Membrane Filtration-Assisted Enzymatic Hydrolysis Affects the Biological Activity of Potato Juice.

The results of recently published studies indicate that potato juice is characterized by interesting biological activity that can be particularly useful in the case of gastrointestinal symptoms. Moreover, the studies also described the high nutritional value of its proteins. This article is a report on the impact of the enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins combined with membrane filtration. The obtained potato juice protein hydrolysate (PJPH) and its concentrate (cPJPH) were characterized in terms of their nutritional value and biological activity. The amino acid profile and scoring, the content of mineral compounds, and the antioxidant and in vitro cytotoxic activity were assessed. The study proved that the antioxidant activity of PJPH is higher than that of fresh potato juice, and the cytotoxicity against human gastric carcinoma cell line (Hs 746T), human colon cancer cell line (Caco-2), human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29), and human normal colon mucosa cell line (CCD 841 CoN) showed biological activity specifically targeted against cancer cells. Therefore, it can be concluded that the membrane filtration-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis of potato juice proteins may increase their biological activity and allow for potato juice to be used in the production of medicinal preparations.

Nutritional Value and Biological Activity of Gluten-Free Bread Enriched with Cricket Powder.

Cricket powder, described in the literature as a source of nutrients, can be a valuable ingredient to supplement deficiencies in various food products. Work continues on the implementation of cricket powder in products that are widely consumed. The aim of this study was to obtain gluten-free bread with a superior nutritional profile by means of insect powder addition. Gluten-free breads enriched with 2%, 6%, and 10% of cricket (Acheta domesticus) powder were formulated and extensively characterized. The nutritional value, as well as antioxidant and ß-glucuronidase activities, were assessed after simulated in vitro digestion. Addition of cricket powder significantly increased the nutritional value, both in terms of the protein content (exceeding two-, four-, and seven-fold the reference bread (RB), respectively) and above all mineral compounds. The most significant changes were observed for Cu, P, and Zn. A significant increase in the content of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in the enriched bread was also demonstrated; moreover, both values additionally increased after the digestion process. The total polyphenolic compounds content increased about five-fold from RB to bread with 10% CP (BCP10), and respectively about three-fold after digestion. Similarly, the total antioxidant capacity before digestion increased about four-fold, and after digestion about six-fold. The use of CP also reduced the undesirable activity of ß-glucuronidase by 65.9% (RB vs. BCP10) in the small intestine, down to 78.9% in the large intestine. The influence of bread on the intestinal microflora was also evaluated, and no inhibitory effect on the growth of microflora was demonstrated, both beneficial (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus) and pathogenic (Enterococcus and Escherichia coli). Our results underscore the benefits of using cricket powder to increase the nutritional value and biological activity of gluten-free food products.

Low-Field NMR Study of Shortcake Biscuits with Cricket Powder, and Their Nutritional and Physical Characteristics.

The growing human population renders challenges for the future supply of food products with high nutritional value. Here, we enhanced the functional and nutritional value of biscuits, a popular sweet snack, by replacing the wheat flour with 2%, 6%, or 10% (w/w) cricket powder. Consumer acceptance ratings for reference and 2% augmented cookies were comparable, whereas the higher levels of enhancement received inferior consumer scores. This relatively small change in biscuit recipe provided significant and nutritionally desirable enhancements in the biscuits, observed in a series of analyses. An increase in the protein content was observed, including essential amino acids, as well as minerals and fat. This conversion also affected the physical properties of the biscuits, including hardness, and water molecular dynamics measured by 1H NMR. Cricket powder-augmented biscuits join the line of enhanced, functionally superior food products. This and similar food augmentation provide a viable scenario to meet the human food demands in the future.

Chemometric analysis of minerals in gluten-free products.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies indicate mineral deficiencies in people on a gluten-free (GF) diet. These deficiencies may indicate that GF products are a less valuable source of minerals than gluten-containing products. In the study, the nutritional quality of 50 GF products is discussed taking into account the nutritional requirements for minerals expressed as percentage of recommended daily allowance (%RDA) or percentage of adequate intake (%AI) for a model celiac patient. Elements analyzed were calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. Analysis of %RDA or %AI was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). RESULTS: Using PCA, the differentiation between products based on rice, corn, potato, GF wheat starch and based on buckwheat, chickpea, millet, oats, amaranth, teff, quinoa, chestnut, and acorn was possible. In the HCA, four clusters were created. The main criterion determining the adherence of the sample to the cluster was the content of all minerals included to HCA (K, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn); however, only the Mn content differentiated four formed groups. CONCLUSION: GF products made of buckwheat, chickpea, millet, oats, amaranth, teff, quinoa, chestnut, and acorn are better source of minerals than based on other GF raw materials, what was confirmed by PCA and HCA. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of spring versus autumn grass/clover silage and rapeseed supplementation on milk production, composition and quality in Jersey cows.

The composition of grass/clover silage varies depending on time of harvest time. In particular silage from late regrowths is expected to contain lower fibre and higher linolenic acid concentrations compared to spring growth, thereby autumn silage is expected to increase linolenic acid content of milk fat. Rapeseed supplementation is expected to increase milk production and to increase all C18 fatty acids in milk fat. An interaction between rapeseed and silage type is expected, as hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids in rapeseed is expected to be less when low fibre silage is fed. Thirty-six Jersey cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design, for 4 periods of 3 weeks and with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: spring grass/clover silage from primary growth or autumn grass/clover silage which was an equal mixture of 3rd regrowth and 4th regrowth, with or without rapeseed supplementation. Dry matter intake and milk production was higher for autumn than for spring silage. Rapeseed supplementation did not affect dry matter intake, but increased milk production. The concentrations of C18 : 1cis9, C18 : 2n6 and ß-carotene and C18 : 3n3 in milk were increased whereas the concentrations of C16 : 0, riboflavin and α-tocopherol were decreased with autumn silage. The majority of C18 FAs in milk and α-tocopherol concentration increased with rapeseed whereas C11 : 0 to C16 : 0 FA were reduced. Autumn silage reduced biohydrogenation of C18 : 2n6, whereas rapeseed increased biohydrogenation of C18 : 2n6 and reduced biohydrogenation of C18 : 3n3. Apparent recovery of C18 : 2n6 was reduced with rapeseed. Minor interaction effects of silage type and rapeseed addition were observed for some milk fatty acids. Feeding silage from late regrowth increased linolenic acid concentration in milk fat. Rapeseed inclusion increased milk production, and increased C18 : 0 as well as C18 : 1 fatty acids, but not C18 : 2 and C18 : 3 in milk fat. Interactions between silage type and rapeseed supplementation were minimal.

Short communication: Genetic variation of riboflavin content in bovine milk.

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is an essential water-soluble vitamin; elderly people and adolescents in particular can have poor riboflavin status. In Western diets, milk and dairy products are primary sources of riboflavin, but little is known about the natural variation within and among bovine breeds, and how genetic and environmental factors can affect the riboflavin content in milk. As a part of the Danish-Swedish Milk Genomics Initiative, the aim of the study was to quantify milk riboflavin content using reverse-phase HPLC in 2 major Danish dairy breeds. The results showed substantial interbreed differences in milk riboflavin content. Milk from Danish Jersey cows contained significantly higher levels of riboflavin (1.93mg/L of milk) than milk from Danish Holstein cows (1.40mg/L of milk). Furthermore, genetic analyses revealed high heritabilities in both breeds (0.52 for Danish Holstein and 0.31 for Danish Jersey). A genomic association study found 35 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (false discovery rate<0.10) to be associated with riboflavin content in milk in Jersey cows (all on BTA14 and BTA17), and 511 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms in Holstein cows spread over 25 different autosomes with BTA13 and BTA14 having the most promising quantitative trait loci. The best candidate gene found within the identified quantitative trait loci was SLC52A3, a riboflavin transporter gene, which was among the significant markers on BTA13 in Holstein cows.

Selenium in Gluten-free Products.

The nutritional value of gluten-free products is the subject of interest for food technologists and nutritionists, as the only effective treatment for celiac disease is a lifelong gluten-free diet. As selenium deficiencies in celiac disease are observed, the aim of the study was to determine the selenium content in 27 grain gluten-free products available on the European Union (EU) market. Moreover, selenium content in products based on popular gluten-free cereals like corn, rice, and buckwheat and in relatively new or less popular products based on oat, amaranth, teff, and quinoa was compared. Selenium content in the tested products ranged from 0.9 to 24.5 µg/100 g. The average content of selenium in products based on popular gluten-free cereals was 2.8 µg/100 g and in products based on oat, amaranth, teff, and quinoa was 10.8 µg/100 g. It indicates that products based on less popular grains, especially on oat, should be more frequently chosen as a source of selenium by people on gluten-free diet than traditionally consumed gluten-free grains.

The credibility of dietary advice formulated by ChatGPT: Robo-diets for people with food allergies.

The introduction of ChatGPT has sparked enormous public interest in large language (deep-learning) models, which have been sophisticated enough to perform well on a variety of tasks. One way people are using these models is to construct diets. The prompts often include food restrictions that are an obligatory part of everyday life for millions of people worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and accuracy of 56 diets, constructed for hypothetical individuals who are allergic to food allergens. Four levels, corresponding to the "baseline" ability of ChatGPT without prompting for specifics, as well as its ability to prepare appropriate diets when an individual has an adverse food reaction to two allergens or solicits a low-calorie diet, were defined. Findings from our study demonstrated that ChatGPT, although generally accurate, has the potential to produce harmful diets. More common errors involve inaccuracies in portions or calories of food, meals, or diets. We discuss here how the accuracy of large language models could be increased and the trade-offs involved. We propose that prompting for elimination diets can serve as one way to assess differences between such models.

Benefit and risk assessment of replacing of sodium chloride by other salt/substances in industrial seafood products.

Sodium (Na) is primarily consumed as salt (sodium chloride, NaCl), which is a critical food ingredient that contributes to improve preservation, shelf-life and sensory attributes (e.g. texture and taste). On the other hand, the excessive Na intake is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases including stroke and heart diseases. The actual NaCl intake in most countries is far above recommended level of 5 g NaCl/day. Therefore, the reduction of NaCl is among top priorities for health authorities around the globe and the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a strategy to reduce NaCl intake by 30% until 2025. Integral part of the reduction strategy is to limit NaCl intake from seafood, which is especially relevant for regions with a significant fish and shellfish consumption. The purpose of the project was to (i) review the current situation of relevant strategies to reducing NaCl content in seafood (literature review), (ii) assess benefit/risk of NaCl replacement with other substances/ingredients in seafood and (iii) disseminate results obtained. In the first phase of the project, the literature review was performed and the review paper was prepared. The second part of the project was focused on the experimental studies on smoked trout which commercially available products can deliver up to 4 g NaCl in 100 g. The aim of this study was to optimise the development process of smoked trout with reduced NaCl content without compromising quality and safety attributes. Another part of the project was related to the dissemination of results which resulted in the preparation of three conference abstracts and two experimental papers.

The Development of Smoked Mackerel with Reduced Sodium Content.

The World Health Organization recommends reducing salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) intake by 30% by 2025. Since smoked fish can deliver up to 4 g NaCl/100 g, the aim of this study was to develop safe, healthy and attractive smoked chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) with a reduced NaCl content. Two brines (5% and 10%) were used with different ratios of NaCl and potassium chloride (KCl). In each brine, 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% of NaCl was replaced by KCl, resulting in 1.3, 1.1, 0.9 and 0.6 g NaCl (5% brine), and 2.6, 2.0, 1.2 and 0.8 g NaCl (10% brine) per 100 g, respectively. Similar yield, nutritional, safety, texture and colour properties were found in most formulations. The most desirable taste attributes (negligible bitterness and adequate saltiness) were obtained with a 5% brine prepared with 75% NaCl + 25% KCl. Such conditions seemed to allow for obtaining an attractive product for conscious consumers.

Controlled fermentation of curly kale juice with the use of autochthonous starter cultures.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the influence of different indigenous lactic acid bacteria isolates - as a single culture or bacterial consortium - on the functional and physicochemical properties of fermented curly kale juice. All tested variants exhibited good growth parameters, manifested by efficient pH lowering, increases in acidity, and fructose and glucose metabolism, as well as a significant inhibition of pathogens. A slight increase in total phenolic content was observed, while antioxidant activity remained unchanged. L. sakei and MIX A were associated with an increase in riboflavin and pyridoxine content, while L. plantarum only contributed to an increase in vitamin B6 content. Bioconversion of individual phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and glucosinolates strongly depended on the strain-specific metabolism. In the process, the levels of ferulic acid and other hydroxycinnamic acids were maintained, while the content of 9-cis lutein increased. Considering presented results and our previous research regarding probiotic features of LAB strains, among tested starter cultures - L. plantarum seemed to possess the best characteristics as a potential starter culture for controlled fermentation of curly kale juice.

Minerals and their bioavailability in relation to dietary fiber, phytates and tannins from gluten and gluten-free flakes.

Flakes are an assortment of grain products mainly consumed for breakfast. Most of them are important source of nutrients including minerals. Twenty commercial flakes from different raw materials were included in this study, both gluten (barley, rye, spelt, wheat) and gluten-free (amaranth, buckwheat, corn, quinoa, millet, oat, rice, teff). The content of minerals (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Zn), dietary fiber (total, soluble and insoluble), tannins and phytates was determined. Moreover, the phytates:mineral molar ratios and the percentage of the realization of mineral requirements were calculated. For the first time the mineral bioavailability from the gluten and gluten-free flakes was evaluated and compared. It allowed indicating amaranth and teff products as flakes with the highest impact on the realization of daily requirements for minerals, especially for magnesium and iron. This aspect is particularly important for people on a gluten-free diet who often represent mineral deficiencies.

Technological and antioxidant properties of proteins obtained from waste potato juice.

The article presents the technological and antioxidant properties of potato juice (PJ) protein concentrate obtained by the novel ultrafiltration method. Commercial products, obtained from waste PJ by the traditional method of acid coagulation of proteins, were studied for comparison. Functional properties such as water or oil absorption, foaming capacity, and foam stability (FS) as well as solubility at various pH were assessed. Moreover, the total phenolic compound content, antioxidant activity, and mineral composition were determined. The results showed that PJ protein concentrate obtained by ultrafiltration has good oil absorption properties (6.30 mL/g), which is more than two times higher than the commercial proteins used in the comparison (P2 = 2.33 mL/g and P3 = 2.67 mL/g). Moreover, the ability to create and stabilize foam was also higher (FS ranging from 20.0% at pH = 10 to 11.3% at pH = 2 after 60 min of testing). It had higher content of macro- and microelements and antioxidant activity compared to other samples. Therefore, it is possible to obtain interesting potato protein concentrate from the waste product of the starch production process, which may be an interesting raw material for enriching food.

Spontaneously fermented curly kale juice: Microbiological quality, nutritional composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.

Nondairy fermented products, such as fruit and vegetable juices, are gaining popularity among consumers worldwide for health-related and economic reasons. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in microbiological quality; antimicrobial and antioxidant activity; and phenolic, vitamin C, minerals, and cadmium content occurring during spontaneous fermentation of curly kale juice. The fermentation process contributed to a significant growth of lactic acid bacteria, enterococci, and yeasts, while no pathogens of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. were observed. The antimicrobial properties of the obtained juice improved during fermentation for all indicator microorganisms. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity increased from 48 to 116 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 mL and from 4.5 to 6.8 mM Trolox/100 mL, respectively, while the content of vitamin C decreased. The results indicated that 100 mL of juice provided a significant contribution to the recommended mineral intake. Moreover, the content of heavy metal Cd was within acceptable limit (6 µg/kg). Overall, our findings indicate that fermented curly kale juice may become popular in the functional food sector, especially among vegetarians and consumers with lactose intolerance or allergy to milk proteins. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: As the market for fermented fruit and vegetable products grows, new plant materials rich in biologically active compounds are being sought. Considering the high demand for sauerkraut, the fermentation of other cruciferous vegetables seems interesting. One example is curly kale, which has been classified as "superfood" due to its numerous beneficial health properties, such as strong antioxidant activity, high vitamins, and minerals content. In addition, a market niche exists due to a lack of fermented green curly kale products on the market, making our study particularly relevant.

Characterization of Fulvic Acid Beverages by Mineral Profile and Antioxidant Capacity.

The main purpose of the study was to investigate the quality of fulvic acid-based food products. The concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, and antioxidant capacities of fulvic acid concentrates and ready-to drink beverages available on the global market were determined. The concentrations of minerals were determined using microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Antioxidant capacity was expressed as total polyphenol (TP) and flavonoid (TF) contents, the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) values. The daily portion of eight out of 14 products realized 45-135% of recommended daily allowance (RDA) for Fe. One of ready-to-drink beverages was also a good source of Mg (about 40% of RDA), and another one of Mn (about 70% of RDA). The concentrations of TP and TF in ready-to-drink beverages varied from 6.5 to 187 µg/mL, whereas in concentrates, from 5886 to 19,844 µg/mL. Dietary supplements or food products with fulvic acids may be a good source of antioxidant polyphenolic compounds and some minerals.

Nutritional value, protein and peptide composition of edible cricket powders.

There are various indicators, including FAO and EU sources, that edible insects could become one of the solutions to the problem of global food supply. This report was aimed at improving the knowledge on powdered crickets (Acheta domesticus). The analyses of the basic nutritional composition revealed that cricket powders were rich in protein (42.0-45.8% of dry matter) and fat (23.6-29.1% of dry matter). In terms of mineral content, CPs were rich in Ca, Mg and Fe. Most of all, the levels of Cu, Mn and Zn were especially high (2.33-4.51, 4.1-12.5, 12.8-21.8 mg/100 g of dry matter, respectively). Furthermore, the analyses into the proteins indicated that the cricket powders were treated with high temperatures and allowed the determination of four cricket-specific peptides that showed sufficient thermostability to serve as markers for authentication.

The Nutritional Value and Biological Activity of Concentrated Protein Fraction of Potato Juice.

Potato protein is recognized as one of the most valuable nonanimal proteins due to the high content of essential amino acids. So far, it has not been used in human nutrition on a large scale due to technological limitations regarding its acquisition. In this study, the protein fraction of potato juice was concentrated with the use of membrane separation. The obtained potato juice protein concentrate (PJPC) was characterized in terms of nutritional value and biological activity, and the amino acid composition, mineral content, and antioxidant properties were determined. Moreover, in vitro cytotoxic activity against cancer cells of the gastrointestinal tract was investigated. The results of the present study indicate that PJPC is an excellent source of lysine and threonine, while leucine is its limiting amino acid, with an amino acid score (AAS) of 65%. Moreover, PJPC contains substantial amounts of Fe, Mn, K, and Cu. As demonstrated experimentally, PJPC is also characterized by higher antioxidant potential than potato itself. Biological activity, however, is not limited to antioxidant activity alone. Cytotoxicity studies using a gastric cancer cell line (Hs 746T), a colon cancer cell line (HT-29), and human colon normal cells (CCD 841 CoN) proved that PJPC is characterized by selective activity against cancer cells. It can thus be concluded that the developed method of producing protein concentrate from potato juice affords a product with moderate nutritional value and interesting biological activity.

The Handbook of Minerals on a Gluten-Free Diet.

The importance of a gluten-free diet (GFD) in the treatment of celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders is undisputable. However, strict GFD often lead to nutritional imbalances and, therefore, to deficiencies. One of the most common deficiencies from a GFD are an insufficient amount of Ca, Fe, Mg, and Zn. This is mainly because the most of popular gluten-free (GF) raw materials are poor in minerals. Although the popularity of GFD is constantly growing, the data on minerals in GF products are still limited. More importantly, an access to the data is even more restricted. Therefore, the paper reviews the Ca, Fe, Mg, and Zn contents in hundreds of grain GF products available worldwide. The data for 444 products from categories of flours, mixes for cooking, bakery products, cereals, groats, rice, and pasta are obtained from research papers and nutritional databases. The calculation of the realization of mineral requirements from a portion of each product with its graphical classification as rich/average/poor source of each mineral is given. The review is a handbook of minerals for people on a GFD, dietitians, and food producers.

Gluten-Free Flours from Different Raw Materials as the Source of Vitamin B1, B2, B3 and B6.

Gluten-free (GF) products are those with a natural absence or acceptable level (<20 mg/kg) of gluten. They should be a part of a diet for people with gluten-related disorders, like celiac disease. Recently the popularity of a gluten-free diet (GFD) has risen extremely, because a lot of healthy individuals exclude gluten from their menus. According to the literature data on nutritional deficiencies in the GFD, this trend seems to be risky. This paper describes the nutritional value of 14 flours from different GF raw materials from the aspect of B-group vitamin content (B1, B2, B3, B6). Vitamins were determined using high performance liquid chromatography after enzymatic and acid hydrolysis of the samples. The vitamin contents significantly differed in the analysed flours. The content (in 100 g of the product) of vitamin B1 ranged from 0.01 mg (amaranth flour) to 0.60 mg (teff flour), vitamin B2 from 0.03 mg (GF flour with oats) to 0.22 mg (buckwheat flour), vitamin B3 from below 0.01 mg (amaranth flour) to 6.02 mg (millet flour), and vitamin B6 from 0.03 mg (acorn flour) to 0.69 mg (amaranth flour). The content of vitamins in the analysed GF flours was also compared to gluten-containing flours. Obtained results indicate that flours from teff, millet, chestnut, buckwheat, and amaranth are better sources of certain B-group vitamins than flours from corn, rice, and some flours with gluten.