Gaspar Ros

Transgenic multivitamin corn through biofortification of endosperm with three vitamins representing three distinct metabolic pathways

Vitamin deficiency affects up to 50% of the worlds population, disproportionately impacting on developing countries where populations endure monotonous, cereal-rich diets. Transgenic plants offer an effective way to increase the vitamin content of staple crops, but thus far it has only been possible to enhance individual vitamins. We created elite inbred South African transgenic corn plants in which the levels of 3 vitamins were increased specifically in the endosperm through the simultaneous modification of 3 separate metabolic pathways. The transgenic kernels contained 169-fold the normal amount of β-carotene, 6-fold the normal amount of ascorbate, and double the normal amount of folate. Levels of engineered vitamins remained stable at least through to the T3 homozygous generation. This achievement, which vastly exceeds any realized thus far by conventional breeding alone, opens the way for the development of nutritionally complete cereals to benefit the worlds poorest people.

Bioactive compounds, folates and antioxidant properties of tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) during vine ripening

Bioactive compounds and their relationship with antioxidant activity were determined in three tomato cultivars (Ronaldo, Siena and Copo) during vine ripening. The lycopene, chlorophyll (total, a and b), total phenolic, flavonoid, vitamin C and folate contents, and the antioxidant activity, by the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay and the β-carotene lineolate system, were determined in the samples. Tomato ripening involved the breakdown of chlorophylls, accompanied by a continuous increase in the lycopene content. Total phenolics, flavonoids and vitamin C increased significantly during ripening, whereas the folate content fell markedly as tomatoes turned from green to red. The lycopene and flavonoid content was highest in the Copo cultivar, vitamin C and folate highest in Ronaldo, and total phenolics highest in Siena. The antioxidant activity, as measured with the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay, increased significantly during ripening in all extracts, and showed a positive correlation with the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. However, when measured with the β-carotene lineolate system, the antioxidant activity decreased significantly during ripening; perhaps due to the antioxidant activity of chlorophylls and the peroxidation activity of vitamin C.

Encapsulation of folic acid in food hydrocolloids through nanospray drying and electrospraying for nutraceutical applications

In this work, two different technologies (electrospraying and nanospray drying) were evaluated for the encapsulation of folic acid using both a whey protein concentrate (WPC) matrix and a commercial resistant starch. The morphology of the capsules, molecular organization of the matrices upon encapsulation, encapsulation efficiency, and stability of the folic acid within the capsules under different storage conditions and upon thermal exposure were studied. Results showed that spherical nano-, submicro- and microcapsules were obtained through both techniques, although electrospraying led to smaller capsule sizes and to an enhanced control over their size distribution. Greater encapsulation efficiency was observed using WPC as encapsulating matrix, probably related to interactions between the protein and folic acid which favoured the incorporation of the bioactive. The best results in terms of bioactive stabilization in the different conditions assayed were also obtained for the WPC capsules, although both materials and encapsulation techniques led to improved folic acid stability, especially under dry conditions.

Influence of enzymatic treatment on the nutritional and functional properties of pea flour

The effect of enzymatic treatment on the nutritional value and functional properties of pea flour was investigated. Pea flour was hydrolyzed with acid protease from Aspergillus saitoi, to give two different hydrolyzed pea flours. This enzymatic treatment led to a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in crude and true protein and to an increase of free amino acids and non-protein nitrogen. The nutritional value decreased, but an increase in the avilability of protein was expected as result of lower trypsin inhibitor activity and phytic acid content in hydrolyzed pea flours. The amino acid profile of unhydrolyzed pea flour was slightly modified after enzymatic hydrolysis, increasing (significantly) the isoleucine, leucine, lysine, cystine, phenylalanine, threonine, alanine, arginine and aspartic acid contents as a result of the added enzyme. In addition, enzymatic treatment released hydrophobic amino acids, which significantly improved the protein solubility at acid pH, the oil absorption capacity and the emulsification capacity of pea flours. Protein solubility, foaming capacity, foam stability, water absorption capacity, gelation capacity and green colour decreased. It was thus confirmed that treatment with acid protease improves some functional properties of pea flour, but the effect on nutritional properties was unclear.

The content and nutritional significance of minerals on fish flesh in the presence and absence of bone

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the variations in the mineral contents (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Na, K, Ca, Mg and P) and nutritional significance of the minerals of Mediterranean fish, as a function of the presence of bone. The three commercial species analysed were blue whiting (Micromessistius poutassou;R), hake (Merluccius merluccius, L) and sole (Solea vulgaris vulgaris, Q). As small and large species of hake are distinguished commercially, they were analysed as separate types of fish. No variations in the contents Fe, Zn, Cu, Na and K were observed when bone was included, as the content of trace elements were quite low in all the samples assayed. However, significant increases in the Ca and P contents were observed in all the species analysed when bone was included. To ascertain the nutrional significance of the samples they were considered as ingredients of fish-based homogenised weaning foods. According to the Ca and P contents, and to the nutritional density values, the samples could be considered to be good supplements of Ca and P, when bone is present in the flesh.

Folate Content in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Influence of Cultivar, Ripeness, Year of Harvest, and Pasteurization and Storage Temperatures

The effects of cultivar, on-vine ripening, and year of harvest on the folate content of raw tomatoes were studied. Folate content in hot-break tomato puree (HTP) subjected to pasteurization at different temperatures and its evolution during the shelf life of tomato juice were also investigated. 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-CH(3)-H(4)-folate) was the only folate compound identified in raw tomatoes and HTP, but tetrahydrofolate (H(4)-folate) was 10% of the folate detected in tomato juice. The content of folates in raw tomatoes ranged from 4.1 to 35.3 microg/100 g of fresh weight and was highly influenced by all of the factors studied. No clear trend of folate content with ripening stage was observed. The extractability of 5-CH(3)-H(4)-folate from HTP increased significantly after pasteurization at 98 degrees C for 40 s, but higher temperatures decreased its content. Tomato juice showed folate losses during storage independent of the storage temperature. Folate losses were higher when tomato juice was packed in glass bottles than in Tetra Pak.

El ácido fítico en la alimentación humana/Phytic acid in human nutrition:

nutrientes’ capaces de disminuir la disponibilidad de los nutrientes esenciales (Mitjavila, 1990). Estos compuestos se clasifican en funci6n del tipo de nutrientes con los que interfieren según afecten a la digestion o al metabolismo de las proteinas, a la asimilaci6n de los minerales, o inactiven o aumenten el requerimiento en vitaminas. Hay que tener en cuenta que un mismo antinutriente puede formar parte de uno o varios de estos grupos. Este es el caso del Scido fitico, cuya acci6n se basa en la formacion de complejos insolubles con proteinas y minerales, convirti6ndolos en no asimilables por el organismo bajo condiciones fisiol6gicas (Reddy y Salunkhe, 1981; Harland, 1989). No obstante, en los ultimos anos se han desarrollado numerosos estudios sobre los efectos

Proximate and mineral composition of dried salted roes of hake (Merluccius merluccius, L.) and ling (Molva molva, L.)

Proximate analyses and mineral composition of dried salted roes of hake (Merluccius merluccius) and ling (Molva molva) were determined. Both roes contained a significant amount of protein (39.1 and 43.6%, respectively) and lipid (14.13 and 14.80, respectively) because of their physiological role as reserves. Because this product is a typical food of one particular area, no specific data have been found in the literature about proximate and mineral compositions. Only trace elements (Fe, Cu and Zn) and macronutrients (crude protein and carbohydrates) varied with the type of roe. The most important minerals were Fe, Zn, K and Na. However, Na content was very high, and for this reason dried salted roe cannot be recommended for people who require dietetic control of blood pressure.

In vitro protein digestibility and mineral availability of green beans (Phaseolus vulgarisL) as influenced by variety and pod size

Three varieties of green beans (Cleo, Strike and Sentry) were harvested and sorted into four fractions according to pod size (diameter 10 mm). Ash content and dietary fibre increased significantly as pod size increased mainly in Cleo and Strike beans. Strike showed the highest fibre content (378.0 g kg -1 ) but the lowest carbohydrate (364.6 g kg -1 ) and ash (68.4 g kg -1 ) values. Mean values for Fe and Mg content were higher in Cleo beans (70.9 and 27.1 mg kg - 1 , respectively), Zn, Cu and Mg were higher in Strike beans (48.7 mg kg -1 , 22.4 mg kg -1 and 3.15 g kg -1 , respectively) while Na and Ca values were maximum in Sentry (459.1 mg kg -1 and 7.11 g kg -1 , respectively). Trypsin inhibitor was negatively related to in vitro protein digestibility but no relationship was found between this last parameter and phytic acid content. This antinutrient, together with dietary fibre, and a negative influence on in vitro mineral dialysability of green beans.

Oxidative stress status in an institutionalised elderly group after the intake of a phenolic-rich dessert

The elderly population undergoes a series of physiological and sociological changes common to old age with a high probability of suffering degenerative illness and malnutrition. A dessert rich in phenolic compounds has been designed by using concentrated juices of grape, cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant and raspberry with the aim of it being used as a complementary food in adulthood. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the intake of this dessert (a jar of 200 g daily for a period of 2 weeks), with an antioxidant activity equivalent to ten servings of fruits and vegetables, on several markers of oxidative and antioxidant status in DNA and plasma in a group of elderly individuals. Non-smoking institutionalised elderly subjects were recruited from a pool of volunteers in an old-age home in Murcia (Spain). Twenty-two subjects (six men and sixteen women) participated in the study. The study was designed as a randomised intervention trial with a period of 2 weeks. At days 1 and 15, blood samples were collected to analyse total antioxidant capacity, biochemical parameters, antioxidant vitamins, LDL peroxidation, and DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes. The conclusion of the present study is that a 2-week intervention with our dessert enriched with natural polyphenol compounds in elderly individuals does not give enough time to find changes in the antioxidant and oxidative status. Also, the view that the marked antioxidant ability of polyphenols in vitro does not translate to analogous effects in vivo was confirmed. Moreover, a highly oxidative stress status during ageing was confirmed, together with the need to perform follow-up nutritional studies to improve this situation.