Quinoa snack elaborated with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CRL 1964 sourdough increases the mineral bioavailability in mice.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of pseudocereal-based foods decreased in phytate concentration can provide better nutrition concerning mineral bioavailability. This study aimed to evaluate the mineral bioavailability of quinoa sourdough-based snacks in a murine model. The mice were divided into five groups. One group was fed with basal snacks; three control groups received quinoa-based snacks made from non-fermented dough, dough without inoculum, and chemically acidified dough; and the test group (GF) received quinoa snacks elaborated from sourdough fermented by a phytase-positive strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CRL 1964. Food intake, body weight, and mineral concentration in blood and organs (liver, kidney, and femur) were determined. RESULTS: Food consumption increased during the feeding period and had the highest (16.2-24.5%) consumption in the GF group. Body weight also increased during the 6-weeks of trial. The GF group showed higher (6.0-10.2%) body weight compared with the other groups from the fifth week. The concentrations of iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in blood, iron and phosphorus in the liver, manganese and magnesium in the kidney, and calcium and phosphorus in the femur increased significantly (1.1-2.7-fold) in the GF group compared to the control groups. CONCLUSION: The diet that includes quinoa snacks elaborated with sourdough fermented by phytase-positive strain L. plantarum CRL 1964 increased the concentrations of minerals in the blood, liver, kidney, and femur of mice, counteracting the antinutritional effects of phytate. This study demonstrates that the diminution in phytate content and the consequent biofortification in minerals are a suitable tool for producing novel foods. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Advantages and limitations of in vitro and in vivo methods of iron and zinc bioavailability evaluation in the assessment of biofortification program effectiveness.

Biofortification aims to improve the micronutrient concentration of staple food crops through the best practices of breeding and modern biotechnology. However, increased zinc and iron concentrations in food crops may not always translate into proportional increases in absorbed zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe). Therefore, assessing iron and zinc bioavailability in biofortified crops is imperative to evaluate the efficacy of breeding programs. This review aimed to investigate the advantages and limitations of in vitro and in vivo methods of iron and zinc bioavailability evaluation in the assessment of biofortification program effectiveness. In vitro, animal and isotopic human studies have shown high iron and zinc bioavailability in biofortified staple food crops. Human studies provide direct knowledge regarding the effectiveness of biofortification, however, human studies are time consuming and are more expensive than in vitro and animal studies. Moreover, in vitro studies may be a useful preliminary screening method to identify promising plant cultivars, however, these studies cannot provide data that are directly applicable to humans. None of these methods provides complete information regarding mineral bioavailability, thus, a combination of these methods should be the most appropriate strategy to investigate the effectiveness of zinc and iron biofortification programs.

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.

Evaluación de la influencia de distintos componentes de la dieta sobre la biodisponibilidad potencial de minerales en alimentos complementarios / Evaluation of the influence of different dietary components on potential mineral bioavailability in complementary foods

Iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca) potential bioavailability (Ba) was evaluated in complementary foods fortified with vitamins and minerals: a commercial infant cereal (IC), the mixture of IC with a commercial infant dessert (IC+ID) and a mixture of IC with orange (IC+O). Each sample was combined with 5 different beverages (tea, mate, chocolate milk, a cola soft drink and artificial orange juice). Mineral's dialysis ability (D%) as an indicator of potential Ba was assessed using an in vitro method. Fe D % showed no significant differences between IC (19.9) and IC+ID (17.8) but was significantly increased in the IC+O sample (35.4). The IC+ID mixture had the lowest Zn D% (11.4) while the IC+O sample showed a very high value (24). There were no significant differences in Ca D% among the three samples. Regarding the beverages, both chocolate milk and mate had a depressing effect on mineral dialysis ability in all cases. There was no modification due to cola soft drink. Artificial juice caused a considerable increase in D% for all of the minerals. Mineral potential bioavailability in these complementary foods may be significantly modified by other habitual dietary components.

Se evaluó la biodisponibilidad potencial (Bd) de hierro (Fe), zinc (Zn) y calcio (Ca) en alimentos complementarios fortificados con vitaminas y minerales: un cereal comercial infantil (CI), la mezcla de CI con un postre comercial infantil (CI+PI) y mezcla de CI con naranja (CI+N). Cada muestra se combinó con 5 bebidas diferentes (té, mate cocido, leche chocolatada, bebida cola y «jugo¼ artificial de naranja). La dializabilidad (D%) mineral como indicador de la Bd potencial, fue determinada con un método in vitro. La D % de Fe fue muy similar en CI (19,9) y CI+PI (17,8) pero mostró un aumento muy significativo en la mezcla CI+N (35,4). La muestra CI+PI presentó la menor D % Zn (11,4) mientras que en CI+N fue muy elevada (24). La D% de Ca no presentó diferencias significativas entre las tres muestras. En relación con las bebidas, la leche chocolatada y el mate cocido tuvieron un efecto depresor en todos los minerales. No se observaron modificaciones con la bebida cola. El «jugo¼ artificial provocó un incremento considerable en la D% de todos los minerales. La biodisponibilidad potencial de los minerales estudiados en estos alimentos complementarios puede verse significativamente modificada por otros componentes habituales de la dieta.

Biodisponibilidade de minerais / Mineral biovailability

A importância da determinação da biodisponibilidade de minerais em dietas está centralizada no estabelecimento das recomendações de ingestão destes elementos em função das necessidades dos indivíduos. Assim, os estudos de biodisponibilidade de nutrientes devem ser específicos para cada país, tendo em vista a grande diversidade de dietas e de indivíduos. Nesta abordagem, procurou-se discutir as metodologias disponíveis para avaliação da biodisponibilidade de minerais e os fatores que podem interferir nesta medida, visando motivar jovens pesquisadores a se interessarem por esta área de pesquisa que promete grandes descobertas

The importance of mineral bioavailability determination in diets is focused on the establishment of these minerals intake recommendations, considering the individual necessities. So, researche of nutrients bioavailability should be specific to each country, taking into account the numerous types of diets and individuals. The purpose of this article is to discuss the available methodologies for mineral bioavailability assessment and the variables that interfere with this evaluation, trying to make young researcher interested in this area which is quite promising in new discoveries