John W. Finley

Safety Assessment and Caloric Value of Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum

Guar gum and partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) are food ingredients that have been available for many years. PHGG is the partially hydrolyzed product from guar gum obtained from the Indian cluster bean (Cyanopsis tetragonolopus). The gum (CAS Registry No. 9000-30-0) is composed of galactomannan, a gel-forming polysaccharide with a molecular weight ranging from 200 to 300 kDa. The intact and partially hydrolyzed forms have multiple food applications. The intact material can be used to control the viscosity, stability, and texture of foods. PHGG is highly soluble and has little physical impact on foods. Both forms are indigestible but are excellent sources of fermentable dietary fiber. The caloric value of intact guar gum is accepted as 2.0, whereas the caloric value of PHGG has not been firmly established. It is the goal of this paper to review the chemistry, safety, in vivo effects, and caloric value of PHGG.

Phytochemicals from Camellia nitidissima Chi inhibited the formation of advanced glycation end-products by scavenging methylglyoxal

The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Camellia nitidissima Chi (CNC) on the advanced glycation end-product (AGE) formation. CNC was extracted with ethanol and further separated into dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water soluble fractions. Ethyl acetate fraction had the highest total phenolic and quercetin content compared with other fractions. Sixteen phenolic compounds were identified using HPLC Triple TOF MS/MS. Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glucose assay showed that dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fraction inhibited AGE formation by 88.1% and 87.5% at 2.5mg/mL. BSA-methylglyoxal assay showed that ethyl acetate fraction inhibited 54.1% AGE formation while dichloromethane fraction inhibited 28.1%. Over 96.0% of methylglyoxal was scavenged by different fractions within 12h. Both mono- and di-methylglyoxal quercetin adducts were identified after incubating quercetin with methylglyoxal using HPLC-ESI-MS(n). The results in this study suggest that CNC extracts inhibited AGEs formation in part through scavenging methylglyoxal by phenolic compounds.

A resistant-starch enriched yogurt: fermentability, sensory characteristics, and a pilot study in children.

The rising prevalence of obesity and the vulnerability of the pediatric age group have highlighted the critical need for a careful consideration of effective, safe, remedial and preventive dietary interventions. Amylose starch (RS2) from high-amylose maize (HAM) ferments in the gut and affects body weight. One hundred and ten children, of 7-8 (n=91) or 13-14 (n=19) years of age scored the sensory qualities of a yogurt supplemented with either HAM-RS2 or an amylopectin starch. The amylopectin starch yogurt was preferred to the HAM-RS2-enriched yogurt by 7-8 year old panelists ( P<0.0001). Appearance, taste, and sandiness scores given by 13- to 14-year-old panelists were more favorable for the amylopectin starch yogurt than for HAM-RS2-enriched yogurt ( P<0.05). HAM-RS2 supplementation resulted in acceptable (≥6 on a 1-9 scale) sensory and hedonic ratings of the yogurt in 74% of subjects. Four children consumed a HAM-RS2-enriched yogurt for four weeks to test its fermentability in a clinical trial. Three adolescents, but not the single pre-pubertal child, had reduced stool pH ( P=0.1) and increased stool short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) ( P<0.05) including increased fecal acetate ( P=0.02), and butyrate ( P=0.089) from resistant starch (RS) fermentation and isobutyrate ( P=0.01) from protein fermentation post-treatment suggesting a favorable change to the gut microbiota. HAM-RS2 was not modified by pasteurization of the yogurt, and may be a palatable way to increase fiber intake and stimulate colonic fermentation in adolescents. Future studies are planned to determine the concentration of HAM-RS2 that offers the optimal safe and effective strategy to prevent excessive fat gain in children.

Characteristics of Meat or Sausage Patties Using Pulses as Extenders

Meat patties were produced from either beef (20% fat) or pork (18% fat) and 23 different pulses. The pulses were blended with meat at 35, 42.5, and 50% ratios. The blends were formed into 113.4-g (4-oz.) meat patties or 56.7-g (2-oz.) pork sausage patties. Each patty was blast frozen, stored at −20°F (−29°C) in food-grade resealable freezer bags, and then baked in a 74°C oven for 15 minutes before testing for weight loss, diameter loss, color, and texture. The 50:50 ratio samples had the least amount of cooking loss but the greatest visible bean fraction. All fractions improved nutritional profile. Navy, light red kidney, and small red beans were found to be most beneficial/acceptable as partial meat substitutes.

Lower Doses of Fructose Extend Lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans

ABSTRACT Epidemiological studies indicate that the increased consumption of sugars including sucrose and fructose in beverages correlate with the prevalence of obesity, type-2 diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension in humans. A few reports suggest that fructose extends lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In Anopheles gambiae, fructose, glucose, or glucose plus fructose also extended lifespan. New results presented here suggest that fructose extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) wild type (N2). C. elegans were fed standard laboratory food source (E. coli OP50), maintained in liquid culture. Experimental groups received additional glucose (111 mM), fructose (55 mM, 111 mM, or 555 mM), sucrose (55 mM, 111 mM, or 555 mM), glucose (167 mM) plus fructose (167 mM) (G&F), or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS, 333 mM). In four replicate experiments, fructose dose-dependently increased mean lifespan at 55 mM or 111 m Min N2, but decreased lifespan at 555 mM (P < 0.001). Sucrose did not affect the lifespan. Glucose reduced lifespan (P < 0.001). Equal amount of G&F or HFCS reduced lifespan (P < 0.0001). Intestinal fat deposition (IFD) was increased at a higher dose of fructose (555 mM), glucose (111 mM), and sucrose (55 mM, 111 mM, and 555 mM). Here we report a biphasic effect of fructose increasing lifespan at lower doses and shortening lifespan at higher doses with an inverse effect on IFD. In view of reports that fructose increases lifespan in yeast, mosquitoes and now nematodes, while decreasing fat deposition (in nematodes) at lower concentrations, further research into the relationship of fructose to lifespan and fat accumulation in vertebrates and mammals is indicated.

Genetically Modified Crops

When man evolved from a hunter gatherer they began to grow crops for food. They found that selection of crops improved the quality and yield of foods for food production. The selection of seeds led to the evolution of new crops that are more productive and nutritious crops.

Herbs and Spices

Herbs and spices are important food ingredients. The human consumption of herbs and spices can date back to 5000 BC. The world production of spices is estimated to be 8,730,271 tons in 2013 (FAOSTAT). The major producer countries are India, China, Thailand and USA. Table 12.1 summarizes some of the more common spices, the portion of the plant and their region of cultivation. Herbs and spices are consumed as is or formulated into various food, beverage and dietary supplement products. Due to their characteristic chemical compounds, herbs and spices are used to flavor foods and beverages, to inhibit microbial growth and preserve food quality. Increasing evidence also suggest consumption of certain herbs and spices bring in potential health benefits. Although the definitions sometimes overlap, generally herbs are plant leaves or flowering parts either fresh or dried and spices are small pieces from roots, bark or seeds of plants. Most spices also contain essential oils which are normally recovered by steam distillation.

Color and Food Colorants

Color is important to many foods, both those that are unprocessed and those that are manufactured. Together with flavor and texture, color plays an important role in food acceptability. In addition, color may provide an indication of chemical changes in a food, such as browning and caramelization. For a few clear liquid foods, such as oils and beverages, color is mainly a matter of transmission of light. Other foods are opaque—they derive their color mostly from reflection.

Beer and Wine

Alcoholic beverages are produced by fermentation of sugars to ethanol. Starting materials range from simple sugars to complex carbohydrates that are reduced to simple sugars by hydrolytic cleavage of starches and dextrins. Beer and wind represent direct products from fermentation whereas vodka, rum, whiskey and other distilled spirits and a distillation step.