium dioxide or carrageenan, or underpin the determinants of macro- and micronutrient digestion in different strata of the population, for example digestion of emulsions. Such efforts support rationalized design of functional foods, such as infant formulae, cheese, cereals and biscuits which are validated in vivo or in randomized controlled trials.

Food-grade carrageenans and their implications in health and disease

Food additives, often used to guarantee the texture, shelf-life, taste, and appearance of processed foods, have gained widespread attention due to their increased link to the growing incidence of chronic diseases. As one of the most common additives, carrageenans have been used in human diets for hundreds of years. While classified as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for human consumption, numerous studies since the 1980s have suggested that carrageenans, particularly those with random coil conformations, may have adverse effects on gastrointestinal health, including aggravating intestinal inflammation. While these studies have provided some evidence of adverse effects, the topic is still controversial. Some have suggested that the negative consequence of the consumption of carrageenans may be structure dependent. Furthermore, pre-existing conditions may predispose individuals to varied outcomes of carrageenan intake. In this review, structure-function relationships of various carrageenans in the context of food safety are discussed. We reviewed the molecular mechanisms by which carrageenans exert their biological effects. We summarized the findings associated with carrageenan intake in animal models and clinical trials. Moreover, we examined the interactions between carrageenans and the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disorders. This review argues for personalized guidance on carrageenan intake based on individuals' health status. Future research efforts that aim to close the knowledge gap on the effect of low-dose and chronic carrageenan intake as well as interactions among food additives should be conducive to the improved safety profile of carrageenans in processed food products.