Effect of Calcium Salts Concentration on the Viscoelastic Properties of Sintered Tablets from Flours and Tortillas Evaluated by Stress-Relaxation Tests.

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of different calcium compounds and their concentration on the viscoelastic parameters of flours and tortillas obtained with traditional and ecological nixtamalization. Specimens (tablets) of nixtamalized flours and tortillas (14% moisture) prepared with three different calcium sources and four concentrations were sintered using a die and a hydraulic press and were evaluated by stress-relaxation tests with a texturometer. Data collected from the stress-relaxation curve were fitted into a three-element generalized Maxwell model (r2 = 0.9999), allowing the detection of significant differences in the estimated viscoelastic parameters. When flours are processed into tortillas, the most notable change was the increase of +88.44% and +73.44%, respectively, in the summation of the elastic modulus, and the compressional viscosity in samples produced with CaCO3. On the contrary, tablets from samples with Ca(OH)2 presented a sharp diminishing (loss) in both of the evaluated viscoelastic parameters, accounting a decrease of -39.82% and -46.28% for the elastic modulus and compressional viscosity summations, respectively. Highly significant correlations were found among viscoelastic parameters when a slight proportional increase was observed in the specific elastic moduli, meaning that the energy was stored by each elastic element in the tablets, while the compressional viscosity coefficients varied as a function of time. Finally, it was found that the residual spring due to the pure elastic component (E0 ) stored energy during the entire test. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: There is no published information about a simple methodology for the evaluation of the viscoelastic properties of dry nixtamalized flours (powder) with a texturometer. The method proposed was sensitive and accurate, since it was capable of detecting differences among samples processed under distinct processing factors conditions. The study of viscoelastic properties of grain foods contributes to the construction of molecular theories occurring in their chemical compounds, which is strongly related to food texture. Those theories are handy to improve nutritional and textural properties of grain foods and are essential to powder handling, processing, and transportation, which allows the processing factors optimization.

Viscoelastic behaviour of masa from corn flours obtained by nixtamalization with different calcium sources.

The viscoelastic characteristics of nixtamalized corn masa were assessed by the dynamic oscillatory test. Masa samples were prepared with flours obtained by nixtamalization with different calcium sources: Ca(OH)2 (traditional), wood ashes (classic), CaCO3 (ecological), CaSO4 (ecological), CaCl2 (ecological), and Ca(C2H5COO)2 (ecological). A sample cooking without calcium source was used as control. Storage (G') and loss (G'') moduli were higher in masa from traditional and classic processes indicating a more elastic and viscous masa. Masa of flours from CaCl2 and Ca(C2H5COO)2 had the lowest values of G' and G''. Viscoelastic properties were explained in terms of the degree of starch gelatinization, the hydrolysis of pericarp and fibre content, the calcium-starch and calcium-zein interactions, as well as the presence of amylose-lipid complexes. Nixtamalization with Ca(OH)2 and wood ashes gave the best viscoelastic characteristics of masa.

Physicochemical properties of nixtamalized black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) flours.

The aim of this work was to study the effect of three nixtamalization processes using wood ashes, Ca(OH)2, and CaCl2 on the physicochemical properties of beans. Raw beans had C-type starch, 10.10% resistant starch (RS), and two DSC endotherms: 1) starch gelatinization, and 2) melting of amylose-lipid complexes plus protein denaturation. Nixtamalization increased the Ca and Fe content, decreased the RS content to 4.19-4.43%, and produced starch retrogradation. DSC and FT-IR analysis of the flours evidenced a "stabilizing" effect of cooking with NaCl and CaCl2 on bean proteins. In contrast, cooking with wood ashes and Ca(OH)2 produced denaturation of bean proteins, decreasing the second transition enthalpy and absorption bands of amide I, II and III. Results showed that traditional and classic nixtamalization of beans are alternatives to obtaining mineral fortified flours that could be used as ingredients in the elaboration of foods with a good nutritional profile.

Nixtamalization Process Affects Resistant Starch Formation and Glycemic Index of Tamales.

Tamales were prepared with 3 nixtamalization processes (traditional, ecological, and classic) and evaluated for chemical composition, starch properties, and glycemic index. Resistant starch (RS) in tamales increased 1.6 to 3.7 times compared to raw maize. This increment was due to the starch retrogradation (RS3) and amylose-lipid complexes (RS5) formation. Tamales elaborated with classic and ecological nixtamalization processes exhibited the highest total, soluble and insoluble dietary fiber content, and the highest RS content and lower in vivo glycemic index compared to tamales elaborated with traditional nixtamalization process. Thermal properties of tamales showed 3 endotherms: amylopectin retrogradation (42.7 to 66.6 °C), melting of amylose lipid complex type I (78.8 to 105.4), and melting of amylose-lipid complex type II (110.7 to 129.7). Raw maize exhibited X-ray diffraction pattern type A, after nixtamalization and cooking of tamales it changed to V-type polymorph structure, due to amylose-lipid complexes formation. Tamales from ecological nixtamalization processes could represent potential health benefits associated with the reduction on blood glucose response after consumption.

Efecto de la adición de ácido cítrico sobre la degradación de las aflatoxinas y las propiedades funcionales de productos extrudidos de sorgo / Effect of citric acid addition on aflatoxin degradation and on functional properties of extruded sorghum products / Efeito da adição de ácido cítrico sobre a degradação das aflatoxinas e as propriedades funcionais de produtos extrudidos de sorgo

Harina de sorgo contaminada con aflatoxinas (AFB1+AFB2) a una concentración total de 140µg·kg-1, fue sometida a extrusión termoplástica usando un perfil de temperatura de 60-80-100ºC. El contenido de humedad (CH) de la harina fue ajustado a 20, 25 y 30% mediante la adición de diferentes cantidades de ácido cítrico (AC) acuoso a concentraciones de 0; 0,5; 1; 2; 4 y 8N. El perfil de temperatura, en combinación con el CH y la concentración de AC, afectaron significativamente la cantidad de aflatoxinas recuperadas en los extrudidos; el máximo porcentaje de eliminación fue de 35,5%. En los extrudidos procesados con altos CH y concentraciones de AC se encontraron los valores más altos en la diferencia de color (DE), así como los valores más bajos en viscosidad. Los índices de expansión fueron favorecidos a mayores CH y altas concentraciones de AC. Los mayores valores de fuerza al corte se encontraron en los extrudidos elaborados con un mayor CH; sin embargo, no se presentaron diferencias significativas para las diferentes concentraciones de AC evaluadas. Empleando condiciones moderadas durante la extrusión en combinación con altas concentraciones de AC se obtuvieron extrudidos con aceptable pH, color, viscosidad, así como con buenas propiedades funcionales y texturales.

Sorghum flour contaminated by aflatoxin at a concentration of 140µg·kg-1 was extrusion-cooked in a single screw extruder with a temperature profile of 60-80-100°C. The moisture content (MC) of the flour was adjusted to 20, 25 and 30% by adding aqueous citric acid (CA) at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8N. The temperature profile in combination with the MC and CA concentrations significantly affected the extent of aflatoxin reduction in the extruded sorghum; the maximum percentage of aflatoxin reduction was 35.5%. In extruded sorghum prepared with high MC and CA concentrations, the highest values in color difference (DE) and smallest values of viscosity were found. The expansion index was favored by higher MC and CA concentrations. The highest cutting force values were found in extruded products prepared with a higher MC, but there were no significant differences between those values and the different CA concentrations evaluated. Using moderate extrusion conditions in combination with higher concentrations of CA, products were obtained with acceptable pH, color, viscosity, as well as with good textural and functional properties.

Farinha de sorgo contaminada com aflatoxinas (AFB1+AFB2) na concentração total de 140µg·kg-1, foi submetida ao proceso de extrusão termoplástica usando um perfil de temperatura de 60-80-100ºC. O conteúdo de umidade (CH) da farinha foi ajustado a 20, 25 e 30% mediante a adição de diferentes quantidades de ácido cítrico (AC) aquoso em concentrações de 0; 0,5; 1; 2; 4 e 8N. O perfil de temperatura, combinado com o CH e a concentração de AC, afetaram significativamente a quantidade de aflatoxinas recuperadas nos extrudidos; a máxima porcentagem de eliminação foi de 35,5%. Nos extrudidos procesados com alto CH e concentração de AC se encontraram os valores mais altos na diferença de cor (DE), assim como os valores mais baixos em viscosidade. Os índices de expansão foram favorecidos a maior CH e altas concentrações de AC. Os maiores valores de força ao corte se encontraram nos extrudidos elaborados com maior CH; no entanto, não se apresentaram diferenças significativas para as diferentes concentrações de AC avaliadas. Utilizando condiciones moderadas durante a extrusão em combinação com altas concentrações de AC se obtiveram extrudidos com aceitável pH, cor, viscosidade, assim como com boas propriedades funcionais e texturais.