Metabolic effects of dietary carbohydrates: The importance of food digestion

High blood glucose and insulin concentrations, even if within the normal range, are associated with an increased risk to develop type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Dietary carbohydrates are the main determinants of blood glucose levels in the postprandial period; therefore, the effects of dietary carbohydrates on human health are strongly related to their rate of digestion in the small intestine. This has raised much interest on food properties able to retard carbohydrate digestion and absorption. This review is focused to examine food properties which influence carbohydrate digestion in order to predict their potential influence on health markers. Among them, it is worth to underline the role of viscosity, the physical form of the food, cooking methods and processing, the type of starch (amylose or amylopectin), the presence of anti-nutrients and the amount of fiber, fat, and proteins. In this respect particularly relevant is the type of starch present in the food, since amylose is slowly digested by intestinal α-amylases while the digestion of amylopectin is faster. However, the food component that has the strongest impact on digestion and absorption of dietary carbohydrates is dietary fiber that modulates the postprandial glucose rise by multiple mechanisms. In fact, dietary fibers may increase ingesta viscosity, thus delaying the gastric emptying time and slowing both carbohydrate digestion and the rate of glucose transport to enterocytes. In addition, they can influence the composition of the gut microbiota and induce the production of short-chain fatty acids that beneficially affect glucose and lipid metabolism. In short, the knowledge of food characteristics able to retard carbohydrate digestion and absorption in the intestine can help modify food properties with the aim of improving their functionality.     

Effect of inclusion of soluble and insoluble fibres into extruded breakfast cereal products made with reverse screw configuration

Five dietary fibre rich ingredients were used at 5%, 10% and 15% replacement levels in a white flour cereal base to produce an extruded cereal product. The inclusion of the dietary fibres into the flour bases had no significant effect on the expansion ratio of the products. However, the bulk density of the extruded products increased with inulin addition. The pasting properties of the raw flour and fibre base as well as the extruded products were altered with the incorporation of dietary fibre, with guar gum enriched products showing elevated peak and final viscosity readings. This appeared to be related to moisture manipulation and hence the regulation of gelatinisation. In vitro starch hydrolysis of the raw bases and the extruded samples illustrated that the extrusion process significantly increased the availability of carbohydrates for digestion. Additionally, the inclusion of dietary fibres in the raw bases significantly reduced the rate and extent of carbohydrate hydrolysis of the extruded products. As such the addition of dietary fibres to extruded products reduced the amount of readily digestible starch components of breakfast products, and increased the amount of slowly digestible carbohydrates.     

Evaluation of potential mechanisms by which dietary fibre additions reduce the predicted glycaemic index of fresh pastas

A range of commercially available dietary fibres (DFs), representing both insoluble and soluble forms, were used in the production of pasta. Addition of fibre was at a range of levels (2.5–10%). The potential glycaemic index of these pastas was then evaluated using an in vitro model system to determine starch digestibility and sugar release. Scanning electron microscopy was used to relate structural properties of the pasta to starch degradation. The resulting predicted glycaemic indexes illustrated that the inclusion of DFs into pasta can reduce the glycaemic index of an already low GI food by up to 40%. As such, compared to the predicted glycaemic index value for the control fresh pasta (GI = 45), inclusion of pea fibre, guar gum and locust bean gum yielded pasta with GI values of 39.2, 37.9 and 37 respectively. Thus the type of dietary fibre used was important in the rate of starch digestion observed during the in vitro process. Equally, the level of fibre inclusion was of importance with an inclusion rate of 2.5% generally resulting in pasta with a predictive GI of 42.1, whereas an inclusion of 10% yielded pasta with a GI value of 37.2. Such reductions could be achieved through a number of possible mechanisms including antagonistic and synergistic relationships existing between DF’s and other food components, the effect of DF’s in entrapping pasta particles and thus inhibiting starch degradation, and the restriction of water movement during the cooking of pasta products, thus indicating that starch swelling is impaired.     

The nutritional property of endosperm starch and its contribution to the health benefits of whole grain foods

Purported health benefits of whole grain foods in lowering risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer are supported by epidemiological studies and scientific researches. Bioactive components including dietary fibers, phytochemicals, and various micronutrients present in the bran and germ are commonly considered as the basis for such benefits. Endosperm starch, as the major constituent of whole grains providing glucose to the body, has been less investigated regarding its nutritional property and contribution to the value of whole grain foods. Nutritional quality of starch is associated with its rate of digestion and glucose absorption. In whole grain foods, starch digestion and glucose delivery may vary depending on the form in which the food is delivered, some with starch being rapidly and others slowly digested. Furthermore, there are other inherent factors in whole grain products, such as phenolic compounds and dietary fibers, that may moderate glycemic profiles. A good understanding of the nutritional properties of whole grain starch is important to the development of food processing technologies to maximize their health benefits.     

Whole grain rice: Updated understanding of starch digestibility and the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism

Nowadays, resulting from disordered glucose and lipid metabolism, metabolic diseases (e.g., hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes, and obesity) are among the most serious health issues facing humans worldwide. Increasing evidence has confirmed that dietary intervention (with healthy foods) is effective at regulating the metabolic syndrome. Whole grain rice (WGR) rich in dietary fiber and many bioactive compounds (e.g., γ-amino butyric acid, γ-oryzanol, and polyphenols) can not only inhibit starch digestion and prevent rapid increase in the blood glucose level, but also reduce oxidative stress and damage to the liver, thereby regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. The rate of starch digestion is directly related to the blood glucose level in the organism after WGR intake. Therefore, the effects of different factors (e.g., additives, cooking, germination, and physical treatments) on WGR starch digestibility are examined in this review. In addition, the mechanisms from human and animal experiments regarding the correlation between the intake of WGR or its products and the lowered blood glucose and lipid levels and the reduced incidence of diabetes and obesity are discussed. Moreover, information on developing WGR products with the health benefits is provided.     

植物蛋白及其酶水解产物对淀粉消化性的影响研究综述

谷物制品主要组分为淀粉,由于它容易在发酵过程中被降解而因消化吸收快,易引发人体餐后血糖水平上升,从而增加一些慢性疾病的发病率,如肥胖、糖尿病等。出于对人体饮食健康的重视度,调控米制品中淀粉消化性能而变得愈加重要。淀粉的消化率在很大程度上取决于食品加工中形成的食品成分和微观结构,确定食品成分之间的相互作用对于设计低消化率的淀粉食品也至关重要。本文主要是集中概述植物蛋白及其酶水解产物与淀粉间形成二元复合物体系并对其结构、功能性质的变化,进而对淀粉消化性的影响,目的为更好地获得有效调控淀粉消化性的方式,深入探讨淀粉复合物的消化性能的作用。明晰和掌控淀粉在特定加工过程中结构的转变及其与其他食品组分形成特定慢消化或抗消化结构域的机制是当前功能营养米制品开发亟待解决的问题之一,这一综述也是为淀粉食品的开发利用提供参考。     

The microstructure of starchy food modulates its digestibility

ABSTRACT

Starch is the main carbohydrate in human nutrition and shows a range of desired food properties. It has been demonstrated that fast digestion of starchy food can induce many health issues (e.g., hyperglycaemia, diabetes, etc.); therefore, how to modulate its digestion is an interesting topic. Previous studies have revealed that the microstructure and digestibility of starchy food of different botanical origin or from multiple processes are quite different; modulating starch digestion by retaining or altering its microstructure may be effective. In the present review, the current knowledge of the relationship between microstructural changes to starchy food and its digestibility at molecular, cell and tissue, and food processing levels is summarized. New technologies focused on microstructure studies and ways to manipulate food microstructure to modulate starch digestibility are also reviewed. In particular, some insights focusing on the future study of microstructure and the digestibility of starchy food are also suggested.     

Modifying glucose release from high carbohydrate foods with natural polymers extracted from cereals

BACKGROUND: Sustained elevated blood glucose and insulin levels are linked to many health problems that may be prevented or better managed by controlling glucose availability for uptake. Glucose release from consumed starch may be altered by the processing conditions, particle size and structural features of the food, and by the addition of dietary fibres. Many approaches to lower glucose release are not suitable for all high carbohydrate foods, especially bakery products. Methods to modulate the starch digestion without compromising product quality are required. This study describes an approach to protect the granules and alter the particle size of the starch component using an extract from barley (BE). Wheat starch was suspended in the BE at different ratios and cast dried, milled to 2–3 mm particles, or finely ground to produce different particle sizes. RESULTS: The BE treatments resulted in the formation of clusters of starch granules embedded in a matrix of fibres and protein. The rate of in vitro starch digestion was decreased, and further reduction occurred when the particle size of the starch material increased. CONCLUSION: The extract provided a physical barrier that limited the starch exposure to the digestion enzymes and water that led to reduction in starch digestion and the release of glucose Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Physico-chemical properties of commercial fibres from different sources: A comparative approach

The lower intake of fibre and fibre-containing foods has refocused the food industry on the benefits of incorporating different fibres in the foodstuff. Nowadays, a whole range of fibres are available in the market, but sometimes a good choice becomes complicated due to their varied physico-chemical properties. In order to give some light when selecting fibres, a comparative study regarding some physical properties of commercial fibres from different sources is presented, with a view to increasing their use in food products, namely bakery products. Commercial fibres included in this study were hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, cellulose, locust bean gum, guar gum, inulin, galactooligosaccharides, oat and wheat fibres, and fibres extracted from apple and bamboo. Particle size distribution (PSD) of the dry commercial fibres ranged from around 10 to 334 μm; moreover PSD in wet (water and ethanol) form was also determined to have precise information about their behaviour when processing. Cereal fibres (oat 600 and wheat) exhibited the highest values for hydration properties (swelling, water holding and water binding capacity). Only the hydrocolloids (HPMC, locust bean gum and guar gum), with the exception of cellulose, yielded highly viscous solutions during the heating-cooling cycle; moreover oat 600 and apple fibre developed viscous solutions after cooling. HPMC, locust bean gum and guar gum significantly augmented the four SRC values, thus those hydrocolloids affected the relative contributions to water absorption of proteins, carbohydrates, damaged starch and pentosans. Fibre sources and degree of replacement significantly affected the SRC values for the four solvents in all the fibre groups, with the exception of lactic acid SRC in the case of cereal fibres. Differences in fibres effect on wheat flour quality can be easily detected by assessing solvent retention capacity, which can give information on the end use functionality of the wheat flour.     

Comparison of effects of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica sp) fruit,arabic gum,carrageenan, alginic acid,locust bean gum and citrus pectin on viscosity and in vitro digestibility of casein

The consumption of high levels of fibres can induce a decrease in both food digestibility and nutrient availability. Prickly pear is a pectin‐rich fruit and it is possible to use it to decrease plasma cholesterol levels. Its effect on food digestibility deserves attention. This effect was determined by using a mixture of a constant quantity of casein and an increasing quantity (10, 20, 25% of the casein) of prickly pear pulp, skin and seed. In parallel, the effect of similar mixtures of carrageenan, gum arabic, locust bean gum, alginic acid and citrus pectin with casein was also studied. The flow behaviour of the different mixtures was determined and their digestibilities were measured using an in vitro digestion cell device. The apparent viscosities of the mixtures with prickly pear components and gum arabic were similar. The nature and level of fibres in the diet modified nitrogen release in the in vitro digestion cell model. The pulp of the prickly pear decreased the digestibility of the casein‐based diet to a greater extent than the other soluble fibres, whatever the percentage used. The results suggest that the decrease in N release in the digestion cell model is due to the interaction of the fibres with the enzymes or casein rather than to the apparent viscosity of the mixtures. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

糙米酚类物质对淀粉消化特性的影响研究进展

糖尿病等慢性病是全球范围内重要的公共卫生问题。淀粉摄入是导致餐后血糖升高的主要原因之一。近年来研究表明，多酚类物质能够延缓淀粉的消化速率。糙米富含丰富的酚类物质，作为重要的全谷物来源，其营养健康功效在全世界得到广泛共识。糙米酚类物质特有基团如酚羟基对消化酶类产生一定的抑制作用，在加工过程中淀粉自身结构的改变也使消化酶类对其的作用减小，不仅能有效控制淀粉的消化速率及消化率，还能改善食品品质。本文从糙米中酚类物质及其抗氧化活性、淀粉消化过程、糙米多酚对淀粉消化特性的影响及其作用机制等几个方面进行综述，旨在阐明全谷物糙米酚类物质延缓淀粉消化的科学依据，为开发适用于慢性病人群、肥胖人群、超重人群、老年人群等的全谷物糙米基和淀粉基食品提供参考。     

Glycemic effect of potatoes

Potatoes are the world’s third largest food crop and the most extensively consumed root vegetable. They have high starch content and are a major source of dietary carbohydrate in human nutrition. This review article considers potatoes as a food crop, the properties of potato starch, and methods of preparing potatoes domestically for consumption, before considering the effects of potatoes on postprandial glycemia. Potatoes have been classified as a food that causes high postprandial glycemia, which over the long term may increase the risk of obesity and chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Methods for measuring the glycemic effects of potatoes are considered. In vivo methods, such as the glycemic index are discussed and compared with in vitro tests that measure the breakdown of available carbohydrates in potatoes. The potential for developing potato varieties that have more slowly-digestible starch, and hence a lower glycemic effect, is considered.     

淀粉类干豆与糖尿病饮食防控

综述了近年来国内外有关淀粉类干豆与糖尿病防控相关的研究证据和可能机制。研究表明,淀粉类干豆具有较低的血糖反应,摄入淀粉类干豆作为主食的一部分有利于降低肥胖、糖尿病及其并发症的发生风险。其原因可能与其较慢的消化速度、膳食纤维和抗营养因子的存在有关。     

混合膳食组成对体外消化过程中GI与食物消解的影响

对14种单品食物与8种混合膳食展开了体外消化实验,测定了消化过程中GI的变化过程,研究膳食中不同成分对血糖生成指数的影响,并通过显微镜观察食物在不同消化过程中结构和形貌变化,研究不同成分对食物消解过程的影响。根据食物碳水化合物的含量计算含有50 g碳水化合物的食物量,用50 g葡萄糖作为参照物,利用烧杯或者锥形瓶模拟人体食用食物后在胃部和小肠的4 h消化过程中葡萄糖变化情况。相对于单独的主食来说,加入蔬菜、肉类、蛋类或水果后的混合膳食出现明显的GI下降。研究食物消解过程也发现,混合膳食中米饭的形貌与结构变化会显著慢于单独米饭的外形变化;而挂面的消解趋势与其相反。结果证实了膳食纤维、脂肪和蛋白质会抑制淀粉类食物的消化过程,减缓葡萄糖释放速率。     

Effects of two contrasting dietary fibres on starch digestion,short‐chain fatty acid production and transit time in rats

Dietary fibres may cause dietary starch to escape digestion in the small intestine and enter the large intestine. If this results from the dietary fibres reducing the gastrointestinal transit time, those dietary fibres that reduce this the most would be expected to cause the most starch to escape digestion. We tested in rats the relative abilities of two contrasting dietary fibres, apple pectin (a soluble dietary fibre) and wheat straw (an insoluble, lignified dietary fibre), to reduce the whole gut transit time and to cause dietary starch to escape digestion. We provided male Wistar rats with a control, modified AIN‐76™ diet containing 20% fat but no dietary fibre, and with this diet containing 10% dietary fibre; the dietary fibre replaced the equivalent weight of starch in the control diet. Both dietary fibres, but particularly wheat straw, reduced the transit time compared with the fibre‐free control diet. Pectin, but not wheat straw, resulted in substantial amounts of starch in the caecal contents. This effect may result from the pectin increasing the viscosity of the digesta or causing it to gel. Large amounts of short‐chain fatty acids were found only in the caeca of rats provided with pectin. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

A critical review on anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of dietary resistant starch

abstract

“Diabesity” is the term to illustrate the interdependent relationship between obesity and diabetes. About 80% of the diabetic patients are diagnosed with obesity. Diabesity can be prevented by dietary interventions, especially by incorporating sufficient amount of resistant starch (RS). In the past few decades, RS has inspired the researchers due to its various health benefits. Differing from digestible starch, RS remains undigested in the small intestine, but in the large intestine, it is subjected to fermentation. This review intends to encapsulate the current information related to the dietary RS on diabetes and obesity. RS attenuate hyperglycemic, hyperinsulinemic and hyperlipidemic response in various subjects by restricting gluconeogenesis, bolstering glycogenesis, maintaining glucose and lipid homeostasis and ameliorating pancreatic dysfunction. Various food products were fortified with RS to enhance its dietary intake and were found to exhibit positive impact on human and animal models. This review identified and summarized the research gaps in the available literature.     

食物中抗性淀粉的研究进展

在查阅的近十几年对淀粉在人肠道内消化吸收的文献基础上,综述了食物中抗性淀粉的研究进展,抗性淀粉是指不能在健康正常人小肠中消化吸收的淀粉及其降解物食中物存在抗性淀粉可分为３类,物理包埋淀粉（ＲＳＩ）抗性淀粉颗粒（ＲＳ２）和老化淀粉（ＲＳ３）其检测一般采用体外肠道模拟酶解法,影响食物中抗性淀粉形成的因素主要有淀粉自身的理化性质,食物中的其它成分,处理方式和工艺以及食物形态等,抗性淀粉属于人体无法消化吸     

Food Ingredients as Anti-Obesity Agents: A Review

Overweight and obesity have a major impact on global health; their prevalence has rapidly increased in all industrialized countries in the past few decades and diabetes and hypertension are their direct consequences. Pharmacotherapy provides reinforcement for obesity treatment, but should be an adjunctive support to diet, exercise, and lifestyle modification. At present, only orlistat and sibutramine have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for long-term use, but sibutramine was withdrawn for sale by the European Medicines Agency. The development of functional foods for the prevention and/or treatment of obesity suppose an opportunity for the food market and involve the knowledge of the mechanisms of appetite and energy expenditure as well as the metabolic sensation of satiety. Strategies for weight control management affect gut hormones as potential targets for the appetite metabolic regulation, stimulation of energy expenditure (thermogenesis), and modifications in the metabolic activity of the gut microbiota. Functional foods for obesity may also include bioactive fatty acids, phenolic compounds, soybean, plant sterols, dietary calcium, and dietary fiber. This review intends to offer an overview of the present situation of the anti-obesity agents currently used in dietary therapy as well as some functional food ingredients with potentially anti-obesity effects.     

Highlights on Functional Foods,with Special Reference to Flaxseed

Abstract

Functional food is any food or food ingredients that may provide a health benefit through prevention or treatment of diseases and disorders.

Flaxseed is emerging as one of the key sources of nutrients and phytochemicals in the functional food arena. It is a leading source of alpha linolenic acid. Flaxseed also contains soluble fiber, gum, high quality protein and phenolic compound, lignans, therefore it is considered as a rich source of functional food ingredients that may have specific health advantages. It has potential health benefits in reducing the incidence of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. It also has beneficial effects on platelet aggregation and immune function. Flaxseed protein can be used as physiologic functional foods for patients with malnutrition during chronic liver diseases. Flaxseed lignans can control renal diseases and combat menopause symptoms.