Valorization of Taioba Products and By-Products: Focusing on Starch.

Unconventional food plants, popularized in Brazil as PANC, remain underutilized globally. In that sense, this study aims to explore the nutritional and functional properties of taioba (Xanthosoma sagittifolium), a plant with edible leaves and tubers, and to investigate its potential for industrial-scale application as a source of starch. A systematic review was carried out and meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines was conducted based on a random effects synthesis of multivariable-adjusted relative risks (RRs). The searches were carried out in seven search sources, among which were Web of Science, Elsevier's Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis, Hindawi, Scielo, ACS-American Chemical Society, and Google Scholar. The systematic review was guided by a systematic review protocol based on the POT strategy (Population, Outcome, and Types of studies), adapted for use in this research. Mendeley was a resource used for organization, to manage references, and to exclude duplicates of studies selected for review. The findings revealed that taioba leaves are abundant in essential nutrients, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Additionally, the tubers offer rich starch content along with vitamins and minerals like iron, potassium, and calcium, making them an ideal substitute for conventional sources on an industrial scale. This research highlights the significance of studying the functionalities, applicability, and integration of this PANC in our diets, while also emphasizing its capability as a substitute for traditional starch varieties. Moreover, exploiting this plant's potential adds value to Amazonian resources, reduces import costs, and diversifies resource utilization across multiple industrial sectors.

Evaluation of pineapple stem starch as a substitute for corn grain or ground cassava in a cattle feedlot for 206 or 344 days: feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and economic evaluation.

The pineapple stem starch substituted for ground cassava or corn as a carbohydrate source in the concentrate diet. The experiment used 36 Holstein crossbred steers (aged 22 months) with an average initial body weight of 453.0 ± 35.3 kg. The experimental units were randomly assigned to three different starch sources of concentrate diets: ground corn (GC), ground cassava (CA), or pineapple stem starch (PS) with two different feeding periods: (1) period 1 for 206 days or (2) period 2 for 344 days with six replicates per treatment (two steers per replication), arranged in a completely randomized design. The animals were slaughtered at the end of the experimental periods. After that, the feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and economic return were evaluated. The results showed that the steers fed PS had a greater weight gain, average daily gain, and lower feed: gain ratio when fed for 206 days than when fed for 344 days, but dry matter intake, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and fatty acids profile did not differ between treatments in both periods of feeding except C14:1 and C18:0. The steers fed PS showed the greatest economic return. As a substitute for cassava or corn, pineapple stem starch had no negative impact on the feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. These results indicate that pineapple stem starch could be a useful feedstuff for the feedlot steers diets as an alternative starch source.

Integrated metagenomics-metabolomics analysis reveals the cecal microbial composition, function, and metabolites of pigs fed diets with different starch sources.

This study integrated metagenomics and metabolomics to evaluate the effects of diets with different starch sources on the microbial community, metabolic functions, and resultant metabolites in the cecum of finishing pigs. In this study, 48 crossbred growing barrows were randomly allocated to 2 treatment groups with eight replicate pens of 3 pigs each. Pigs were fed a tapioca starch (TS) diet or a pea starch (PS) diet (the ratio between amylose and amylopectin of the two diets were 0.11 and 0.44, respectively) for 44 days. The results showed that, compared with the TS diet, the PS diet increased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of amylolytic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus spp., and Streptococcus spp., and decreased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of some inflammatory bacteria, such as Tyzzerella, Porphyromonas, and Tannerella in the cecum of pigs. In addition, analysis of microbial functions showed that 11 carbohydrate-active enzymes, such as GH73, AA3, and AA6, were enriched in the PS group (P < 0.05), while 26 other enzymes, such as GH2, GH35, and GH53, were enriched in the TS group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, KEGG pathway analysis showed a decreasing trend (P < 0.1) for energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism pathways, and a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the lipid metabolism pathways in the PS group. Correspondingly, the resultant metabolites related to amino acids and their derivatives (such as decreased histamine and indole, while increased γ-aminobutyric acid and pyroglutamic acid), and fatty acids and lipids (such as increased tetradecanoylcarnitine and monoacylglycerol) were also changed (P < 0.05) in the cecum of pigs fed the PS diet. In summary, these findings indicated that the cecal microbiota and metabolism underwent responsive changes to diets with different starch sources, and a high ratio of amylose to amylopectin in diets may be beneficial to intestinal health of pigs.

Effects of substituting sweet potato flour for ground corn on performance, feeding behavior, and metabolism of dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of substituting sweet potato flour for ground corn in rations fed to lactating dairy on milk yield and composition, blood metabolites, and feeding behavior. Twenty lactating Holstein cows from 30 to 60 days postpartum were randomly assigned to one of two groups (n = 10 each) and used in a cross-over design trial with two treatments: a standard concentrate with ground corn as an energy source or experimental concentrate with sweet potato flour (SPF) replacing all of the ground corn. Each of the 35-day periods consisted of 14 days for adaptation to diet and 21 days for data and sample collection. Milk yield, dry matter intake (DMI), and feeding behavior were evaluated daily throughout the trial. Milk samples were collected weekly and blood samples were collected every 3 days. Milk was analyzed for fat, protein, lactose, and total solid constituents. Blood was analyzed for glucose, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (TP), albumin, and urea concentrations. Milk yield (P = 0.62) and composition (fat: P = 0.71; protein: P = 0.12; lactose: P = 0.82; total solids: P = 0.56) were not affected by dietary treatments. There were no differences between treatments in DMI or meal frequency, but total eating time (P = 0.001), feeding time (P = 0.001), and meal duration (P = 0.001) was higher for control compared with SPF. However, feeding rate (P = 0.001) and serum urea concentration (P = 0.001) were higher for SPF compared with control. No differences were observed in serum metabolites and enzymes measured among treatments. The results of this trial indicate that SPF can be substituted for ground corn without impairing the performance, feeding behavior, and metabolism in dairy cows.

Microbiome-Metabolomics Analysis Investigating the Impacts of Dietary Starch Types on the Composition and Metabolism of Colonic Microbiota in Finishing Pigs.

The present study used a combination of 16S rRNA MiSeq sequencing strategy and gas chromatograph time of flight mass spectrometer (GC-TOF/MS) technique to investigate the effects of starch sources on the colonic microbiota and their metabolites in finishing pigs. A total of 72 crossbred barrows were allocated to three different experimental diets with eight replicates and three pigs per replicate. The diet types included tapioca starch (TS), corn starch (CS), and pea starch (PS) (amylose/amylopectin were 0.11, 0.25, and 0.44, respectively). Results showed that the PS diet markedly increased (adjusted P < 0.05) the abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and lactate producers, such as Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, and Megasphaera, while decreased (adjusted P < 0.05) the abundance of Escherichia coli when compared with the TS diet. The metabolomic and biochemistry analyses demonstrated that the PS diet increased (adjusted P < 0.05) the concentrations of organic acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, and lactate) and some macronutrients (sugars and long-chain fatty acids), and decreased (adjusted P < 0.05) the amino acids and their derivatives (leucine, glycine, putrescine, cadaverine, skatole, indole, and phenol) when compared with the TS diet. Additionally, Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that the changes in the colonic metabolites were associated with changes in the microbial composition. Correlatively, these findings demonstrated that the different dietary starch types treatment significantly altered the intestinal microbiota and metabolite profiles of the pigs, and dietary with higher amylose may offer potential benefits for gut health.

Effects of dietary starch types on growth performance, meat quality and myofibre type of finishing pigs.

To investigate the effects of dietary starch types on growth performance and meat quality of finishing pigs, ninety barrows (68.0±2.0kg) were randomly allotted to three experimental diets with five replicates of six pigs, containing pure waxy maize starch (WMS), nonwaxy maize starch (NMS) and pea starch (PS) (amylose/amylopectin were 0.07, 0.19 and 0.28 respectively). Compared with WMS diet, PS diet increased the average daily gain, loin eye area, pH45 value, NMR transverse relaxation (T2)2 peak area ratio and sarcoplasmic protein solubility, decreased the feed to gain ratio, back fat, drip loss, cooking loss and T23 peak area ratio (P<0.05). Moreover, PS diet increased the myosin heavy-chain (MyHC)-I and IIa levels, decreased the MyHC-IIb level, decreased the miR23a level and increased its target gene level, increased the miR499 level and decreased its target gene level (P<0.05). Diet with high amylose content might be beneficial to the growth performance and meat quality of finishing pigs.