Heat-moisture and acid treatments can increase levels of resistant starch in arrowroot starch without adversely affecting its prebiotic activity in human colon microbiota.

Carbohydrates are an important macronutrient whose processing and digestive fate can have numerous beneficial or adverse effects on consumer health. This study investigated the impact of heat-moisture treatments (HMT) and citric acid treatments (CAT) on arrowroot starch (ARS) with a focus on its physicochemical properties, digestibility, and influence on gut microbiota. The results revealed that HMT and CAT did not alter the colloidal characteristics of ARS but significantly affected the balance between amorphous and crystalline regions. Changes in thermal properties, morphology, and particle size were also observed. These can influence ARS shelf life and functional properties in various food applications. Furthermore, certain treatments in both processing methods increased the resistant starch (RS) content of ARS, with HMT for 16 hours at 80 °C and CAT with 0.6 M citric acid, resulting in the most pronounced effects. These changes coincided with reductions in rapidly digestible starch (RDS) levels and improvements in the ratio of slowly digestible starch (SDS) to RDS, which could potentially improve glycemic control. This study also examined the impact of processed ARS on colonic microbiota composition. It found that ARS-derived RS formed under HMT and CAT did not negatively affect the prebiotic potential of the RS fraction. Both treatments were associated with lowering the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B), a marker of gut health, and decreasing the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, microbes associated with adverse health effects. Additionally, CAT-derived RS showed a significant increase in the relative abundance of Roseburia, a beneficial gut bacterium. In conclusion, processing ARS through HMT and CAT techniques has the potential for enhancing its RS content, improving its glycemic impact, and positively influencing the gut microbiota composition, potentially contributing to gut health and metabolic well-being.

Carrageenan impact on digestive proteolysis of meat proteins in meatballs or soluble hydrolyzed collagen.

In a health-conscious age, vivid discussion has been made on the healthfulness of processed foods and food additives. This study focuses on carrageenan (CGN), an approved but debated family of sulphated galactans from algae used as gelling, thickening and stabilizing agents but with indications of possible adverse effects, including as an inhibitor of digestive proteolysis. To challenge this inhibitory hypothesis, food-grade kappa-, iota and lambda-CGN preparations were used to produce beef meatballs whose proteolysis was studied using an in vitro digestion model coupled to various proteomic analyses. Results show that CGN anti-nutritional effects are abolished in beef meatballs. Specifically, proteomic analysis of gastric digesta of myosin light chain 1 (MYL1), alpha skeletal muscle (ACTA1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (ALDOA) reveal no appreciable differences in the profiles of bioaccessible peptides. Separate digestions of a soluble collagen hydrolysate show CGN does inhibit proteolysis of soluble collagen, therefore supporting the notion that the meat matrix confers a shielding effect that eliminates CGN ability to interfere with digestive proteolysis. Thus, this work shows that CGN ability to hinder digestive proteolysis may not apply to all foods and contributes evidence important to the discussions on CGN uses, indications and regulatory status.

Development and validation of a computerized web-based quantitative food frequency questionnaire.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Epidemiological research is progressing towards digital data collection. This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reproducibility of our new computerized, and easy-to-use Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). METHODS: Participants' dietary intake was assessed using 24-h Dietary Recalls (DRs) and our FFQ, consisting of 133 food items and beverages. The software allows users to choose between three visualized portion sizes, categorizes the selections into food groups with three degrees of food processing levels, and produces a visualized output of the results. The reproducibility of the FFQ was evaluated based on two user submissions, and its validity was measured by comparing its calculated caloric intake and macro and micro-nutrient consumption to the equivalent mean values from three 24-h DRs. Thirty-nine women of fertility age [18-45] were recruited to the study, of whom twenty-six qualified for reproducibility testing and thirty-one qualified for validity testing. RESULTS: For most nutrient intakes, the FFQs yielded higher scores than the 24-h DRs, resulting in a less satisfactory agreement between them due to FFQs overestimation. The Intra Class Correlation (ICC) coefficient between the two FFQs ranged from moderate for calcium (0.55) to high for magnesium (0.83) (p < 0.05), indicating good reproducibility. Evaluation of food groups and processed food reproducibility scores yielded ICC coefficients ranging from moderate (0.53; super-processed foods) to high (0.83; non-processed foods) (p < 0.05). Spearman's correlation coefficient showed a moderate (sugar-sweetened beverages) to strong (non-processed foods) correlation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The FFQ we developed and validated in this study showed moderate to high reproducibility and acceptable validity in a group of thirty-nine women of fertility age. Moreover, it is highly adjustable and easy to use, and its digital-based delivery enables large-scale, multilingual nutritional research.

Inclusion of phenolic bioactives in high amylose corn starch for gastro-intestinal delivery.

Starch is a staple food component with intricate architectures, some of which can be utilized as polysaccharidic delivery vehicles for bioactive compounds. This work describes the use of high amylose corn starch (HACS) to fabricate V-amylose inclusion complexes entrapping capsaicin or curcumin. In line with past studies, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, static laser scattering and scanning electron microscopy help affirm the formation of V6III-type complexes. Such HACS complexes entrap capsaicin and curcumin in structures with higher levels of crystallinity compared to HACS alone (14.61 ± 0.08%, 14.65 ± 0.08% vs. 10.24 ± 0.24%, respectively), high levels of encapsulation efficiency (88.77 ± 5.7% and 66.3 ± 0.99%, respectively) but without significant differences in colloid sizes between the various inclusion complexes (58.25 ± 1.34 µm or 58.98 ± 2.32 µm, respectively). In turn, in vitro gastro-intestinal digestion of HACS complexes with capsaicin or curcumin revealed both, phenolic bioactives significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated the intestinal breakdown of HACS. Interestingly, this attenuated HACS digestibility was accompanied by high gastric retention of the payloads and their sustained release during 2 h of exposure to intestinal conditions. Altogether, this work presents starch-based delivery systems that can entrap phenolic bioactives, release the payload in the intestine and possibly attenuate starch breakdown (because of its increased crystallinity). Thus, this work offers a platform for infusing foods with bioactive phenolics and stall the breakdown of starch.

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery: Effects of personalized nutrition counseling on pregnancy outcomes.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nutritional challenges following bariatric surgery can be intensified during pregnancy and may have crucial effects on the fetus, including lower birth weight. To the best of our knowledge, the effect of nutritional counseling during post-bariatric pregnancy to improve maternal diet quality and eating habits on neonatal outcome has not been evaluated. The aim of this research was to examine the effects of personal nutritional counseling during post-bariatric pregnancy on nutritional intake and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: We performed a non-randomized, intervention-control clinical trial. Women (n = 61) were divided into three groups; two prospective, and one retrospective: 1. An Intervention Bariatric Prospective group 2. A Control Prospective group without surgery, and 3. A Control Bariatric Retrospective group. Patient enrollment was performed from April 2016 to March 2018. The intervention program included biweekly visits with a pregnancy nutrition certified bariatric dietitian. Data collection was performed four times during pregnancy, and included demographic and eating habits questionnaires, 24 h dietary recall, and information about delivery outcomes. In the retrospective group delivery outcomes and Food Frequency Questionnaire was collected once, after delivery. RESULTS: There were no differences between groups at baseline except for a higher pre-pregnancy BMI in the post-bariatric groups. In the prospective groups, dietary protein, energy, and iron were found to be consumed in higher amounts in the Control-Prospective group than in the Intervention Bariatric-Prospective group (p < 0.05), without the addition of supplements. On the other hand, iron and calcium calculated from diet with supplements, were found to be significantly higher in the Intervention Bariatric Prospective group than in the Control Prospective group. In addition, consumption of saturated fats, oil, and salty snacks was lower in both prospective groups compared to the retrospective group (p < 0.05), suggesting better food quality habits for the bariatric group with nutritional counseling. Mean birth weight was significantly lower in the Control Bariatric Retrospective group than in the Control-Prospective group (3074 ± 368 g vs. 3396 ± 502 g, respectively. p = 0.023). In the Intervention Bariatric Prospective group, mean birth weight was 3168 ± 412 g, and no significant difference was observed from the Control Prospective group. Birth percentiles were also significantly lower in the Control Bariatric Retrospective group compared to the Control Prospective group (27th vs. 42nd, respectively. p < 0.05). In the Intervention Bariatric Prospective group, mean birth percentile was 35th, and no significant difference was observed from the Control Prospective group. As for the weight change of the woman during pregnancy, the highest variability was noted among the Control Bariatric Retrospective group with cases of weight loss up to 37 kg, due to conception close to the bariatric operation. Nevertheless, this variable was controlled, and showed no significant impact on birth weight results. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that personalized nutritional counseling care during post bariatric pregnancy improved nutrient intake of mothers and may contribute to higher birth weight of offspring. Further research is needed to examine the effects of prenatal nutrition care intervention, in addition to repeating this trial with a larger sample size, to allow for clearer findings. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRB number: 0310-15-RMB. IDENTIFICATION NIH NUMBER: NCT02697981 URL: https://www.nih.gov.

Capsaicin stability and bio-accessibility affected by complexation with high-amylose corn starch (HACS).

Delivery of pungent bioactives such as capsaicin from hot peppers is a scientific, technological and sensorial challenge. While capsaicin intake is positively related to various bowel diseases, its high pungency and instability upon digestion generate a problem in its delivery to the target organ. Helical V-amylose architectures have been shown to be a possible nano-sized delivery vehicle for such hydrophobic bioactives. This study sought to entrap capsaicin (CAP) within high amylose corn starch (HACS), quantitate and optimize the encapsulation efficiency and other techno-functional properties as well as evaluate the release of capsaicin in the duodenum. By adapting an acidification protocol, HACS was processed to form nanocapsules loaded with capsaicin. The capsaicin content and loading ratio were optimized to 44.0% (±0.4) and 1 : 1 (CAP : HACS, w/w), respectively. AFM and XRD measurements of the complexes confirmed the formed nanocapsules to be V-type crystals with a 1 : 10 (CAP : HACS, w/w) loading ratio showing the highest level of crystallinity. Laser scattering measurements demonstrated an increase in poly-dispersity as the loading ratio increased as well as a higher surface-area diameter. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the formation of irregular circular starch inclusion complexes upon acidification treatment. Finally, an in vitro digestion model was utilized to ascertain capsaicin release under gastro-intestinal conditions that coincides with complex degradation under digestive conditions. Both adult and elderly in vitro digestion models were applied, showing the effect of age on the nanocapsule degradation and capsaicin bioaccessibility. Overall, this work provides practical information about the use of HACS for nano-encapsulation of capsaicin and its controlled release under digestive conditions, and provides insight regarding the correlation between nanocomplex characteristics and the consumer physiology. Such a nano-encapsulation platform could prove to be useful in the fortification and supplementation of starchy foods with challenging bioactives, such as the pungent capsaicin.

Effects of Early Parent Training on Mother-Infant Feeding Interactions.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether professional behavioral and nutritional training for first-time mothers can improve feeding interaction at age 12 months. METHODS: Participants were 128 mother-infant dyads: 86 in the intervention group and 42 in the control group. The mean mothers' age was 30 years (±2.6). The intervention group received Mother-Infant Feeding Interaction (MI-FI) training: 4 weekly workshops for mothers when infants were aged 4 to 6 months old, followed by internet-based support by a dietitian and social worker until infants reached age 12 months. The control group received municipal well-baby clinic's standard mother-infant support. We assessed the mothers' tolerance to ambiguity and feeding-related reports. Blinded coders evaluated videotaped home mealtime interactions (age 12 months) using the Chatoor Feeding Scale (CFS). RESULTS: Significant intergroup differences emerged in mealtime interactions for 4 of the 5 CFS dimensions: dyadic conflict (MI-FI = 4.69 vs control = 8.38), talk and distraction (3.75 vs 4.90), struggle for control (2.30 vs 4.88), and maternal noncontingency (1.61 vs 2.75). Findings indicated significantly more positive mother-infant mealtime interactions and maternal responses to infant cues in the MI-FI group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Very early maternal training may support the development of more positive mother-infant feeding interactions. This may contribute to preserved internal hunger and satiety cues and improved eating habits.

Revisiting the carrageenan controversy: do we really understand the digestive fate and safety of carrageenan in our foods?

Carrageenan (CGN), a family of marine polysaccharides isolated from seaweeds, has been at the heart of considerable debate in recent years. To date, CGN is generally recognized as safe based on a history of safe use, various acute toxicology studies and some recent chronic toxicology tests. This review offers readers an overview of evidence on CGN characteristics and digestive fate that highlight various gaps in our understanding. Specifically, three unresolved gaps are identified. Firstly, little information can be found on the current levels of public exposure to CGN. Secondly, the link between CGN physicochemical properties, its impact on digestive proteolysis, the colon microbiome and inflammation are yet to be fully resolved. Thirdly, scant scientific evidence exists on the differential digestive fate of CGN in the gut of liable and predisposed populations, such as elderly people or IBD patients. Altogether, revisiting the scientific evidence indicates that more research is needed to elucidate the possibility that continued exposure to increasing levels of CGN in the human diet may compromise human health and well-being.