Dietary fiber from coconut flour: A functional food

To determine the effectiveness of dietary fiber present in coconut flour as a functional food, the following studies were conducted: (a) Dietary Fiber Composition and Fermentability of Coconut Flour; (b) The Effect of Coconut Flour on Mineral Availability from Coconut Flour Supplemented Foods; (c) Glycemic Index of Coconut Flour Supplemented Foods in Normal and Diabetic Subjects; and (d) The Cholesterol Lowering Effect of Coconut Flakes in Moderately Raised Cholesterol Levels of Humans. The dietary fiber content of coconut flour was 60.0 ± 1.0 g/100 g sample, 56% insoluble and 4% soluble. Fermentation of coconut flour produced short chain fatty acids with butyrate (1.73 ± 0.07 mmol/g fiber isolate) > acetate (1.40 ± 0.12; (P < 0.05) > propionate (0.47 ± 0.01; P < 0.05). Iron and zinc availability were highest for carrot cake (Fe, 33.3 ± 0.7%; Zn, 12.6 ± 0.1%) supplemented with 20% coconut flour while multigrain loaf supplemented with 10% and macaroons with 25% coconut flour were highest for calcium availability (63.4 ± 8.0% and 38.7 ± 1.1%, respectively). Increasing concentrations of dietary fiber from coconut flour did not affect mineral availability from all test foods. The significantly low glycemic index foods (< 60 mmol × min/l) investigated were: macaroons (45.7 ± 3.0), carrot cake (51.8 ± 3.3) and brownies (60.1 ± 5.4) with 20–25% coconut flour. The test foods containing 15% coconut flour has a glycemic index ranging from 61 to 77 mmol × min/l. Among the test foods, pan de sal (87.2 ± 5.5) and multigrain loaf (85.2 ± 6.8) gave significantly higher glycemic index with 5% and 10% coconut flour. On the other hand, granola bar and cinnamon which contained 5% and 10% coconut flour, respectively gave a glycemic index ranging from 62 to 76 mmol × min/l and did not differ significantly from the test foods containing 15% coconut flour (P < 0.05). A very strong negative correlation (r = − 85, n = 11, P < 0.005) was observed between the glycemic index and dietary fiber content of the test foods supplemented with coconut. There was a significant reduction (%) in serum total and LDL cholesterol for: oat bran flakes, 8.4 ± 1.4 and 8.8 ± 6.7, respectively; 15% coconut flakes, 6.9 ± 1.1 and 11.0 ± 4.0, respectively; and 25% coconut flakes, 10.8 ± 1.3 and 9.2 ± 5.4, respectively (P < 0.05). Serum triglycerides were significantly reduced for all test foods: corn flakes, 14.5 ± 6.3%; oat bran flakes, 22.7 ± 2.9%; 15% coconut flakes, 19.3 ± 5.7%; and 25% coconut flakes, 21.8 ± 6.0% (P < 0.05). Results from the above study can be a basis in the development of coconut flour as a functional food.

Industrial relevance

The functionality of coconut flour in terms of prevention for risk of chronic diseases, e.g. diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and colon cancer, revealed increase production of coconut and coconut flour. The production of coconut flour is very economical because it can be produced in a small or large scale. The raw material is obtained from the by-product (waste) of the coconut milk industry and the process and equipment used in its production is simple and cheap. Coconut flour as a good source of dietary fiber can be added to bakery products, recipes and other food products for good health.     

Bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds in cooked pulses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioaccessibility of polyphenols and antioxidant activity in cooked pulses and to study the effect of cooking on their total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity. Cooked faba beans showed the highest TPC, followed by soybeans and lentils or peas. TPC ranged from 10.4 ± 0.2 to 52.9 ± 0.3 mg/100 g and was positively correlated with antioxidant activity. Cooking resulted in increased TPC and antioxidant activity of the methanolic extracts, caused by cell disruption and improved extraction of polyphenols. Although polyphenols were lost in the cooking water, boiled legumes had more polyphenols than those resulting cooking broths. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion resulted in increased TPC and antioxidant capacity of the extracts. Soybeans showed the highest amount of bioaccessible polyphenols. The release of phenolics from cooked legumes was mainly achieved during the intestinal phase. Literature data may underestimate the TPC and antioxidant capacity of pulses.     

Long-range transported atmospheric pollutants in snowpacks accumulated at different altitudes in the Tatra Mountains (Slovakia)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorobiphenyls (PCB), endosulfans, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were analyzed in snowpack samples collected along an altitudinal gradient (1683-2634 meters above sea level) in the High Tatra Mountains (Slovakia). All analyzed compounds were found at all altitudes, pointing to their global distribution. The presence of PBDEs, particularly BDE 209, in the snowpack samples is especially relevant, as it reflects the air transport capacity of this low volatile, very hydrophobic pollutant to remote mountain regions. The most abundant compounds at all altitudes were PAHs, with mean values ranging from 90 to 300 ngL(-1), 1 order of magnitude higher than concentrations of other compounds. PCBs (sum of PCB 28, 52, 101, 118, 153, 138, and 180) and BDE 209 were the dominant organohalogen pollutants, with concentrations from 550 to 1600 pg L(-1) and from 670 to 2000 pgL(-1), respectively. Low brominated PBDEs, endosulfans, HCHs and HCB were consistently found in all samples at lower concentrations. The concentrations of these compounds correlated positively with altitude (i.e., negatively with temperature), which is consistent with cold-trapping effects. The regression coefficients were positive and statistically significant (p < 0.05) for all compounds except BDE 209, endosulfan sulfate, HCB and α-HCH. Contrariwise, the concentrations of BDE 209 and endosulfan sulfate exhibited a statistically significant positive correlation with total particle amount, which agrees with long-range atmospheric transport associated to aerosols according to the physical-chemical properties of these compounds. Snow specific surface area, which determines the maximum amount of each organic compound that can be sorbed by snow, proved utile for describing the distribution of the more volatile compounds, namely α-HCB and HCB, in the snowpack.     

Influence of regulated deficit irrigation strategies applied to olive trees (Arbequina cultivar) on oil yield and oil composition during the fruit ripening period

This study evaluated the effect of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies applied to olive trees (Arbequina cv) during the fruit ripening and harvest periods on oil yield and oil composition. Fatty acid composition, pigments, colour, polyphenol content and stability of oils were evaluated. The results indicate that regulated deficit irrigation induces fruit ripening; at harvest, oil yield increased when water supply was decreased, probably as a consequence of lower water content in the olive. Acidic composition was not affected by irrigation treatments. Irrigation affected pigment content and oil colour primarily during the early stages of olive ripening. RDI increased polyphenol concentration and stability of oils at all picking dates, especially during the first stages of the ripening period, probably owing to water stress. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of the heterogeneity of grape phenolic maturity on wine composition and quality

Nowadays, consumers demand red wines with deep colour, soft tannins and fruit scents, but these wines can only be obtained from grapes with complete phenolic maturity. Diverse methods have been proposed for measuring phenolic maturity. However, all these methods only provide the average value and do not consider any possible heterogeneity. Throughout ripening, grapes were separated according to their density, which revealed the existence of a large heterogeneity. Grapes at harvest were also separated by density in three groups. The higher the density of the grapes the higher ethanol content, pH, colour intensity, total phenolic index and anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin concentrations, and the lower the titratable acidity and bitterness of the wines. When the grapes were denser the wines were also better balanced in flavour and mouthfeel sensation. These results suggest that grape heterogeneity may influence the final wine composition and quality and therefore it should be considered at harvest.     

Prediction of accidents in a standardized home environment.

Used a kitchen laboratory to study accidents incurred by 226 females who performed standardized household tasks under observation. 4 yrs of driving records were obtained for a subsample of 178 Ss possessing licenses. In addition, all Ss were assessed on a battery of psychomotor and personality tests (e.g., the MMPI). Kitchen criteria were classified as property damage accidents and personal injury accidents, summed to provide total kitchen accidents. Near accidents constituted the 4th kitchen criterion. Significant (p     

Learning curve analysis of concentrated photovoltaic systems

Price declines and volume growth of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems are analysed using the learning curve methodology and compared with other forms of solar electricity generation. Logarithmic regression analysis determines a learning rate of 18% for CPV systems with 90% confidence of that rate being between 14 and 22%, which is higher than the learning rates of other solar generation systems (11% for CSP and 12 to 14% for PV). Current CPV system prices are competitive with PV and CSP, which, when combined with the higher learning rate, indicates that CPV is likely to further improve its marketability. A target price of 1 $/W in 2020 could be achieved with a compound growth rate of 67% for the total deployed volume between 2014 and 2020, which would realize a cumulative deployed volume of 7900 MW. Other projections of deployment volumes from commercial sources are converted using the learning rate into future price scenarios, resulting in predicted prices in the range of 1.1 to 1.3 $/W in 2020. © 2014 The Authors. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.