Modulation of Starch Digestibility in Breakfast Cereals Consumed by Subjects with Metabolic Risk: Impact on Markers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation during Fasting and the Postprandial Period

Scope : Decreasing postprandial glycaemic excursions may have a beneficial effect on inflammatory and oxidative stress profiles. In this study, we investigated the impact of carbohydrate digestibility modulation per se, as a means of reducing the glycaemic response, on metabolic and inflammatory responses in subjects with metabolic risk factors. Methods and results : Twenty healthy subjects with metabolic risk consumed a cereal product either high in Slowly Digestible Starch (HSDS) or low in SDS (LSDS) at breakfast daily for 3 weeks, in a cross‐over design. Following each 3‐week session, postprandial glycaemia, insulinaemia, the lipid profile, inflammation and oxidative stress markers were assessed and compared to those induced by ingestion of a glucose solution (as a reference). The 2‐h glycaemic and insulinaemic responses were significantly lower following the HSDS breakfast compared with the LSDS breakfast or glucose. No significant differences between the products were observed in terms of the lipid profile, C‐reactive protein, IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha. We observed a slight increase in fasting lipid peroxidation markers, including an increase in plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and a decrease in whole blood glutathione (GSH), without significant alteration of urinary F2‐isoprostanes or plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. Conclusion : Consumption of HSDS products for 3 weeks significantly altered both postprandial glycaemia and insulinaemia, but was not sufficient to modify the inflammatory profile. Consumption of both cereal products was associated with a slightly higher fasting oxidative stress profile.     

Ginsenosides from Korean red ginseng modulate T cell function via the regulation of NF-AT-mediated IL-2 production

Food Science and Biotechnology - Korean red ginseng is a traditional health food frequently used to prevent or treat various diseases worldwide. In this study, we evaluated the immunomodulatory...     

The determination of monomers and oligomers from polyester-based can coatings into foodstuffs over extended storage periods

The polymeric coating used in metal packaging such as cans for foods and beverages may contain residual amounts of monomers used in the production of the coating, as well as unreacted linear and cyclic oligomers. Traditionally, although designed for use with plastic food contact materials, food simulants have been used to determine the migration of monomers from coatings into foodstuffs. More recently, food simulants have also been used to determine oligomeric species migrating from can coatings. In the work reported here, the migration of both monomers and oligomers from polyester-based can coatings into food simulants and foodstuffs, some of which were towards the end of their shelf-life, is compared. The concentrations of monomers and selected oligomers in canned foods at the end of their shelf life were found to be significantly lower than those in food simulants, which in turn was lower than those in the extraction solvent acetonitrile.     

Effect of the lactoperoxidase system against three major causal agents of disease in mangoes

The antibacterial activity of the lactoperoxidase system (LPS) on the growth of Xanthomonas campestris, the causal agent of bacterial black spot in mangoes, Botryodiplodia theobromae, the causal agent of stem-end rot disease in mangoes, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causal agent of anthracnose disease in mangoes, was determined during culture at 30 degrees C and at several pH values (4.5, 5.5, and 6.5). When the results of using the LPS were compared with those from control cultures without the LPS reagents, the growth of the three microorganisms was totally inhibited in all of the conditions tested. Viability tests enumerating cultivable cells of X. campestris showed that the LPS had a bactericidal effect, whatever the pH value. This effect is faster at pH 5.5, corroborating the results reported in the literature (optimal pH for the LPS efficiency). Further, we proved that hydrogen peroxide alone had little inhibition effect on the growth of the microorganisms studied. This compound is essentially used to convert thiocyanate into hypothiocyanate during the lactoperoxidase reaction. The potential of the LPS for the postharvest treatment of the fruits for controlling microbial diseases was thus demonstrated. Nevertheless, further studies are needed on fresh fruits before envisaging any application.     

Effect of Storage Conditions on 2–Acetyl-1–pyrroline Content in Aromatic Rice Variety, Khao Dawk Mali 105

ABSTRACT: The effect of package and temperature on 2–acetyl-1–pyrroline content in milled aromatic rice during storage was investigated. 2 -Acetyl-1 -pyrroline content was decreased faster at higher storage temperature. However, fat acidity of rice was increased during storage and inversely correlated with 2–acetyl-1–pyrroline content at an early stage of storage. The difference in 2–acetyl-1 -pyrroline recovery from the samples, which were extracted with ethanol at 40 °C and 75 °C, revealed that the starch bound and free forms of 2–acetyl-1–pyrroline may occur in aromatic rice. These results suggested that the biosynthesis of 2–acetyl-1 -pyrroline before starch structure formation in rice kernel could play a key role in the aroma quality of aromatic rice.     

Instructed smoking expectancy modulates cue-elicited neural activity: a preliminary study.

In recent years, research applying functional neuroimaging to the study of cue-elicited drug craving has emerged. This research has begun to identify a distributed system of brain activity during drug craving. A review of this literature suggested that expectations regarding the opportunity to use a drug affected the pattern of neural responses elicited by drug cues. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we examined the effects of smoking expectancy on the neural response to neutral (e.g., roll of tape) and smoking-related (a cigarette) stimuli in male cigarette smokers deprived of nicotine for 8 hr. As predicted, several brain regions (e.g., the anterior cingulate cortex) exhibited differential activation during cigarette versus neutral cue exposure. Moreover, we found that subregions of the prefrontal cortex (i.e., ventromedial, ventrolateral, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices) showed cue-elicited activation that was modulated by smoking expectancy. These results highlight the importance of perceived drug use opportunity in the neurobiological response to drug cues.     

Linker-based bio-compatible microemulsions

In this work we have studied the formulation of biocompatible microemulsions using lecithin as the main surfactant and bio-compatible linker molecules (hexyl polyglucoside asthe hydrophilic linker and sorbitan monoleate as the lipophilic linker). These bio-compatible systems are discussed as potential substitutes for chlorinated solvents in dry-cleaning applications and as solvent delivery systems for pharmaceutical applications. Formulation parameters and conditions were evaluated using isopropyl myristate (IPM) as the model oil. It was found that the proposed linker-based formulations were able to form alcohol-free microemulsions while achieving higher solubilization capacity than similar systems reported in the literature. In addition, these lecithin/linker formulations were able to form microemulsions with a wide range of oils, from polar chlorinated hydrocarbons to hydrophobic oils such as squalene. These microemulsions were achieved under isotonic conditions (0.9% NaCl) by only varying the relative proportions of the linkers. The "solvency" power of these bio-compatible formulations was tested for the removal of hexadecane (used as model oil) from cotton fabrics and compared to the solvency power of a typical dry cleaning solvent tetrachloroethylene (PCE). While PCE and the linker-based lecithin formulation removed the same amount of hexadecane at low loading ratios (less than 1% oil volume fraction), at higher loading ratios the linker-based lecithin formulation retained its oil removal capacity while the efficiency of the PCE system declined rapidly. These initial results thus demonstrate the remarkable oil solubilization capacity of these bio-compatible linker-based lecithin formulations and illustrate their potential as environmentally friendly replacements for organic solvents.     

Fermentation of meat with koji and commercial enzymes,and properties of its extract

This study was carried out in order to make the Japanese fermented meat sauce shishibishio. The fermentation mixtures (moromi) were prepared by mixing ground pork with salt at one of three levels (15, 20 or 25%), koji (rice fermented with Aspergillus oryzae) and pepper. Commercial enzymes, ie Alcalase or Pectinase 3S, were added in order to accelerate the proteolysis of the moromi. After 3 months of fermentation, counts of viable bacteria were below 300 cfu g^?1, and no coliforms was detected in any moromi. Shishibishio obtained after 3 months had an acceptable seasoning with high peptide and free amino acid content, and good hygienic quality; in particular, no unpleasant smell and taste was found. The addition of Alcalase or Pectinase 3S appreciably increased yield of shishibishio and protein recovery from moromi by accelerating the liquefaction and the proteolysis, resulting in the improvement of the sensory quality of the products. The highest yields were, respectively, 49.8 to 50.6%, collected from moromi in which we used 15% salt. Shishibishio with Alcalase had a higher peptide content but a lower total free amino acid content than that with Pectinase 3S. However, there was not much difference in the sensory evaluations for two enzyme treatments. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry