Application of bifidobacterial phytases in infant cereals: effect on phytate contents and mineral dialyzability.

Phytase activity was recently described in probiotic bifidobacterial strains, opening the possibilities for their use in foods, due to the generally regarded as safe/qualified presumption of safety status of these bacteria. Two raw materials for infant cereals (multicereal and gluten-free) were examined by measuring the myo-inositol phosphates content and the in vitro Ca, Fe, and Zn availability after a dephytinization process with purified phytases from Bifidobacterium longum spp. infantis and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum. Treatment with both enzymes reduced the contents of phytate as compared to control samples (untreated or treated with fungal phytase) and led to increased levels of myo-inositol triphosphate. Dephytinization followed by an in vitro model of intestinal digestion increased the solubility of Zn. However, phytase treatment did not increase significantly the mineral dialyzability as compared to untreated samples. This is the first example of the application of purified bifidobacterial phytases in food processing and shows the potential of these enzymes to be used in products for human consumption.

Stability of Pycnogenol® as an ingredient in fruit juices subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.

BACKGROUND: The enrichment of fruit juices with concentrated polyphenolic extracts is an expedient strategy to compensate possible phenolic loss through gastrointestinal processing. Pycnogenol, a standardised procyanidin-rich extract from pine bark, has been proposed as a potential candidate for polyphenol enrichment of foods. In this study the effects of in vitro digestion on the phenolic profile of fruit juices enriched with Pycnogenol were investigated. RESULTS: After in vitro digestion the level of detectable total phenolic compounds (expressed as gallic acid equivalent) was higher in both pineapple and red fruit juices enriched with Pycnogenol than in non-enriched commercial juices. Five phenolic monomeric compounds were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography, namely chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid and taxifolin, the last two being predominant. In vitro digestion of both Pycnogenol-enriched pineapple and red fruit juices led to a significant (P < 0.05) increase in detectable chlorogenic and ferulic acids, indicating that hydrolysis of more complex molecules occurs. On the other hand, in vitro digestion of non-enriched juices was associated with a decrease in gallic and caffeic acids in pineapple juice and with a decrease in ferulic acid in red fruit juice. In no case did in vitro digestion increase the amount of detectable phenolic compounds in non-enriched juices. CONCLUSION: The stability of Pycnogenol after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion makes it a good choice for phenolic enrichment of fruit juices.

Empleo de compuestos fenólicos en la dieta para modular la respuesta inflamatoria intestinal / Use of dietary phenols to modulate inflammatory bowel response

La enfermedad de Crohn y la colitis ulcerosa son 2 formas de enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII). Actualmente se han identificado factores genéticos y ambientales que ejercen influencia en el desarrollo de esta enfermedad. Entre los factores ambientales y dietéticos, se han propuesto los compuestos fenólicos como agentes protectores en diferentes modelos de inflamación intestinal. Sin embargo, aunque existe una amplia bibliografía acerca del efecto beneficioso que ejercen los polifenoles sobre la salud, su efectividad desde un punto de vista dietético no está todavía aclarada. En esta revisión se repasan algunas de las evidencias que vinculan el consumo de compuestos fenólicos en la dieta y un efecto protector sobre la EII (AU)

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are two forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Genetic and environmental factors influencing the onset and course of this disease have recently been identified. Among the environmental and dietary factors involved in the development of inflammatory colon diseases, dietary polyphenols have been proposed as protective agents in distinct models of colon inflammation. However, despite the huge number of studies on the beneficial effects of polyphenols on health, their dietary effectiveness is unclear. In this review, we examine some of the evidence linking dietary polyphenol intake with protection against IBD (AU)

[Use of dietary phenols to modulate inflammatory bowel response]. / Empleo de compuestos fenólicos en la dieta para modular la respuesta inflamatoria intestinal.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are two forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Genetic and environmental factors influencing the onset and course of this disease have recently been identified. Among the environmental and dietary factors involved in the development of inflammatory colon diseases, dietary polyphenols have been proposed as protective agents in distinct models of colon inflammation. However, despite the huge number of studies on the beneficial effects of polyphenols on health, their dietary effectiveness is unclear. In this review, we examine some of the evidence linking dietary polyphenol intake with protection against IBD.

Effect of dephytinization on bioavailability of iron, calcium and zinc from infant cereals assessed in the Caco-2 cell model.

AIM: To test the effect of the dephytinization of three different commercial infant cereals on iron, calcium, and zinc bioavailability by estimating the uptake, retention, and transport by Caco-2 cells. METHODS: Both dephytinized (by adding an exogenous phytase) and non-dephytinized infant cereals were digested using an in vitro digestion protocol adapted to the gastrointestinal conditions of infants younger than 6 mo. Mineral cell retention, transport, and uptake from infant cereals were measured using the soluble fraction of the simulated digestion and the Caco-2 cells. RESULTS: Dephytinization of infant cereals significantly increased (P < 0.05) the cell uptake efficiency (from 0.66%-6.05% to 3.93%-13%), retention (from 6.04%-16.68% to 14.75%-20.14%) and transport efficiency (from 0.14%-2.21% to 1.47%-6.02%), of iron, and the uptake efficiency (from 5.0%-35.4% to 7.3%-41.6%) and retention (from 4.05%-20.53% to 14.45%-61.3%) of zinc, whereas calcium only cell uptake showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) after removing phytate from most of the samples analyzed. A positive relationship (P < 0.05) between mineral solubility and the cell uptake and transport efficiencies was observed. CONCLUSION: Removing phytate from infant cereals had a beneficial effect on iron and zinc bioavailability when infant cereals were reconstituted with water. Since in developing countries cereal-based complementary foods for infants are usually consumed mixed with water, exogenous phytase additions could improve the nutritional value of this weaning food.

Empleo de fitasas como ingrediente funcional en alimentos: [revisión] / Application of phytases as functional ingredient in foods: [review]

Algunos métodos empleados durante el procesado industrial de cereales y leguminosas producen una reducción en la concentración de ácido fítico presente, sin embargo, ésta reducción o inactivación es sólo parcial. Con la finalidad de mejorar la hidrólisis del ácido fítico, se ha comprobado que la adición de fitasas exógenas (myo-inositol hexafosfato fosfohidrolasas) procedente de diferentes orígenes puede tener una importante eficacia en alimentación animal. Diversos estudios sobre el empleo de fitasas exógenas en alimentación humana han demostrado un gran potencial para su empleo en mejora de la disponibilidad mineral, pudiendo esta capacidad ser utilizada para reducir el elevado riesgo que presentan ciertos grupos de la población expuestos a padecer déficits minerales como los vegetarianos, los niños alimentados con fórmulas infantiles elaboradas con soja o los habitantes de países en vías de desarrollo en los que alimentos ricos en ácido fítico como los cereales y las leguminosas son la base de su nutrición. No obstante, en los últimos años han surgido evidencias que demuestran que el ácido fítico ejerce una importante acción beneficiosa sobre el organismo.

Various food processing and preparation methods result in a reduction in the phytate content of cereals and legumes. However, in general during these processes, phytate is not fully hydrolysed. To alleviate the aforementioned problems in the production of animal feeds, exogenous phytases (myo-inositol hexaphosphate phosphohydrolases) have been widely used. There is great potential, therefore, to use this class of enzymes in the processing and manufacturing of food for human consumption given the capacity to improve mineral bioavailability. This is seen as a way to reduce the risk of mineral deficiency in vulnerable groups including; child-bearing women; strict vegetarians; babies consuming soy-based infant formulas; and the inhabitants of developing countries. There is, however, growing evidence to demonstrate the beneficial role played by phytic acid in all human organisms.

[Application of phytases as functional ingredient in foods]. / Empleo de fitasas como ingrediente funcional en alimentos.

Various food processing and preparation methods result in a reduction in the phytate content of cereals and legumes. However, in general during these processes, phytate is not fully hydrolysed. To alleviate the aforementioned problems in the production of animal feeds, exogenous phytases (myo-inositol hexaphosphate phosphohydrolases) have been widely used. There is great potential, therefore, to use this class of enzymes in the processing and manufacturing of food for human consumption given the capacity to improve mineral bioavailability. This is seen as a way to reduce the risk of mineral deficiency in vulnerable groups including; childbearing women; strict vegetarians; babies consuming soy-based infant formulas; and the inhabitants of developing countries. There is, however, growing evidence to demonstrate the beneficial role played by phytic acid in all human organisms.