Chemical composition and in vitro starch digestibility of corn tortillas with added amaranth flour

Background: Corn tortillas containing 20% (w/w) amaranth flour (AF) were kept in cold storage and analysed after various times for chemical composition and in vitro starch digestibility, including predicted glycemic index. Comparison was made with traditional nixtamalised corn flour (NCF) tortillas. Results: Lipid and protein contents were higher in mixed NCF/AF tortilla than in NCF tortilla. Available starch (AS) content was lower in NCF/AF tortilla and decreased during cold storage. However, this decrease was greater in NCF tortilla, suggesting slower starch retrogradation in NCF/AF tortilla. After 96 h of storage, total resistant starch (RS) content was higher in NCF tortilla than in NCF/AF tortilla. However, no differences were detected thereafter, indicating similar retrogradation after long storage times. Retrograded resistant starch contents indicated that only part of the total RS in tortilla is due to retrogradation, which agrees with the tendency recorded for AS and RS in both types of tortilla. α‐Amylolysis rates were similar in NCF/AF and NCF tortillas, decreasing with storage. The predicted glycemic index was always higher in NCF/AF tortilla, a pattern that might be due to the waxy‐type starch present in AF. Conclusion: NCF/AF tortilla might be suitable as a product with higher protein content and higher glycemic index than conventional NCF tortilla. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

In vitro starch bioavailability of corn tortillas with hydrocolloids

Tortillas were prepared using commercial hydrocolloids, stored for 7 and 14 days and their available, resistant and retrograded resistant starches, were evaluated alongside their in vitro starch digestibility. Available starch (AS) decreased with storage time and tortillas with hydrocolloids had lower values than the control sample. Tortillas elaborated with TC-20 gum did not present substantial differences in AS. Control tortilla had resistant starch (RS) content that increased with storage time but, in general, tortillas with hydrocolloids did not show any change in RS values with storage time, except tortillas with TC-1 gum that presented a slight increase after 7 storage days. Approximately 50% of RS is due to the retrogradation phenomenon as it was shown by the amount of retrograded resistant starch (RRS). Tortillas with added hydrocolloids had lower hydrolysis percentage and the hydrolysis was slower than in the control. In general, tortillas prepared with hydrocolloids had a lower tendency for retrogradation than control tortillas; it is important to consider this to obtain tortillas with better texture and lower RS content.     

Effect of endosperm type on texture and in vitro starch digestibility of maize tortillas

Tortilla is the main staple of Mexico and it is made using diverse maize varieties, which have different endosperm types. Three maize varieties with vitreous, intermediate and floury endosperms were used. Texture and starch digestibility were evaluated in freshly prepared and stored tortillas for 24, 48 and 72 h. Tortilla made with maize of vitreous endosperm had the highest force to rupture and the lowest distance of elongation, indicating more rigid texture. Stored tortillas had lower available starch content and higher effect was shown by tortilla of vitreous endosperm, pattern that agrees with the higher increase in the resistant starch content with the storage time. Fresh tortilla of floury endosperm showed the highest hydrolysis rate during the first 15 min followed by tortillas of intermediate and vitreous endosperms. Starch hydrolysis values decreased when storage time increased, in agreement with the resistant starch content in the stored tortillas. At the longest storage time (72 h) tortilla of floury endosperm presented higher hydrolysis rate, followed by tortilla of intermediate and vitreous endosperms. The endosperm type plays an important role in the textural and starch digestibility of fresh and stored tortillas.     

African maize porridge: a food with slow in vitro starch digestibility

The incidence of diabetes is very low in rural, traditionally living, South African Black people, but higher in the urbanised Black population. One factor, that could have contributed to the increased prevalence of diabetes, is the change in diet from maize porridge to bread. An in vitro method was used to determine the starch digestibility of African maize porridge compared to other cereal foods. Maize porridge had a much lower in vitro starch digestibility than white bread (P<0.001). There was a positive correlation (P=0.05) between rate of starch digestibility of maize porridge and endosperm hardness. Decreasing the particle size of the maize meal by conversion to maize flour did not increase starch digestibility. Both decreasing and increasing the cooking time decreased the starch digestibility. The predicted glycaemic index for maize porridge ranged from 39 to 50 (glucose standard), which suggests that maize porridge may be useful in the dietary management of diabetes.     

In vitro digestion rate and resistant starch content of tortillas stored at two different temperatures

In vitro indicators of starch bioavailability were evaluated in freshly prepared maize tortillas and compared to those exhibited by 24, 48 or 72 h-stored samples. Storage took place either at room temperature (approx. 25 °C) or under refrigeration (4 °C). Potentially available starch (AS) content decreased from 670 g kg⁻¹ in the control tortilla to 583 g kg⁻¹ in 72 h-stored preparations. Concomitant increases in total resistant starch (RS) and retrograded resistant starch (RRS) were recorded upon storage. RRS content in 72 h-stored samples (35-39 g kg⁻¹) doubled that of freshly prepared tortillas. Changes in AS, RS and RRS were not affected by storage temperature. Both initial rate and final point of starch hydrolysis by pancreatic amylase were reduced in samples kept for 48 and 72 h, without influence of storage temperature. Storage length is suggested as a major determinant of the bioavailability of starch in tortillas.     

面粉贮藏过程中铁化学形式的变化

将各种铁源加到面粉中,测定贮藏过程中铁化学形式的变化。乙二胺四乙酸铁钠和元素羰基铁粉在贮藏过程中变化不大,而硫酸亚铁和柠檬酸铁铵在贮藏过程中绝大部分变成了不溶性铁。      

Comparison of the expansion ability of fermented maize flour and cassava starch during baking

The modifications occurring during the fermentation (at 20 or 35 °C) and drying (under the sun or in an oven at 40 °C) of maize flour (ogi) and cassava starch along with their expansion ability during baking were characterised and compared. A high temperature accelerated the fermentation but favoured lactic acid synthesis for maize ogi and butyric acid for cassava starch. The increase in acidity was higher for maize, but dried maize ogi did not evidence any expansion ability whatever the experimental conditions. Cassava starch that had been fermented at 20 °C then sun‐dried presented the highest expansion ability. It was associated with low paste viscosities and high swelling and solubilisation values. When the fermentation was carried out at 35 °C, an annealing of cassava starch occurred that delayed starch gelatinisation and which could be involved in its lower baking expansion ability. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

In vitro digestibility of processed and fermented soya bean,cowpea and maize

Tropical legumes, ie soya bean and cowpea, were pre‐treated and subsequently fermented using pure cultures of Rhizopus spp. Impact of soaking, cooking and fermentation of the legumes on their digestibility was determined using an in vitro digestion method. Processing of white maize included, amongst others, natural lactic acid fermentation, cooking and saccharification using barley malt. An in vitro method was standardised to carry out comparative determinations of the dry matter digestibility of cereal and legume food samples as a function of processing conditions, without attempting to exactly mimic gastrointestinal digestion. Using this method based on upper digestive tract digestion, it was observed that digestibility of the legumes increased during cooking and fermentation. Cooking improved the total digestibility of both soya bean and cowpea from 36.5 to 44.8% and from 15.4 to 40.9% respectively. Subsequent fungal fermentation increased total digestibility only by about 3% for both soya bean and cowpea. Digestibility was also influenced by fungal strain and fermentation time. Cooking and subsequent saccharification using malt almost tripled total digestibility of white maize from 25.5 to 63.6%, whereas lactic fermentation of maize had no effect on in vitro dry matter digestibility. Although total digestibility of cooked legumes was only slightly improved by mould fermentation (3% for both soya bean and cowpea), the level of water‐soluble dry matter of food samples increased during fermentation with Rhizopus oryzae from 7.0 up to 27.3% for soya bean and from 4.3 up to 24.1% for cowpea. These fermented products could therefore play a role as sources of easily available nutrients for individuals suffering from digestive disorders. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of sorghum flour addition on flat bread in vitro starch digestibility,antioxidant capacity and consumer acceptability

Wheat flour (WF) flat bread was prepared with varying levels of wholegrain “white” sorghum flour (WSF) or “red” sorghum flour (RSF). Farinograph dough rheology indicated reduced water absorption and stability time and increased breakdown with increased sorghum flour addition. The total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of the 40% RSF flat bread >40% WSF flat bread > control (100% WF) flat bread. The rapidly digestible starch (RDS) level was lower in the 40% WSF and 40% RSF flat breads than the control (100% WF). Hedonic sensory evaluation indicated that sorghum addition did not reduce the sensory preference for the flat breads. Human clinical studies are now required to determine if the lower levels of RDS and higher antioxidants observed in the sorghum containing flat breads translate into beneficial low glycemic index and reduced oxidative stress in vivo.     

In vitro potential of flavonoids from tartary buckwheat on antioxidants activity and starch digestibility

The effects of various flavonoids of Tartary buckwheat (rutin-enhanced flavonoid extract [REFE and quercetin-enhanced flavonoid extract [QEFE]) and individual flavonoids (rutin, quercetin and kaempferol) on the antioxidant activity, inhibition of α-glucosidases and α-amylase and starch digestibility were evaluated. Quercetin possessed the highest antioxidant activity and inhibition of α-glucosidases and α-amylase activity followed by kaempferol and rutin. REFE and QEFE have similar antioxidant and inhibition of α-amylase activities, but QEFE has much higher α-glucosidases inhibition than REFE. Tartary buckwheat flour has the lowest content of rapidly digestible starch and predicted glycaemic index (pGI) compared to maize flour, wheat flour and rice flour. Addition of rutin and quercetin to wheat flour showed a weak or no effect on digestion inhibition, but they inhibited starch digestion under solid complex conditions. Our results may help explain the benefits of supplementing the diet with food rich in flavonoids.     

Effect of fermentation on the starch digestibility, resistant starch and some physicochemical properties of sorghum flour

The effect of natural fermentation of Tabat sorghum cultivar (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) at 37 degrees C for up to 36 h on pH, titratable acidity, starch digestibility, resistant starch and total starch was studied. The pH of the fermenting dough decreased sharply with a concomitant increase in the titratable acidity. In vitro starch digestibility markedly increased as a result of fermentation, while resistant starch and total starch decreased. Results showed that iodine absorption capacity increased during fermentation. Fermented sorghum had more soluble starch and swelling power at 100 degrees C than at 85 degrees C.     

Physicochemical changes of maize starch during the lime-heat treatment for tortilla making

As measured by the Brabender viscoamylograph, alkali-cooking and soaking of maize in water (nixtamalization) caused large increases in viscosity, as compared with native flour. Marked effects of cooking time on the pasting properties of nixtamal were also observed. As assessed by the blue value method, nixtamalization does not cause extensive gelatinization of the starch. This was supported by differential scanning calorimetric studies, which yielded similar gelatinization endotherms for untreated maize and nixtamal flours. However, no endotherm peak appeared in tortilla samples made from this nixtamal. Furthermore, untreated maize and nixtamal flours contained many unswollen starch granules.