Influence of non-starch polysaccharides on the in vitro digestibility and viscosity of starch suspensions

The effects of adding non-starch polysaccharides (xanthan gum, guar gum, konjac glucomannan, and pectin) on the starch digestibility and viscosity of raw starch suspensions in a mixed system were determined. Each type of polysaccharide was added to high-amylose corn starch suspensions at defined concentrations. High-amylose rice starch suspensions mixed with xanthan and guar gum were prepared for comparison. The extent of starch digestibility was determined by an in vitro method, and the glucose diffusibility from the dialysis tube in the presence of polysaccharides was measured. The added polysaccharides were observed to decrease the starch digestibility in a mixed system. When compared at the same concentration, xanthan gum showed the most pronounced suppressive effect on starch digestibility and glucose diffusibility from the dialysis tube. The addition of polysaccharides increased the viscosity of the starch suspension. Significant relations were found between the extent of starch digestibility and the apparent viscosity at low shear rate.