Evaluation of solid-phase micro-extraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the headspace analysis of volatile compounds in cocoa products.

The aroma profile of cocoa products was investigated by headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). SPME fibers coated with 100 microm polydimethylsiloxane coating (PDMS), 65 microm polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene coating (PDMS-DVB), 75 microm carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane coating (CAR-PDMS) and 50/30 microm divinylbenzene/carboxen on polydimethylsiloxane on a StableFlex fiber (DVB/CAR-PDMS) were evaluated. Several extraction times and temperature conditions were also tested to achieve optimum recovery.

Effects of low doses of lactitol on faecal microflora, pH, short chain fatty acids and gastrointestinal symptomology.

Background: Lactitol (4-beta-D: -galactopyranosyl-D: -glucitol) is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener. Previous studies have shown that it has a beneficial effect on intestinal microflora.

Aims Of The Study: To determine whether low doses of lactitol had beneficial effects without eliciting adverse gastrointestinal symptoms.

The comparative gastrointestinal response of young children to the ingestion of 25 g sweets containing sucrose or isomalt.

Sugar-free confectionery products containing the low-energy, non-cariogenic sweetener isomalt are widely available in the market place and increasingly aimed at children. However, over-consumption of such products may lead to gastrointestinal symptoms and/or osmotic diarrhoea. Little is known about the gastrointestinal tolerance of children following consumption of isomalt.