Swallowing profiles of food polysaccharide gels in relation to bolus rheology

Swallowing profiles of food polysaccharide gels were investigated in relation to bolus rheology. Polysaccharide gel from either gellan gum or a mixture of gellan gum and psyllium seed gum was used as a model food. Acoustic analysis and sensory evaluation were carried out to investigate the swallowing profiles using the same human subjects. Model bolus was prepared through instrumental mastication using a mechanical simulator to mimic the action of the human jaw in the presence or absence of artificial saliva and was subjected to dynamic viscoelasticity measurements to investigate the rheological properties. Bolus from the binary gel was shorter in time required to transfer through the pharyngeal phase due to mass flow and was scored higher in sensory perceived cohesiveness (bolus forming) than that from gellan gum gel. Model bolus from the binary gel showed a rheologically weak gel (or structured fluid) behavior and was higher in structural homogeneity than that from gellan gum gel. Also, dynamic viscoelasticity parameters of the binary gel were less dependent on the addition level of saliva. Results indicate that the viscoelasticity balance is a key for texture design of dysphagia foods in relation to the saliva miscibility.     

Influence of pH and added gums on the properties of konjac flour gels

The gel strength and texture of konjac gel and mixed gels of konjac and various gums were measured after gelation at various concentrations of alkali. A selection of different alkaline reagents was used. Regardless of alkali concentration, increasing konjac levels caused a decrease in pH but an increase in hardness and strength of konjac/gellan gum mixed gels. The highest gel strength and hardness were given by mixed konjac/gellan gum gels using sodium carbonate as the gelling medium. Under similar gelling conditions, the addition of gellan gum resulted in the greatest gel hardness. Of the gums examined, a possible synergistic effect on konjac/gellan gum mixed gel texture was observed.     

结冷胶-羧甲基纤维素复配胶性能的研究

利用全质构分析、离心分离和分光光度法研究了结冷胶-羧甲基纤维素（carboxyl methyl cellulose,CMC）的配比、离子种类和离子浓度对结冷胶-CMC复配胶质构、持水力以及透明度的影响。结果表明：复配胶硬度随结冷胶比例降低而降低;在离子浓度达到临界水平前随离子浓度增加而增加,临界水平之后随离子浓度增加而降低;添加钙离子比钠离子更容易得到高硬度的凝胶。总的来说,添加离子会降低凝胶的弹性和内聚性;适当的结冷胶和CMC比例可提高凝胶弹性和内聚性。降低结冷胶-CMC复配比例可提高复配胶的透明度。     

Relaxation Time Spectrum of Hydrogels by CONTIN Analysis

CONTIN is a general-purpose program for inverting noisy linear algebraic and integral equations by means of inverse Laplace transform. This study explored the application of CONTIN analysis to determine the relaxation time distribution spectra for food gels, including gellan, carrageenan, whey protein, and gelatin gels, based on stress-relaxation data. CONTIN results represent the continuous relaxation time spectra when the number of the terms in the discrete Maxwell stress-relaxation model approached infinity. The CONTIN results for gellan gels were correlated to the texture properties of gels from compression tests with respect to the effects of calcium concentrations. CONTIN analysis may be a very effective tool in elucidating the microstructural properties of a hydrogel from mechanical testing.     

响应面法优化乳化型热不可逆复合凝胶配方

以钙化海藻酸钠、亚麻籽胶、结冷胶、酪蛋白酸钠、大豆油为原料,通过单因素实验和Box-Behnken响应面法,优化一种热不可逆复合凝胶配方。以复合凝胶的硬度和弹性为响应值,按5种原料的不同添加量进行单因素实验并响应面优化。结果表明,热不可逆复合凝胶的最优配方为:钙化海藻酸钠浓度5%、亚麻籽胶浓度1.11%,结冷胶浓度1.12%,酪蛋白酸钠浓度1.32%,大豆油浓度15%。此条件下复合凝胶的硬度值为(1323.25±40.098) g,弹性值为(0.856±0.019) g,与预测值的误差均小于5%,说明该响应面模型准确度较高,所优化出的凝胶配方组合具有实际应用的意义。     

高酰基结冷胶/酪蛋白酸钠复合凝胶粘弹行为的研究

本文研究了酪蛋白酸钠浓度、结冷胶浓度、离子和测试条件对高酰基结冷胶/酪蛋白酸钠复合凝胶粘弹性的影响。结果表明:高酰基结冷胶/酪蛋白酸钠共混体系为典型的切力变稀流体,表观粘度随着酪蛋白酸钠浓度的升高而降低,而随着阳离子浓度的增大出现先增大后减小的变化趋势。压缩速度对复合凝胶硬度几乎无影响,而内聚性和弹性则随着压缩速度的增加而增大。内聚性随着压缩应变的增大出现先增大后减小的变化趋势。复合凝胶的硬度和弹性随着酪蛋白酸钠浓度的增加而下降,但复合凝胶的内聚性对酪蛋白酸钠浓度不敏感。高酰基结冷胶浓度越高,复合凝胶的硬度和弹性越大。相对于一价离子而言,二价离子形成的凝胶更强且用量更少。钾离子的添加对复合凝胶保水性影响较弱,而钙离子的添加则可以提高复合凝胶的保水性。     

Comparative assessment of textural properties and microstructure of composite gels prepared from gelatine or gellan with maize starch and/or egg white

Single component gels (SCG) were formed from gelatine, gellan, maize starch or egg white, while binary composite gel (BCG) and ternary composite gel (TCG) were formed by mixing gelatine or gellan with maize starch and/or egg white. Each type of SCG exhibited distinct textural and microstructure characteristics. Gelatine‐SCG was the softest to hold but has the strongest and the most elastic network compared with other SCG. The effects of gelatine or gellan proportions on the textural properties of composite gels were investigated using mixture design experiments. Gelatine and gellan yielded composite gels that showed different textural behaviours and microstructure. All BCG and TCG blends showed antagonistic effects; the composite gels were softer and weaker as compared to the SCG. Gelatine‐BCG and TCG were comparatively stronger than those of gellan due to their different gelling mechanisms, in which the former had yielded a denser network structures as compared to the latter.     

Texture profile and turbidity of gellan/gelatin mixed gels

The effect of gellan (1.6–0.2%) to gelatin (0–1.4%) ratio and calcium ion concentration (0–30 mM) on the textural properties and turbidity of gellan/gelatin mixed gels was examined using instrumental Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) and spectrophotometry. Hardness of the mixed gels decreased as the proportion of gellan decreased. Hardness increased with increasing calcium ions until calcium concentration reached a critical level, after which further increases in calcium resulted in a reduction of hardness. Brittleness, springiness and cohesiveness were very sensitive to low levels of added calcium (0–10 mM), but less sensitive to higher calcium concentrations and gellan/gelatin ratio. In general, the addition of calcium ions caused gels to be more brittle and less cohesive and springy. Decreasing gellan to gelatin ratio caused an increase in gel turbidity at lower calcium ion levels (2–4 mM) and a decrease in turbidity at high calcium levels (20–30 mM). Maximum turbidity was observed in 0.6% gellan–1.0% gelatin gels without added calcium. The results of this study suggested a weak positive interaction between gellan and gelatin when no calcium was added, whereas at higher calcium levels gellan formed a continuous network and gelatin a discontinuous phase.     

Texture design for products using food hydrocolloids

Some in vivo measurements have been carried out using polysaccharide gels of different physical properties (i.e., elastic and plastic) and degrees of hardness. In vivo measurements tested included electromyography (EMG) and acoustic analysis of the swallowing sound to investigate the dynamic changes of food texture during oral processing. As a model of foods for dysphagia patients, the gels were soft enough to be eaten by compression between the tongue and the hard palate without biting by the teeth. From EMG, no significant differences were found between elastic gels and plastic gels in the duration of oral processing and the EMG activity of the suprahyoid musculature when compared at equivalent hardness. The EMG activity of the suprahyoid musculature correlated well with the compression load of gels at 95% strain. From the acoustic analysis, the plastic gels required shorter time to transfer through the pharynx and were scored higher in sensory cohesiveness than the elastic gels. Results indicate that oral processing of soft gels requires equivalent EMG activity of the suprahyoid musculature when the gel hardness is the same. Also, the plastic gels flow through the pharynx as one coherent bolus with smaller variation of the flow speed. Texture of foods for dysphagia patients should be optimized in terms of viscoelasticity so that they can easily transform to swallowable bolus during oral processing.     

Characterization of gellan/gelatin mixed solutions and gels

The physico-chemical properties of gellan/gelatin mixed solutions and gels were examined at five different ratios of gellan to gelatin (100:0 (I), 80:20 (II), 60:40 (III), 40:60 (IV), 20:80 (V)) and four different NaCl levels (0–300 mmol/l). All mixed solutions exhibited the shear-thinning behavior, which decreased with increasing gelatin proportion, temperature, and NaCl level. Synergism on G′ was observed in mixed solution III and IV depending on NaCl level. Hardness of mixed gel decreased with increasing gelatin proportion and cohesiveness increased up to the gellan to gelatin ratio of 40–60 and then decreased. For gellan dominant gels, maximum hardness and cohesiveness were observed at NaCl level of 150 mmol/l. Increasing gelatin proportion caused an increase in gel turbidity at lower NaCl levels and a decrease in gel turbidity at higher NaCl levels. In general, WHC increased with increasing gelatin proportion and decreasing NaCl level. Color holding capacity significantly increased with increasing gelatin proportion. Flavor holding capacity increased by adding gelatin and then linearly decreased with increasing gelatin proportion. Therefore, this study suggests that there is an optimum NaCl concentration and gellan to gelatin ratio to enhance the physico-chemical properties of gellan/gelatin mixed solutions and gels.     

糖醇对结冷胶凝胶质构的影响

利用物性分析仪研究赤藓糖醇、木糖醇、乳糖醇对结冷胶凝胶质构的影响。结果表明：3 种糖醇都能使结冷胶凝胶强度和硬度降低,且都随糖醇质量浓度的增加而降低,3 种糖醇的影响力为乳糖醇>木糖醇>赤藓糖醇,但对结冷胶凝胶脆性的影响不显著。其次,15 g/100 mL的复合糖醇对结冷胶凝胶质构的影响皆小于相同质量浓度的单一糖醇对质构的影响,复合糖醇间不存在正协同作用。最后,在以K+为成胶离子时（40～400 mmol/L）,乳糖醇对结冷胶凝胶质构有影响;在以Ca2+为成胶离子时,只在低浓度时（2～10 mmol/L）,乳糖醇对结冷胶凝胶质构影响明显,当Ca2+浓度升高时（10～50 mmol/L）,乳糖醇对结冷胶凝胶质构几乎不产生影响。     

Mechanical Properties of Gellan Gels in Relation to Divalent Cations

Mechanical behavior of gels formed with gellan polymer crosslinked by calcium and magnesium ions was studied to determine the influence of divalent ion type and polymer concentration. Failure strength and deformation were measured in compression and related to concentrations of gellan and bound cations in gel matrices. Insufficient cations formed weak, extensible gels. Maximum gel strength was achieved at 0.5 divalent cations/repeat tetrasaccharide unit, assumed to be the condition for maximal numbers of complete junction zones. At optimum cation levels gels with Ca⁺⁺ were about 1.2 times stronger than gels with Mg⁺⁺ at the same polymer concentration. Excessive cations weakened the gels. Twice as much reduction in gel strength resulted from additional Ca⁺⁺ as compared to the same additional amount of Mg⁺⁺. Differences between strengths of the gels may be attributable to polymer configurations at junction zones in relation to cation size.     

Stress relaxation behaviour of high acyl gellan gels

Stress relaxation behaviour of high acyl gellan gels has been investigated, and data were fitted successfully by a seven elements empirical model and a four term modified Maxwell model with three fixed relaxation times (20, 200 and 2000 s). In addition, the effect of testing parameters on stress relaxation characteristics and the relationship between those characteristics and intrinsic gel properties were studied. High acyl gellan gels were tested in stress relaxation with different cross‐head speeds (0.1–10 mm s^?1) to applied strains (3–30%). The results showed that the cross‐head speed had little effect on stress relaxation behaviour of gels. With increasing the applied strain, the initial stress and the equilibrium stress increased. The equilibrium stresses from relaxation measurement were positively related to the hardness from TPA tests (R² = 0.991). Relaxation appeared to be associated with the shifting of cross‐links in the gel matrix.     

Rheology and microstructure of myofibrillar protein-plant lipid composite gels: Effect of emulsion droplet size and membrane type

Composite gels were prepared from 2% myofibrillar protein (MP) with 10% imbedded pre-emulsified plant oils (olive and peanut) of various particle sizes at 0.6 M NaCl, pH 6.2. Dynamic rheological testing upon temperature sweeping (20-70 °C at 2 °C/min) showed substantial increases in G′ (elastic modulus) of MP sols/gels with the addition of emulsions, and the G′ increases were inversely related to the emulsion droplet size. Furthermore, gels containing emulsified olive oil had a greater (P < 0.05) hardness than those containing emulsified peanut oil. Regardless of oil types, MP-coated oil droplets exhibited stronger reinforcement of MP gels than Tween 80-stablized oil droplets; the latter composite gels had considerable syneresis. Light microscopy with paraffin sectioning revealed a stable gel structure when filled with protein-coated oil droplets, compared to gels with Tween 80-treated emulsions that showed coalesced oil droplets. These results suggest that rheological characteristics, hardness, texture, and water-holding capacity of MP gels were influenced by type of oils, the nature of the interfacial membrane, and the size of emulsion droplets.     

Gellan gum/cassava starch mixtures in water systems and in milk systems

Cassava starch is an important ingredient in various foods. However, when processed, it develops some properties that are unsuitable for many industrial applications, such as unstable viscosity and excessive cohesiveness. To reduce those disadvantages, one alternative is a mixture of starch with hydrocolloids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 0:05, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3% w/v gellan gum on the physical properties of pastes and gels of cassava starch in water and in milk systems. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), pasting properties, the texture profile, and the microstructure of gels were studied. The addition of gellan gum dispersions to the water system (WS) and the milk system (MS) gave rise to pastes with higher viscosity and, in the case of MS, with lower thermal and shear stability (higher breakdown). The addition of gellan gum had a greater textural effect on the MS, in which the addition of gellan at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.3% increased adhesiveness and decreased springiness of gels. Microscopy revealed a more uniform gel structure in the MS compared with the WS. Starch gelatinization temperatures were higher in MS than in WS.     

Konjac/gellan gum mixed gels improve the quality of reduced-fat frankfurters

Mixed gels of konjac (1%, 2%) and gellan gum (0.25%, 0.5%) were incorporated into reduced-fat (18%) frankfurters and compared with reduced-fat and high-fat (28%) controls for physicochemical, textural, sensory properties and storage stability. C28 (control at 28% fat) had the highest (P<0.05) lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) values but the lowest redness (a*). C28 had the lowest textural hardness, shear force value and sensory firmness but highest juiciness scores. Treatments containing konjac/gellan gum mixed gels were not different from C28 in sensory overall acceptability, among them K1G5 (1% konjac/0.5% gellan gum) was numerically higher. C18 had the highest TPC (～7.8 log CFU/g) after 12 weeks of storage, followed by gum-containing treatments. In conclusion, it appears feasible to incorporate konjac/gellan gum mixed gel at current levels to reduced-fat frankfurter for acceptable sensory merits with reasonable shelf life.     

糖类对蛋清蛋白凝胶强度的影响

为改善蛋清蛋白凝胶的加工特性,探讨了不同种类与不同浓度糖类对蛋清蛋白凝胶强度的影响。选择并固定适宜的蛋清蛋白凝胶制备条件,在制备前加入不同浓度的糖类,形成凝胶后运用物性仪测定其强度。结果表明,结冷胶、黄原胶和阿拉伯树胶均在胶类-蛋清蛋白凝胶体系发生相变的浓度点使体系强度有明显的变化;蔗糖在实验浓度范围内对体系的凝胶强度没有明显的作用;麦芽糖对蛋清蛋白凝胶的作用显著,在低浓度可以增强蛋清蛋白凝胶强度而在高浓度可以降低蛋清蛋白凝胶强度;玉米淀粉也在一定浓度可显著提高蛋清蛋白凝胶的强度。结果说明,以糖类作为添加剂改善蛋清蛋白的凝胶强度时,应充分考虑所加入的糖类种类及浓度。      

不同外源物质对淡水鱼鱼糜热诱导凝胶特性增效作用的研究进展

为探究大豆分离蛋白（soybean protein isolate,SPI）与肌球蛋白的相互作用及其对肌球蛋白凝胶特性的影响,本研究以金线鱼肌球蛋白为原料,添加0%~8%（w/w）的SPI制成混合体系并分析其理化特性、光谱特性和凝胶特性。结果显示,添加SPI后,金线鱼肌球蛋白-SPI混合体系的内源荧光强度降低,紫外吸光度、总巯基含量、氢键和疏水相互作用增加,表明SPI和金线鱼肌球蛋白之间存在疏水相互作用、氢键、二硫键等非共价相互作用和共价相互作用,促使金线鱼肌球蛋白构象变化。同时,随着SPI添加量的增加,金线鱼肌球蛋白-SPI混合凝胶的凝胶强度、硬度和β-折叠含量均呈现出先增加后减小的趋势。当SPI的添加量为4%时,金线鱼肌球蛋白-SPI混合体系的总巯基含量和疏水相互作用最大,较对照组分别提升了64.46%和13.53%;加热后金线鱼肌球蛋白-SPI混合凝胶的凝胶强度和硬度值也最高,较对照组分别提升了8.66%和9.21%,且部分α-螺旋转变为β-折叠,凝胶网络结构最致密均匀。因此,适量添加SPI可与金线鱼肌球蛋白通过疏水相互作用、氢键、二硫键等促进蛋白分子的聚集和交联,改善金线鱼肌球蛋白的凝胶特性。     

Effect of polymer ratio and calcium concentration on gelation properties of gellan/gelatin mixed gels

Gelation properties of gellan/gelatin mixed solutions were studied using dynamic viscoelastic testing at eight different ratios of gellan (1.6–0.2% w/v) to gelatin (0–1.4% w/v) and seven different calcium levels (0–30 mM). The gelation temperature and gelation rate of the mixed gels were significantly affected by the ratio of gellan to gelatin as well as concentration of calcium. Addition of calcium at low levels resulted in an increase in gelation temperature and gelation rate compared to gels with no added calcium. Further increases in calcium increased the gelation temperature, but caused a decrease in gelation rate of the mixed gels. In addition, the presence of gelatin generally had a negative influence on gelation rate, especially at high proportions and when the solution had a high gelling temperature, probably by physically hindering the growth and development of gellan crosslinks. It appeared that in the presence of calcium, gellan formed the continuous gel matrix, with gelatin present as a discontinuous phase. Gellan/gelatin mixtures can form gels over a wide temperature range by varying the ratio of the two polymers as well as the calcium concentration.     

利用初榨大豆毛油制备β-谷甾醇油脂凝胶

利用初榨大豆毛油中天然磷脂,通过添加β-谷甾醇,使其与天然磷脂形成复合凝胶剂制备油脂凝胶,研究β-谷甾醇添加量对油脂凝胶硬度、热力学性质、固体脂肪含量（solid fat content,SFC）、凝胶晶型和微观结构的影响。结果表明：在20 ℃条件下,油脂凝胶中β-谷甾醇添加量不小于12%时,即可出现凝胶行为。油脂凝胶的硬度和SFC都随着β-谷甾醇添加量的增加而增加,且在不同贮藏温度下硬度变化显著。β-谷甾醇添加量对热力学特性影响较大,熔化结晶均为单峰。油脂凝胶主要为β型晶体,晶体为长针状并均匀分布,随β-谷甾醇添加量的增多,油脂凝胶晶体密度增大,尺寸变小,形成的三维网状结构更加紧密,截留植物油的能力不断提高,表明β-谷甾醇可以与初榨大豆毛油中的天然磷脂结合形成油脂凝胶,该油脂凝胶中无反式脂肪酸,富含天然营养成分,具有适宜油脂凝胶硬度及良好的结构稳定性等优势。